PhD Positions in urban futures under flood risk
We have openings for motivated students to undertake PhD research that will improve the flood resilience of New Zealand communities through developing innovative research. Two 3-year positions are available and will be supported by the New Zealand Government via the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) through a NIWA-led five-year Endeavour Programme called Mā te haumaru ō nga puna wai ō Rākaihautū ka ora mo ake tonu: Increasing flood resilience across Aotearoa.
The research will address aspects of planning for future flood risk, including issues surrounding climate change, and will feed into and work with the wider group of Endeavour Programme researchers. The PhDs are to focus on the following topics (see below for further details):
- Implications of uncertainty in flood hazard assessments for planning under climate change.
This PhD will be co-hosted by the School of Earth and Environment and the Geospatial Research Institute at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Lead supervisor: Prof. Matt Wilson (University of Canterbury); co-supervisor Prof. Iain White (University of Waikato).
- Building future urban development scenarios into assessments of future flood risk.
This PhD will be hosted by the School of Social Sciences at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. Lead supervisor: Prof. Iain White; co-supervisor Dr. Xinyu Fu (University of Waikato); co-supervisor Prof. Matt Wilson (University of Canterbury).
An annual scholarship of NZ$30,000 plus fees is available to successful applicants. For both PhD projects, good computer literacy (ideally with coding skills in Python, Matlab or similar), some knowledge and interest in flooding and flood risk assessment and/ or urban development, and skills in manipulating and analysing spatial data (e.g., using GIS) are needed. In addition, numeracy and excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. The candidates should expect to interact with a multidisciplinary team of researchers throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand and internationally. The research results will have global applications in improving the evidence base to avoid and manage future flooding and will be published in national and international peer-reviewed journals.
If you are interested in applying for one of the projects, please get in touch with one of the project supervisors: Prof. Matt Wilson (University of Canterbury, matthew.wilson@canterbury.ac.nz) and Prof. Iain White (University of Waikato, iain.white@waikato.ac.nz). Applications should be sent by email care of the Project Manager, Dr. Belinda Sleight (belinda.sleight@waikato.ac.nz). Review of applications will take place continuously; to ensure full consideration, you should submit your application no later than 30 September 2022. Please submit the following documents:
- A full curriculum vitae, including details of any prior publications;
- A cover letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the selected project;
- Contact details of at least two referees; and
- A GPA report obtained from https://support.scholaro.com/portal/kb/articles/canterbury (those with New Zealand or United States qualifications are not required to use Scholaro).