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:
*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
, Research Oceanographer
, Research Computer Engineer
*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:
—————————————————
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:
Coral Reefs:
Sea-level Rise and Atolls: