PhD scholarship in Coastal Engineering (Wave-Vegetation Interaction) - DTU Construct

DTU - Technical University of Denmark; Kongens Lyngby; On-site; DKK 312,000 - 402,000; Full time

Job summary

DTU – Technical University of Denmark invites applications for a 3-year PhD fellowship in coastal engineering within the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Section for Fluid Mechanics, Coastal and Maritime Engineering.

The research, titled Marine advection and dissipation in the vegetated coastal environment, will develop analytical and numerical models of waves interacting with vegetation, with collaboration across DTU, DHI, University College Dublin and Northeastern University.

Qualifications

• Strong background in coastal/ocean engineering, fluid mechanics, or CFD.
• Experience with numerical modelling and programming.
• Two-year master's degree or equivalent.
• Interest in combining theory with numerical modelling.
• Willingness to collaborate internationally.

Responsibilities

• Develop analytical and numerical models for waves interacting with vegetated beds.
• Extend models to irregular wave fields and derive wave-averaged shear-stress distributions.
• Investigate undertow and circulation currents above vegetated beds.
• Describe wave-induced water level changes and storm-surge reduction by vegetation.
• Run CFD simulations and apply turbulence models.
• Validate models against laboratory data and publish results.
• Develop practical parameterizations for larger-scale models.

Skills

Coastal/ocean engineering

Fluid mechanics

Applied mathematics

Environmental hydraulics

Computational fluid dynamics

Education

Master's degree (2-year) or equivalent

Tools

CFD software

Numerical modelling

Programming

Job description

Job Description

How can coastal vegetation help protect our coastlines from waves and flooding? Understanding how waves interact with vegetation is key to exploring its potential for coastal protection and climate adaptation. Are you interested in combining fluid mechanics, mathematical analysis and numerical modelling to help answer this question.

Then join us for a 3‑year PhD fellowship in coastal engineering at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Section for Fluid Mechanics, Coastal and Maritime Engineering.

Your PhD research will play an integral part in the project “Marine advection and dissipation in the vegetated coastal environment”, financed by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

You will collaborate with researchers at DTU and DHI in Denmark, as well as at University College Dublin, Ireland and Northeastern University, USA.

Responsibilities

Your primary tasks will be to develop analytical and numerical models for waves interacting with coastal vegetation. Particular emphasis will be placed on the wave‑averaged flow generated by surface waves and on the changes introduced by vegetation canopies.

The research will include:

• Development and validation of models for wave‑induced mean velocity profiles over vegetated beds under regular waves.


• Extension of these models to irregular wave fields, including derivation of wave‑averaged shear‑stress distributions and mean velocity profiles.


• Investigation of undertow and circulation currents above vegetated beds in the surf zone under breaking waves.


• Development of a cross‑shore momentum balance describing wave‑induced changes in mean water level and the potential reduction of storm‑surge flooding by coastal vegetation.


• Numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics


• Application of advanced turbulence models for surface‑wave flows, modified to account for vegetation.


• Validation of the developed models against existing high‑quality laboratory datasets.


• Development of practical parameterizations suitable for implementation in larger‑scale coastal and hydrodynamic models.

The project combines fundamental fluid mechanics with applications directly relevant to coastal protection and climate adaptation. A major scientific objective is to move beyond conventional empirical vegetation models and instead explicitly account for the modification of the wave‑induced velocity field within and above vegetation canopies.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates with a strong background in one or more of the following areas:

• Coastal or ocean engineering


• Fluid mechanics or hydrodynamics


• Computational fluid dynamics


• Environmental hydraulics


• Applied mathematics or a closely related field

Experience with numerical modelling, programming and/or CFD is highly desirable. Experience with turbulence modelling, wave mechanics or coastal hydrodynamics would be advantageous, but is not essential. Strong mathematical skills and an interest in combining theoretical analysis with numerical modelling are important.

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. Please see DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures .

The period of employment is 3 years. Starting date is anticipated as 1 February 2027, or according to mutual agreement. The position is a full‑time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here .

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Professor David R. Fuhrman ( [e-mail] ).

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.