Large Scale Restoration of Coastal Ecosystems: Assessing Protective Benefits (NICHOLLSR_U21ERC)

This studentship is funded for  three years nine months and is part of the European consortium project REST-COAST (Large Scale Restoration Of Coastal Ecosystems: Rivers To Sea Connectivity), comprising 38 partners from across Europe. 

The overall aim of REST-COAST is to demonstrate to what extent upscaled coastal restoration can provide a low carbon solution to climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction for threatened low-lying coastal systems, combined with gains in their biodiversity status.  

Within this overall research aim, this studentship will assess the protection function of coastal marshes and mangroves on waves and surges, as a function of different coastal and wetland geometries and develop generic representations that can be included in broad-scale assessments in Europe and more widely. This will contribute to a European and global assessment (including costs, benefits, financing needs, and business opportunities) of coastal risk reduction through wetland restoration (changes). 

In close collaboration with a series of UK and European project partners, innovative approaches will be developed to: 

• Assess the dissipation of waves and surges by wetlands and their flood alleviation benefits in individual events 
• Assess the longer-term benefits allowing for storm erosion and recovery, as well as seasonal effects 
• Develop approaches to simulate these benefits at broad scales, including consideration of the implementation of large-scale coastal restoration. 

Applicants require first or upper second class honours degree in Environmental Science, Geography, Civil Engineering or related discipline and a relevant Masters degree.  

Applicants should also demonstrate one or more of the following in their application: 

• Good knowledge on coastal processes and/or coastal ecosystems 
• Experience of working with large-scale datasets (up to global) 
• Proficiency in analysis with Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS or other software) 
• Experience in numerical/process-based modelling and simulation 
• Experience in developing code, such as with Matlab 
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams 

Start date: June 2022.

Entry requirements: first or upper second class honours degree in Environmental Science, Geography, Civil Engineering or related discipline and a relevant Master's degree