PhD Student - Department of Civil Engineering

Last application date Aug 20, 2023 00:00

Department TW15 - Department of Civil Engineering

Contract Limited duration

Degree Master’s degree in civil engineering, offshore engineering, physical oceanography or a related area

Occupancy rate 100%

Vacancy type Research staff

Job description

PHD POSITION ON NUMERICAL MODELLING AND FIELD MEASUREMENTS OF INFRAGRAVITY WAVES FOR DIKES ON SHALLOW FORESHORES
Project background
Urban areas in low-lying coastal zones are typically protected from flooding due to storm surge and waves by a hybrid soft-hard coastal defence structure. Such structures combine a mild-sloped beach (soft structure) and a steep-sloped dike (hard structure). For smaller water depths on the beach (shallow water case), a surf and swash zone starts to develop in front of the dike toe. In this zone, short waves (ss) reduce in wave height by wave breaking, while longer waves or “infragravity (ig) waves” increase in wave height due to shoaling and energy transfer from the ss waves. The ig wave-related processes have a highly significant, but insufficiently investigated effect on the wave overtopping. The research aims at gaining more (quantitative) insight into the influence of ig waves on these processes and in how they can be taken into account in the design of a hybrid beach-dike coastal defence system. The research project is funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), and the research consortium is composed of research groups at Ghent University, KU Leuven and Flanders Marine Institute. This vacancy pertains to research tasks carried out at the project coordinator Ghent University.
Task description
The research will be carried out by using the numerical wave model SWASH (or appropriate alternative, such as non-hydrostatic XBeach) to increase understanding of the complex interactions between ig- and ss-waves and the impact on wave overtopping in a hybrid beach-dike defence system. The field measurements will focus on increasing insight into the generation, occurrence and evolution of ig-waves from offshore towards a hybrid beach-dike defence system. A field measurement setup – focussed on a detailed observation of ig-waves from offshore until the dike – will be designed and integrated into an existing field measurement setup of wave overtopping measurements using an innovative “artificial dike” concept at the unique Living Lab Raversijde field measurement site (Ostend, Belgium). The predoctoral researcher will further join the field measurement activities during approximately 5 storms per winter season and be involved in the intermediate data retrieval. Finally, the predoctoral researcher will use the obtained field data to validate the numerical model.

Job profile

• Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in civil engineering, offshore engineering, physical oceanography or a related area, with a proven strong knowledge on (coastal) hydrodynamics.
• Knowledge of and interest in numerical simulation of coastal hydrodynamics (currents and waves) is essential.
• Prior experience (master thesis, internship) related to numerical (wave) modelling (preferably SWASH, non-hydrostatic XBeach or NHWAVE) is recommended.
• Prior knowledge related to wave overtopping processes is recommended.
• Prior experience in data analysis and related statistics using appropriate software tools (e.g., Matlab, Python (preferred)) is recommended.
• Prior knowledge of field instrumentation for wave measurements and/or experience in field measurements is recommended.
• Candidates must have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Candidates must be proficient in English.
• Candidates must be flexible, responsible and team workers.
   

Offer

• An open, stimulating and multi-disciplinary research environment.
• A unique chance to join a challenging and one-of-a-kind field measurement campaign.
• Collaboration with other research institutes.
• Duration of the contract: start of 1 year, with yearly extension to maximum 4 years, after yearly evaluation.
• The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the general rules at Ghent University.
   

Additional information
Starting date for the position: as soon as possible.

Working place will be the Coastal Engineering Research Group at Ghent University (Technologiepark 60, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium), with frequent field measurement site visits at Ostend (Belgium).

Informal inquiries about the position can be made to Prof. Peter TROCH (Peter.Troch@UGent.be).

More detailed information on working at UGent is available on http://www.ugent.be/en/work. The Coastal Engineering Research Group website is available on http://www.ugent.be/ea/civil-engineering/en/research/coastal-bridges-roads/coastal-engineering.
 

How to apply

To apply, please send your full CV with a cover letter indicating the reference number of the vacancy (PER30/2183), and explaining your interest in this vacancy and highlighting any previous experience of coastal/ocean engineering and/or numerical modelling/field measurements, via ldbacker.debacker@UGent.be and Vincent.Gruwez@UGent.be by 20th of August 2023.