PhD scholarship in Numerical Modelling of Cross-Shore Coastal Processes - DTU Construct

Are you worried about the coastal regions in an era of climate change and plastic pollution? Do you want to play a part in the development of a novel numerical model that can shed light on these societal challenges? Then this PhD position is for you.

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD position, ideally starting in February 2025 within the general field of coastal engineering at The Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, section for Fluid Mechanics, Coastal and Maritime Engineering (FVM).

The PhD project will play an integral part of the project “SHORE: Simulating coastal HydrOdynamics and particle tRansport procEsses”, financed by the European Research Council. The SHORE project is briefly described below:

Beaches are eroding at many locations around the world, and with the pending climate change (sea level rise and increased storminess in Northern Europe), coastal erosion is expected to potentially worsen. State-of-the-art practical engineering models for predicting sand and particle transport struggle with the cross-shore processes (perpendicular to the beach), and they even have difficulties predicting the sign right (offshore transport vs. onshore transport), in an experimental setting where the boundary conditions are fully known. The shortage of state-of-the-art models also means that the spreading of microplastic particles, which are increasingly polluting the oceans cannot be predicted accurately. As a result, the future shape of the world’s coastal profiles and the fate of microplastic particles in the coastal region are largely unknown. SHORE aims to bridge this knowledge and competence gap and develop the first model capable of accurately simulating both on and offshore transport of sediments and microplastic particles without case-specific calibration.

The PhD project will be under the main supervision of Senior Researcher Bjarke Eltard Larsen, DTU. Professor David R. Fuhrman will be co-supervisor.

The project will also involve collaboration between DTU, Utrecht University, Aberdeen University and Twente University. External research stay at Utrecht University for approximately 3 months is expected. 

Responsibilities and tasks
The overall focus of the PhD project is to develop relatively simple and fast (wave-averaged) numerical models for the hydrodynamic processes in the coastal region. Main focus will be on the hydrodynamic processes driving the sediment transport, but sediment transport processes may also be considered. The models will be developed based on an extensive experimental database containing historical experimental results (to be collected within the project) as well as results obtained with a more complex type numerical (Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD) model. You will work together with other young researchers involved in the project as well as with academic and industrial collaborators. 

Key tasks involve:

• Development of novel models for wave heights and velocities in the shoaling and surf zones
• Dissemination of research findings in scientific journals and international conferences
• Release of the developed models open source for public usage
• External research stays of approximately 3 months (likely at Utrecht University)
• Participation in MSc. and PhD courses
• Teaching assistant in MSc. courses
• Co-supervision of MSc. projects

Qualifications
We are looking for a motivated PhD student with methodological skills within numerical modelling, analytical physics and data analysis. Experiences within coastal processes and laboratory/field work is considered an asset but is not mandatory and we welcome applications from candidates with varying backgrounds such as coastal engineering, physical geography and physics. You can work independently and systematically and you have desire to shape your own research project, while simultaneously working within the framework of the overall project. You are comfortable working in groups, and you welcome collaborative work. Proficiency in written English is a requirement.

The following knowledge and skills will be seen as assets (but not requirements)

• Understanding of coastal processes in general
• Experience in using practical coastal engineering models such as MIKE, Delft3D, XBeach and SWASH
• Experience in using CFD, preferably OpenFOAM
• Experience in developing predictive models from data
• Experience in doing laboratory or field work
• Programming competencies in MATLAB or Python

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. The start date is 1 February 2025 (or according to mutual agreement). 

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information  
Further information may be obtained from Senior Researcher Bjarke Eltard Larsen, email: [email protected] , https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/persons/bjarke-eltard-larsen . 

You can read more about Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at www.construct.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 1 December 2024 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• Letters of recommendation or alternatively contact information to references
• One a piece of academic writing that you are particularly proud of (could be a MSc. thesis, journal paper or conference paper)

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

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