Fully-funded PhD project on modelling shoreline erosion under the effect of storms and rising sea level

The Coastal Group, School of Environment, University of Auckland, New Zealand, is seeking applicants for a fully-funded PhD project on modelling shoreline erosion under the effect of storms and rising sea level.

Project Details:
The project is funded by the Natural Hazards Research Platform hosted at GNS Science and it is part of a larger project (“Climate change impacts on weather-related hazards”), which involves a consortium from University of Auckland, University of Waikato and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric research (NIWA). This component of the project is to understand and predict shoreline changes at the decadal scale and beyond. The project will involve two detailed case study on a dissipative (Raglan) and an intermediate (Tairua) beach.

 The project will be supervised by Associate Professor Giovanni Coco (UoA) in collaboration with other members of the team: Associate Professor Karin Bryan (UW), Dr Mark Dickson (UoA) and Dr Michael Allis (NIWA). The student will be expected to interact with other members of the wider team (including overseas collaborators) and contribute to programme workshops.

 Benefits

There will be opportunities for the candidate to submit and present their research at local and international conferences, along with networking with other coastal experts at the events.

 The candidate will be exposed to globally important research issues in workshops with the wider project team including coastal erosion, coastal inundation and coastal adaptation to climate change.

 The candidate will work alongside a number of international collaborators including Fernando Mendez (University of Cantabria, Spain), Kristen Splinter (Water Research Laboratory, The University of New South Wales, Australia) and Bob Guza (Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of San Diego California, USA), as part of the wider project.

 
Requirements:
Applicants must have a research first-class Honours degree and/or a Masters degree in coastal engineering, oceanography, earth or environmental science or similar with an equivalent A- or higher. The successful candidate will have evidence that they are proficient in written and spoken English. Ideally, candidates will have experience with numerical modelling.

Award:
The three year PhD scholarship includes full waiver of PhD course fees, tax-free annual stipend matching the University of Auckland scholarships and research costs.

Location:
The student will be based in Auckland and will join a rapidly growing coastal group, working and living near some of world’s most beautiful landscapes.

 Application Procedure:
To apply, please email Associate Prof Giovanni Coco with a full C.V. (including the contact details of at least one academic referee), English language proficiency documentation if needed and accompanying letter of application. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted and discussion may begin immediately. We will begin reviewing applications on 1 June 2016. We need a confirmed applicant by October 31st, 2016.

Start date:
The successful candidate should be available to start on or before, 1st January, 2017.

More information:
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Giovanni Coco (g.coco@auckland.ac.nz)

Posted on: 06/04/2016, by :