[Coral-List] postdoctoral opportunity: The Role of US Coral Reefs and Reef Restoration in Reducing Coastal Risk

Storlazzi, Curt cstorlazzi at usgs.gov
Fri Sep 27 16:49:47 UTC 2019


Dear colleagues,



We are happy to announce the following postdoctoral research opportunity:



*The Role of US Coral Reefs and Reef Restoration in Reducing Coastal Risk*



This is USGS Mendenhall postdoctoral research opportunity 18-13; see the
following for more information:



*https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/18-13-role-us-coral-reefs-and-reef-restoration-reducing-coastal-risk
<https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/18-13-role-us-coral-reefs-and-reef-restoration-reducing-coastal-risk>*



*DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY:* The goal of this research is to
determine the role of corals and coral reefs in coastal hazard risk
reduction, and how coral reef restoration may reduce the hazards to, and
increase the resiliency of, the Nation’s coastal communities. This research
opportunity is timely given (i) the growing momentum for nature-based
solutions and (ii) the incipient research showing spatial benefits of coral
reefs for coastal risk reduction that now allow considering reef
restoration projects to protect specific communities at risk.



The postdoctoral fellow will develop and test innovative means for
measuring and predicting hydrodynamics (water levels and waves) over and
amongst corals and coral reef structures (both pure “green” transplanted
coral and “gray-green hybrid” transplanted corals on artificial substrate)
using state-of-the-art process-response models and assimilations of
disparate data types such as satellite-derived high-resolution topography
and bathymetry, coastal geomorphology, and historic, real-time, and
forecasted oceanographic measurements. We envision this research could be
accomplished using a number of different approaches. First, theoretical
numerical modeling of flow around individual transplanted corals or reef
structures will better guide the design individual restorations in terms of
spacing of corals or structures, cross-shore extent necessary to perform
hydrodynamic functions, etc. Another approach will use previously-acquire
topographic, bathymetric, and oceanographic information from field sites
and use them to calibrate and validate process-based numerical models to be
tested for different coral reef and shoreline configurations. This modeling
will inform and guide where the restoration projects should be placed on
the inner shelf to provide the greatest coastal hazard risk reduction as
quantified in socioeconomic terms. These predictions will form the
scientific underpinning to guide the development of coral reef restoration
for coastal hazard risk reduction globally.



The postdoctoral fellow will have ample opportunities for interdisciplinary
collaborations in oceanography, physics, engineering, geospatial analyses,
remote sensing, and numerical modeling. They will be able to develop
partnerships with researchers from different USGS science areas, other
federal agencies, and academia. The postdoctoral researcher will be at the
forefront of interdisciplinary research, collaborate with a team leading
global innovation in nature-based solutions, and will participate in
significantly improving our understanding of the role of coral reefs as
natural infrastructure to reduce the risk to, and increase the resiliency
of, coastal communities in the US and US Trust Territories.



Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Research
Advisor(s) early in the application process to discuss project ideas.



*Duty Station:* Santa Cruz, CA, USA



*Areas of PhD:* Oceanography, computer science, coastal engineering, civil
engineering (candidates holding a Ph.D. in other disciplines, but with
extensive knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Opportunity may be
considered).



*Qualifications:* Applicants must meet the qualifications for: Research
Geologist
<https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/basic-qualification-requirements-0#res_geol>
, Research Oceanographer
<https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/basic-qualification-requirements-0#res_ocean>
, Research Computer Engineer
<https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/basic-qualification-requirements-0#comp_eng>




*Research Advisors and Affiliations:*

Curt Storlazzi and Li Erikson: U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and
Marine Science

     Center, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Shay Viehman: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National
Centers for

     Coastal and Ocean Science, Beaufort, NC, USA

Borja Reguero: University of California at Santa Cruz, Institute of Marine
Science, Santa

     Cruz, CA, USA

Ap van Dongeren: Deltares, Delft, The Netherlands



*To Apply:* See the following for more information:



 https://www.usgs.gov/centers/mendenhall/when-and-how-apply


---------------------------------------------------
Curt D. Storlazzi, Ph.D.
U.S. Geological Survey
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
2885 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 460-7521 phone
(831) 427-4748 fax

Staff web page:
https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/curt-d-storlazzi
Coral Reefs:
*https://coralreefs.wr.usgs.gov/ <http://coralreefs.wr.usgs.gov/>*
Sea-level Rise and Atolls:
*https://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/climate-change/atolls/
<http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/climate-change/atolls/>*


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