Graduate Student
My research is concerned with the design and implementation of nature-based coastal adaptation in urban settings. Despite increased interest in the incorporation of natural ecosystems in coastal engineering projects, there are still many gaps in our understanding of how these ecosystems perform hydrodynamically under extreme weather conditions and future climate scenarios. Using a combination of physical and numerical experiments, I will investigate wave attenuation and resilience of hybrid coastal defense strategies under various flow conditions, particularly the ability of oyster beds to reduce wave-driven flooding and overtopping during storms. I will then use a coastal-scale hydrodynamic model to explore implementation in an urban study area, with the goal of providing coastal communities with the tools to design physically and ecologically resilient waterfronts. Watch me on the “Ask MIT” Podcast.