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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template
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Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
School:
Dr Stephen Nash
Civil Engineering
National University of Ireland, Galway
Galway
Ireland
College of Engineering and Informatics
Has project been agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed registration school?
YES
Research Centre / group affiliation:
Ryan Institute for Environmental Marine & Energy Research
- Modelling and Informatics
http://www.ryaninstitute.ie/research/modellinginformatics/
http://www.nuigalway.ie/civileng/Staff/stephennash.html
Research group / centre website:
PI website / link to CV:
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
Stephen’s specialism is the area of physical and computer modelling of oceanic, estuarine and
freshwater systems. He is an active PI within both the Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and
Energy Research and the Energy Research Centre.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Title: Using Coastal Water Quality Models as Forensic Environmental Tools
Description: Sources of nutrients to coastal waters are many and varied. As a result some source are
oftentimes unknown and therefore difficult to prevent. Effective coastal zone management requires
a complete understanding of all inputs to the coastal zone. It is proposed to adapt an existing twodimension numerical coastal model, namely DIVAST, so that it can be used in a back-tracking fashion
to locate the source of floating objects and contaminants found in a coastal environment. The
model will be validated by investigation of dye and particle releases using idealised physical models
constructed in the tidal basin at NUI Galway. The resulting numerical model will have useful
applications in the effective management of coastal zones.
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
The Modelling & Informatics Group at Ryan Institute has a number of unique selling points in
relation to marine modelling:
 we develop our own computational fluid dynamic modelling codes
 we have a unique tidal basin and associated equipment for scale modelling
 we operate a coastal radar system which allows us to undertake extensive model validation and
develop data assimilation techniques
 we have developed a very good relationship with IBM Research Ireland and are being funded by
them
 we have very good experience in operational modelling and running model codes on high
performance computers in collaboration with the Irish Centre for High-end Computing (ICHEC)
 we are currently a partner in 2 EU marine related projects and have extensive collaborations
with groups across Europe
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
As above.
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Civil Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Applied Maths
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
x
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
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Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _Y ____
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _N____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____