Dr Baoxing Wang: PhD in coastal engineering

Baoxing discusses his PhD at Plymouth

Subject: Coastal Engineering

Year of graduation: 2006

Current Employer: AECOM

Current Job Title: Principal Coastal Modeller, Basingstoke, UK

What was the title of your project? 

Nonlinear interaction waves and currents with structures in nearshore environments.

Describe your research in one sentence. 

The emphasis of my research is to model the encountered multiple scales of hydrodynamics in a numerical efficient and accurate way on a beach and around a structure in the shallow coastal region.

What was the most exciting element(s) of your project (e.g. fieldwork or conferences etc)?

During my PhD studies, part of my research material was accepted by the Coastal Engineering journal (Elsevier).

What was the most exciting outcome(s) of your project?

I have successfully derived a series of equations for wave radiation stress and mass flux by inclusion of higher-order surface elevations. The study has shown the importance of wave nonlinearity in wave-induced currents and mean water level.

Tell us what you have been doing since completing your research

Currently I am a principal coastal modeller with responsibilities including the design, applying and reporting of numerical models, project management, and promotion of research interests. I have considerable experience in waterfront development, ports, dredging, offshore wind farm, tidal energy, marine environment and coastal management. I have a broad knowledge of coastal modelling covering a wide range of processes such as waves, tides, and sediment transport and water quality.

My professional career is:

• Principal Coastal Modeller (AECOM) – June 2012 – Present (5 years 3 months), Basingstoke, UK
• Senior Consultant (ABPmer) – July 2008 – June 2012 (4 years) Southampton, UK
• Research Fellow (University of Plymouth) – April 2006 – July 2008 (2 years 4 months), Plymouth, UK

Organisations

• Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology
• Fellow, Chartered Marine Engineer & Chartered Marine Scientist.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get in to the same line of work?

To work as a numerical modeller in the consulting industry you need to develop your computer programming skills which you may have to use in your daily modelling work.

How did your time at Plymouth University help you?

My study was financed with the aid of scholarships from the University of Plymouth. The university also helped me to successfully win the Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme, UK.

Would you recommend undertaking research at Plymouth University, and why?

The Ocean Basin in the university provides physical model testing with combined waves, currents and wind, offered at scales appropriate for device testing, array testing, environmental modelling and coastal engineering. The researcher will benefit from the quality wave data collected from this unique modern facility.

Find out more about postgraduate study at the University of Plymouth here