Advanced Geotechnical Strategies for Safeguarding Coastal Cliffs

Closing Date: 07 June 2026 Apply Now

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PhD Scholarship

Develop an integrated framework to monitor, model, and predict the erosion and retreat of coastal rock cliffs by analysing how rock debris aprons and ocean forces interact under extreme storms and sea-level rise.

Project Background

Coastal rock cliffs along Australia’s eastern seaboard are increasingly threatened by extreme storms, wave attack and rising sea levels. These processes drive cliff erosion, rockfalls, and long-term cliff retreat, posing significant risks to infrastructure, private assets and community safety. A key, but poorly understood, element in these dynamics is the rock debris apron, the accumulation of boulders and fragments at the cliff base that acts as a natural protective barrier against wave impact and cliff undercutting.

Despite major advances in coastal and geotechnical research, there is currently no integrated framework capable of monitoring, quantifying and predicting how rock debris aprons evolve and how their presence, or removal, controls coastal cliff erosion and retreat.

Project Aim

This PhD project aims to develop a new, multidisciplinary framework that combines high-resolution monitoring, hydrodynamic measurements, reduced-scale physical modelling and advanced numerical simulation to understand and predict coastal cliff erosion driven by interactions between rock debris aprons and ocean forces.

Research Objectives

The PhD candidate will contribute to the overarching ARC project through one or more of the following research components (specific focus tailored to the candidate’s background):

1. Cliff and Debris Apron Monitoring

  • Conduct UAV photogrammetry, LiDAR surveys and fixed-camera monitoring of cliff faces, rock platforms and debris aprons.
  • Apply change-detection tools (e.g., VoxFall) and deep-learning image segmentation to quantify debris dynamics and cliff-base erosion.

2. Hydrodynamic Measurements and Analysis

  • Assist with deployment of nearshore wave buoys and platform-mounted pressure sensors.
  • Analyse wave loading, overtopping events and hydrodynamic patterns that influence debris mobility and cliff-base erosion.

3. Physical Modelling in a Wave Flume

  • Perform controlled flume experiments simulating realistic cliff-base and apron configurations.
  • Evaluate debris movement, abrasion, stability and wave–debris interactions under varied geological and storm conditions.

Expected Outcomes

The PhD project will generate new insights and modelling tools to:

  • quantify how rock debris aprons form, evolve and protect cliffs;
  • identify thresholds for debris mobility under extreme storm conditions;
  • assess how climate-driven sea-level rise alters cliff stability and apron effectiveness;
  • improve predictions of coastal cliff retreat and support hazard mitigation planning.

These outcomes will directly support coastal councils, geotechnical practitioners and government agencies in developing effective adaptation strategies for at-risk coastal cliffs.

Supervision & Research Environment

The candidate will join the Research Centre for Geotechnical Science and Engineering (CGSE) at the University of Newcastle, with supervision from leading experts in:

  • rock mechanics and slope stability (Prof Anna Giacomini, Dr Davide Guccione),
  • coastal geomorphology and ocean hydrodynamics (Dr Michael Kinsela),

The project offers exceptional training opportunities in field monitoring, advanced laboratory testing, and interdisciplinary hazard analysis.

Candidate Background

Applications are encouraged from candidates with qualifications in civil/geotechnical engineering, coastal engineering, geology, geomatics, or related fields. Experience in UAV surveying, remote sensing, or laboratory experimentation will be considered an advantage but is not essential.

PhD Scholarship details

Funding: $38,938 per annum (2026 rate) indexed annually. For a PhD candidate, the living allowance scholarship and tuition fee scholarship are for 3.5 years. Scholarships also include up to $1,500 relocation allowance.

Supervisor: Prof Anna Giacomini, Dr Davide Guccione, Dr Michael Kinsela

Available to: Domestic students

PhD

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant will need to meet the minimum eligibility criteria for admission.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should send an email expressing their interest along with scanned copies of their academic transcripts, CV, a brief statement of their research interests and a proposal that specifically links them to the research project.

Please send the email expressing interest to Anna.Giacomini@newcastle.edu.au by 5pm on 07 June 2026.

Applications Close 07 June 2026 Apply Now

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