3 plazas para doctorado en monitoreo y modelización costera

Three PhD positions on Monitoring and Modelling Inter-Scale Coastal Behavior
Delft University of Technology, Department of Hydraulic Engineering
The Nearshore Monitoring and Modelling Inter-Scale Coastal Behavior project (NEMO) has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) and aims to develop a physics based scale-aggregated approach to forecast Large Scale Long Term (LSLT) coastal changes. The project includes an extensive monitoring program including surveys of topography and bathymetry, video observations and detailed process-measurements to establish physical concepts. The monitoring area covers a 20 km long stretch of the Southern Dutch Holland coast that contains several anthropogenic interventions including a mega-nourishment in the order of 20Mm3 (named the Sand Engine, see http://www.dezandmotor.nl/en-GB/).

PhD Topics
In the coming months we plan to expand our strong research team with three PhD positions that are now open for application. The PhD students will work on complementary research topics and will be supervised by postdocs and senior staff (amongst others prof Ad Reniers and prof Rosh Ranasinghe):
PhD1: The objective is to study the relative importance of cross-shore and longshore processes, and variations herein due to a large (anthropogenic) perturbation, for the middle- and lower shorface evolution. The middle shoreface (wave shoaling zone) and lower shoreface (seaward of middle shoreface till average bed slope smaller than 1/1000) form the foundation of the coast and are crucial for the long-term stability of the upper shoreface (beach and dunes), which acts as a sea defense to protect the hinterland against flooding. The time scale of morphological evolution is long (millennia) and therefore middle and lower shoreface morphology observations usually have a small signal to noise ratio; inhibiting our understanding of morphodynamics in this region. In the NEMO project we will monitor a 20 km long stretch of coast containing a huge anthropogenic intervention (the Sand Engine) for which we expect a much stronger signal.
PhD1 will design a monitoring campaign including bathymetric surveys and process-measurements with the objective to improve insight in the relative importance of cross-shore and longshore processes in deeper water. The monitoring output will be utilized in combination with existing bathymetric measurements over a long period of time. New insights will be integrated in an aggregated area model for which PhD1 will interact with PhD 2, especially to describe the interface of the surf towards the middle and lower shoreface.
PhD2: The objective is to study the importance of the three dimensional
morphology in the surf, and variations herein due to large (anthropogenic) perturbations, for LSLT shoreface evolution. The most dynamic area of the shoreface is the surf which contains a variety of morphological time scales ranging from days (storms / rip-bar systems, beach cusps), to seasons (winter and summer configuration) and years (sand waves, breaker bar cycle). The constantly changing (alongshore varying) complex morphology of the surf will likely influence the longshore sediment transport and gradients herein, which on the longer term can influence the overall shoreface evolution. In addition, the surf connects the upper and middle shoreface and will, given the high transport signals, probably impose directive boundary conditions to the evolution of these areas.
Using ARGUS cameras and bathymetric surveys, the alongshore and temporal variability in surf properties due to large (anthropogenic) perturbations will be studied by PhD 2 and related to offshore hydraulic boundary conditions. Combining monitoring observations with process-based models an inventory is made of the most important driving physical processes (and their residuals) for LSLT morphology. Based on these insights PhD3 will contribute to the development of an aggregated (physics-based) area model for the surf that can be extended to the middle- and upper shoreface. PhD2 will work with both PhD1 and PhD3, especially on the numerical modelling.
PhD3: The objective is to study the relative importance of hydraulic- and aeolian processes, and variations herein due to large (anthropogenic) perturbations, for the LSLT evolution of the upper shoreface. The upper shoreface (including the the first dune row, dry beach and inter-tidal beach) is located at the transition between land and water and its morphology is controlled by complex physics including both hydraulic- and aeolian transport processes. Considering the long term evolution of the shoreface it is desirable to have insight in the residuals of these processes, especially to examine the effectiveness of climate mitigation measures (i.e. shoreface nourishments) for beach and dune volume development on the longer term.
Using ARGUS cameras, topography surveys and process measurements of aeolian transport, PhD 3 will explore the physical processes that shape beach and dune evolution along a coast with a huge anthropogenic intervention. The morphodynamic feedback between these processes will be studied with an aggregated area model for the upper shoreface. PhD3 will interact with PhD2 to describe and model the intertidal beach processes.
Requirements:
Applicants should have graduated in the field of Coastal Engineering, Physical Geography, Oceanography or a comparable field. Knowledge of shoreface processes is essential and we are looking for candidates that have:
Demonstrated ability to design and implement complex and large field campaigns (PhD1 and PhD3);
Demonstrated ability in analyzing and interpreting large data sets (all PhD students);
Demonstrated skills in process-based hydrodynamic and morphodynamic modelling of coastal processes (all PhD students);
Demonstrated ability or willingness to develop innovative (physically-based) aggregated modelling techniques (PhD 2).
Delft University of Technology is a bilingual organization. A good command of English (written and spoken) is essential. Female applicants are particularly encouraged to apply.
Conditions of employment:
The extent of the positions is a maximum of 38 hours per week (1 FTE). Positions have a temporary employment basis of 1 year (12 months). The estimated PhD starting salary is ? 2,042 per month gross, with a maximum of ? 2,612 gross (based on a full-time appointment and depending on experience). Benefits and other employment conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Successful candidates will be employed by TU Delft for a fixed period of 4 years (48 months).
Applications:
Your application is directed to prof. M.J.F. Stive and can be send by email to Jaap van Thiel de Vries (J.S.M.vanThieldeVries@tudelft.nl)before June 30th. We ask applicants to mention what PhD topic they are applying for and we encourage addressing the requirements as specified above. Applications should include:
Application letter;
CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications);
Copies of educational certificates and transcript of records;
Names and contact details of 3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number).
Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University?s grading system