Professor Gerd Masselink

• Professor of Coastal Geomorphology
• Coastal Marine Applied Research (CMAR) consultancy

Prof Gerd Masselink is a Professor in Coastal Geomorphology at the University of Plymouth (UoP) with >150 refereed journal publications (WoK h-index = 42) and over 25 years' experience in collecting and analysing coastal and nearshore morphodynamic data. Gerd did his MSc degree in Physical Geography at Utrecht University (the Netherlands) from 1984 to 1990, and completed his PhD in Marine Science at Sydney University (Australia) in 1994. After a 4-year postdoc at the University of Western Australia, he started as a Lecturer at Loughborough University (UK) in 1998. Since 2005, he has been working at Plymouth University, first in the School of Geography, then in the School of Marine Science and Engineering, and currently in the School of Biological and Marine Sciences. Gerd has been (or is) a PI/CI on 13 UK research council funded projects, all involving shoreline dynamics and nearshore sediment transport processes, and has been (or is) involved with supervision of 25 coastal PhD students. Currently, Masselink is: (1) CI and work package leader on the NERC-funded project ‘Physical and biological dynamic coastal processes and their role in coastal recovery’ (BLUEcoast); (2) CI on the NERC-funded Environmental Science Impact Programme ‘South West Partnership for Environment and Economic Prosperity’ (SWEEP); (3) co-PI on the EPSRC-funded project ‘Adaptation and Resilience of Coastal Energy Supply’ (ARCoES); and (4) CI on the EU's framework programme Horizon 2020 HYDRALAB-PLUS project Dynamic Coastal Protection: Resilience of Dynamic Revetments Under SLR’ (DYNAREV). He was the chair of the organising committee of the 2013 International Coastal Symposium (hosted at Plymouth University), is on the Editorial Boards of the Elsevier journal Marine Geology, is the author of the textbook Introduction to Coastal Processes and Geomorphology, and is editor of the textbook Coastal Environments and Global Change. Apart from his academic role, Gerd is Associate Head of School (Research), co-director of the consulting group Coastal Marine Applied Research (CMAR; https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/cmar) and member of the Coastal Processes Research Group (CPRG; https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/coastal-processes).

Qualifications

2015–current     Professor in Coastal Geomorphology, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom

2009–2015        Professor in Coastal Geomorphology, School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom

2007–2009        Professor in Coastal Geomorphology, School of Geography, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom

2004–2007        Reader in Coastal Geomorphology, School of Geography, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom

2002–2004        Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, Geography Department, Loughborough University, United Kingdom

1999–2002        Lecturer in Physical Geography, Geography Department, Loughborough University, United Kingdom

1997–1999        ARC Post-doctoral Fellow, Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Australia

1995–1997        UWA Post-doctoral Fellow, Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Australia

1991–1994        Part-time tutor, Geography Department, University of Sydney, Australia

1990             Research assistant, Department of Physical Geography, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands

1990             Research assistant, Rijkswaterstaat, Dienst Binnenwateren, The Netherlands

1989             Research assistant, Delft Hydraulics Laboratory, The Netherlands

1989             Research assistant, Department of Physical Geography, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands

Roles on external bodies

Editorial board

• Marine Geology (2012–current)

• Coastal Engineering (2014–2017)

• Journal of Coastal Research (2005–2011)

Teaching interests

• GGP1207 - Introduction to Physical Geography (1st year)
• GGP2207 - Catchments and Coasts (2nd year) 
• GGX3105 - Dissertation in Geography (3rd year)
  
• OS314 - Ocean Science residential field trip - Module Leader
• MAR515 - Management of Coastal Systems (MSc) - Module Leader
• SCI5301 - MSc Dissertation

Staff serving as external examiners

2020             PhD External Examiner – Department of Cybernetics, School of Science, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia (Maris Eelsalu)

2019             PhD External Examiner – Department of Geosciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands (Anita Engelstad)

2018             PhD External Examiner – Department of Civil Engineering, University of Delft, Delft, the Netherlands (Max Radermacher)

2017             PhD External Examiner – Department of Physical Geography, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands (Joost Brinkkemper)

2016             PhD Internal Examiner – School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University (Erwin Bergsma)

2013             PhD External Examiner – Department of Physical Geography, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands (Timothy Price)

2011             PhD External Examiner – University of Queensland, Australia (Hannah Powers)

2012–2014        PhD Committee – Center for Applied Coastal Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, USA (Thijs Lancriet)

2010             PhD External Examiner – Department of Geography, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy (Duccio Bertoni)

2008             PhD External Examiner (Examinateur) – Department of Physical Oceanography, University of Brest, Brest, France (David Morellato)

2006             PhD External Examiner (Examinateur) – Université du Littoral, Côte d’Opale, Dunkirk, France (Mouncef Sedrati)

2005             PhD Internal Examiner – School of Engineering, University of Plymouth (Adrian Pedrozo-Acuña)

2004             PhD External Examiner – University of Sydney, Australia (Aaron Couts-Smith)

2003–2006        Undergraduate External examiner Physical Geography, Bath Spa University

2003             PhD External Examiner (Rapporteur) – Université du Littoral, Côte d’Opale, Dunkirk, France (Beatrice Reichmuth

Research interests

• Beach processes and morphology
• Nearshore hydrodynamics and sediment transport
• Coastal geomorphology, morphodynamics and evolution
• Extreme storm response and recovery
• Impact of sea-level rise on coastal environments

Research groups

• Coastal Processes Research Group
• Marine Institute

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Natural adaptive capability of coral reef islands to sea-level rise and implications for future human occupation

2020-current       Aikaterina Konstantinou – Coastal dynamics from space

2019–current       Josie Alice-Kirby – Application of Coastal Change Management Areas (CCMAs) for coastal adaptation to climate change impacts in SW England (DoS)

2017–current       Anna Persson – Physical drivers of nursery function in juvenile flatfishes

2016–2021        Erin King – Modelling sediment exchange between the beach and the inner continental shelf

2016–2020        Paul Bayle – Coastal resilience under sea-level rise (based at Bath, UK)

2016–2020        Mark Wiggins – Coastal cell response to a changing wave climate using autonomous aerial surveying

2016–2019        Megan Tuck – Dynamics of coral reef islands (based at Auckland, New Zealand)

2015–2019        Nieves Garcia Valiente – Sediment exchange between beach and inner shelf (DoS)

2014–2018        Olivier Burvingt – Beach response to extreme storms along the SW coast of England (DoS)

2015–2017        Rafael Jesús Bergillos – Multi-scale dynamics of mixed sand and gravel deltaic coasts (based at Granada, Spain)

2013–2017        Sebastian Pitman – Automatic Rip Current Detection (based at Southampton, UK)

2013–2017        Kris Inch – Extreme storm dynamics on sandy beaches

2011–2015        Claire Early – Field observations of wave induced coastal cliff erosion, Cornwall, UK (DoS)

2011–2015        Pedro Almeida – Swash Zone Dynamics of coarse-Grained Beaches during Energetic Wave Conditions (DoS)

2011–2015        Robert McCall – Modelling gravel beach storm response using XBeach (DoS)

2011–2014        Anissia White – Managing the Retreat: Understanding the Transition to Salt Marsh in Coastal Realignment Project

2010–2016        Antony Thorpe – Sediment Dynamics in Rip Currents

2010–2014        Saul Reynolds – Tidal Dune Dynamics (no completion)

2009–2013        Suha Zoozi – Estuarine Pollution Dynamics in Agricultural River Basins

2008–2012        Tim Poate – Impact of Wave Hub on Shoreline Processes and Beach Morphology

2007–2011        Alison Nock – An ARC Marine Decision Support System for Coastal Flooding (no completion)

2007–2010        Amaia Ruiz de Alegria Arzaburu – Measuring and Modelling Annual, Seasonal and Storm-Induced Morphological Response on a Gravel Beach (DoS)

2006–2010        Tim Scott – Classification of UK Beaches and Associated Nearshore Hazards (DoS)

2004–2008        Daniel Buscombe – Morpho-Sediment Dynamics of Gravel Beaches (DoS)

2002–2005        Martin Austin – Swash, Groundwater and Sediment Transport Processes on Gravel Beaches (DoS)

2000–2004        Darren Evans – Swash on Steep and Shallow Beaches (DoS)

2000–2004        Selma van Houwelingen – Spatial and Temporal Variability in Ridge and Runnel Morphology along the North Lincolnshire Coast, England (DoS)

2000–2004        Aafke Tonk – Longshore Sediment Transport on Low-Energy Beaches (DoS)

Grants & contracts

2021             HEIF funding for Autonomous Beach Elevation Sensor (ABES) (PI) (£23k)

2020–2021        NERC Grant Coastal REsistance: Alerts and Monitoring Technologies (CREAMT) (CI with Dr Jenny Brown of NOC Liverpool) (£170k) (NE/V002589/1)

2020–2021        GCRF grant Physical impacts of climate change on coral reef islands (PI) (£50k)

2020–2021        MetOffice-Newton grant WCSSP Africa (Marine and Coastal Applications) Developing operational coastal risk models for rip currents and storm overtopping (PI) (£100k)

2020             EPSRC Overseas Travel Grant Coastal Modelling of Extreme Storms and Sea-level Rise (CMESSR) (PI) (£15k) (EP/T004304/1)

2019–2021        GCRF grant Development of sustainable abalone ranching in South Africa (CI with Dr Tim Scott of University of Plymouth) (£49k)

2019             Creative Associate Award Waves (CI led by Kay Michael of Empty Deck) (£4k)

2017–2022        NERC Environmental Science Impact Programme South West Partnership for Environment and Economic Prosperity (SWEEP) (CI led by University of Exeter (total award £4M, representing £760k for Plymouth) (NE/P011217/1)

2017–2018        European Community's framework programme Horizon 2020 HYDRALAB-PLUS, Contract No. 654110 Dynamic Coastal Protection: Resilience of Dynamic Revetments Under SLR (CI led by University of Bath) (representing approx. £140k)

2016–2020        NERC Strategic Highlight Topics grant, Physical and biological dynamic coastal processes and their role in coastal recovery (BLUE-coast) (CI on consortium grant led by Liverpool NOC; representing £773k for Plymouth) (NE/N015525/1).

2015–2018        Science and Technology Foundation (Portugal), Evolution and Resilience of Barrier Island Systems (EVREST) (Consultant with Dr Ana Matias of Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, University of Algarve) (representing c. £120k)

2014–2016        EPSRC grant Waves Across Shore Platforms (WASP) (PI with Dr Austin of Bangor University) (£263k) (EP/L025191/1)

2014–2015        NERC Urgency grant Impact of sequence of extreme storms during 2013/14 winter on southwest coast of England (PI with Prof. Russell, Dr Davidson, Dr Conley, Dr Scott and Dr Fletcher of Plymouth University) (£51k) (NE/M004996/1)

2012–2014        EPSRC grant Proto-type Experiment and Numerical Modelling of Energetic Sediment Transport under Waves (PESTS) (CI with Dr Daniel Conley of University of Plymouth) (£240k) (EP/K000306/1)

2012–2013        Marine Institute Small Collaborative Research Grant, Quaternary Raised Beaches of Devon and Cornwall: New Data for an Old Problem (CI with Dr Matt Telfer, Prof. Roland Gehrels, Dr Will Marshall, Dr Ken Kingston and Dr Sarah Boulton of Plymouth University) (£5k)

2012–2015        Science and Technology Foundation (Portugal), From Runup to Overwash (RUSH) (Consultant with Dr Ana Matias of Centre for Marine and Environmental Research , University of Algarve) (representing c. £85k)

2011–2015        Environment Agency Grant, Environmental Monitoring of Salt Marsh Restoration Project at South Efford (PI with Dr Ken Kingston, Dr Mick Hanley, Prof. Roland Gehrels and Dr Will Blake of Plymouth University) (£10k)

2012–2013        Marine Institute Small Collaborative Research Grant, Evaluating Sediment Accretion Rates on Restored Saltmarshes using Fallout Be-7 (CI with Dr Will Blake and Dr Mick Hanley of Plymouth University) (£5,000)

2011–2014        European Social Fund, Great Western Research, PhD studentship Coastal Cliff Erosion in Cornwall (PI with Prof. Paul Russell of Plymouth University and Dr Robin Shail of Exeter University) (£60k) (ID152)

2011–2016        EPSRC grant Adaption and Resilience of Coastal Energy Supply (ARCoES) (CI with Prof. Andrew Plater of University of Liverpool) (£150k + £50k studentship) (EP/IO35390/1)

2011-2012         European Community's Seventh Framework Programme, Integrated Infrastructure Initiative HYDRALAB IV Contract no. 261520 Barrier Dynamics Experiments II (PI with 14 international collaborators) (c. £300k)

2011–2014        EPSRC grant New Understanding and Prediction of Storm Impacts on Gravel Beaches (NUPSIG (PI with Dr Paul Russell and Prof. Jon Williams of Plymouth University) (£372k + £50k studentship) (EP/H040056/1)

2010–2012        NERC grant Dynamics of Rip Currents and Implications for Beach Safety (DRIBS) (PI with Dr Paul Russell of Plymouth University and the RNLI) (£396k) (NE/H004262/1)

2009–2011           Seale-Hayne Educational Trust grant Groundwater seepage through gravel barrier beaches: morphological stability and saline-freshwater mixing (£12k) (CI with Dr Martin Austin of Plymouth University)

2008–2009        NERC small grant Beach change over individual wave cycles on sand and gravel beaches (£76k) (PI with Dr Russell of Plymouth University) (NE/F009275/1)

2008             European Community's Sixth Framework Programme, Integrated Infrastructure Initiative HYDRALAB III Contract no. 022441 (RII3) Barrier Dynamics Experiments (representing c. £200k) (CI with Dr Jon Williams of Plymouth University and others)

2008                 Seale-Hayne Educational Trust grant Estuarine Situation in Devon and Cornwall: the Role of Agricultural Land Use (£9k) (CI with Dr Roland Gehrels and Dr Will Blake of Plymouth University)

2007–2010        NERC grant Coastal Flooding by Extreme Events (CoFEE) (CI with Dr Jon Williams and Dr Luciana Estevez of Plymouth University) (£180k) (NE/E002471/1)

2007-2010         South-West Regional Development Agency (SWERDA) Wave Hub Impacts on Shoreline and Sediment Processes (WHISSP) (representing c. £450k) (CI with Dr Jon Williams of Plymouth University and others)

2007–2009        ARC Discovery Grant Wave-by-wave bed-level changes at the beachface of gravel and sand beaches (AUD$304k) (PI with Dr Ian Turner of University of New South Wales and Dr Russell of Plymouth University) (DP0770118)

2006–2008        Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Classification and risk assessment of UK beaches (£60k) (with Dr Russell of Plymouth University)

2005–2007        South Hams Society Avon Estuary siltation project (£13k) (CI with Dr Blake and Dr Gehrels of Plymouth University)

2004–2007        NERC grant Cross-shore sediment transport and profile evolution on natural beaches (X-SHORE) (£235k) (CI with Dr Russell and Dr O’Hare of Plymouth University) (NER/A/S/2003/00553)

2000–2004        NERC grant The role of swash in shoreline change (£268k) (CI with Dr Russell of Plymouth University) (NER/S/J/2000/04060)

2000–2004        NERC grant Spatial and temporal variability in ridge and runnel morphology (£35k) (NER/M/S/2000/00281)

2000–2004        EPSRC grant Longshore sediment transport on low-energy beaches (£52k) (PI)

2000             The Royal Society Conference Grant (£800) (RSS/SG/22387/994/D2)

1999–2002        University Grant Classification of the unconsolidated coastline of England and Wales (£3k) (PI)

1998–1999        ARC Small Grant Effect of mid-latitude storms on the coastal environment of Western Australia (AUD$18k) (PI)

1997–1998        ARC Small Grant Sediment transport processes on the beachface and in the inner surf zone of natural beaches (AUD$18k) (PI with Dr Pattiaratchi of the University of Western Australia)

1996–1997        ARC Small Grant The impact of sea breeze activity and storms on the nearshore environment (AUD$18k) (PI)

Conferences organised

• 2019 Co-organiser of 5th Sea Level And Coastal Change (SLACC) conference at University of Plymouth, September 2019

Other academic activities

Editorial board: Coastal Engineering (2014–current), Marine Geology (2012–current), Journal of Coastal Research (2005–2011)

Grant review: Natural Environment Research Council (NERC; UK), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC; UK), Israel Science Foundation (ISF), Leverhulme Trust (UK), Australian Research Council (ARC), Good Science Fund (New Zealand), National Research Council of Rumania, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NOSR), Research Grants Council Hong Kong, Swiss National Science Foundation, Technology Foundation STW Netherlands

Journal review: Applied Geography, Area, Brazilian Journal of Oceanography, Coastal Engineering, Continental Shelf Research, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Earth Science Reviews, Environmental Science and Policy, Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, Geology, Geo-Marine Letters, Geomorphology, Geophysical Research Letters – Earth, Geophysical Research Letters – Oceans, Journal of Coastal Research, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal of Maps, Journal of Oceanography and Marine Science, Journal of Operational Oceanography, Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, Marine Geology, Ocean Engineering, Sedimentology, Sedimentary Geology, Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie

Links

• Waves Across Shore Platforms (WASP)
• Coastal response to extreme 2013/14 storms
• BARDEX II Barrier Dynamics Experiment II (BARDEX II)
• Adaptation and Resliences of Coastal Energy Supply in the UK (ARCoES)
• New Understanding and Prediction on Storm Impacts in Gravel beaches (NUPSIG)
• Dynamics of Rips and Implications for Beach Safety (DRIBS)
• Bed-level project: beach change over individual wave cycles on sand and gravel beaches
• Barrier Dynamics Experiment (BARDEX)
• Classification of the coast of England and Wales