PhD Scholarship in Coastal Engineering

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 (drfu@dtu.dk).

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. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 10 November 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU Civil and Mechanical Engineering develops and utilises science and technical knowledge for the benefit of society and the sustainable development. We undertake research, education, innovation, and scientific advice of the highest quality within building design and processes, building construction and safety, building energy and technical services, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, coastal and maritime engineering, materials technology, manufacturing engineering, engineering systems design, design for sustainability, and thermal energy.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.