PhD Position in High Suspended Sediment Dynamics in Estuaries

This PhD position at Delft University of Technology focuses on advancing the understanding of sediment dynamics in highly turbid estuaries, driven by climate change and human interventions. The successful candidate will extend existing estuarine models by incorporating novel turbulence closures to capture feedback mechanisms between sediment transport and hydrodynamics. Using analytical, asymptotic, and numerical techniques, the research will investigate turbidity maxima, fluid mud formation, and sediment retention mechanisms. The project integrates fundamental theory with real-world applications, collaborating with knowledge institutes like Deltares to address critical challenges in estuarine management and climate adaptation. The work spans mathematical modeling, nonlinear dynamical systems, and environmental fluid mechanics, contributing to both theoretical and practical advancements in sediment-rich estuarine systems.

• Develop and implement novel turbulence closures in an existing 2D vertical estuarine model to capture feedback mechanisms between sediment transport and hydrodynamics.
• Investigate the emergence of turbidity maxima and fluid mud layers using analytical, asymptotic, and numerical simulation techniques.
• Extend the model to incorporate lateral variability, enabling a more comprehensive description of estuarine dynamics and cross-estuary sediment transport.
• Validate model results against observational data from European estuaries to link theoretical findings with real-world applications.
• Collaborate with other PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers within the iMose project and external knowledge institutes like Deltares.
• Present research findings at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.