Natural flood management: Nature-based flood mitigation in the 21st Century

Macquarie University invites applications from a motivated suitably qualified candidates to undertake an original and applied research project.

The Natural Flood Management (NFM) research project is fully funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage program and you will work in collaboration with our industry partners NSW Local Land Services and NSW Department of Climate Change, Environment and Water.

You will be based at Macquarie University, Sydney, where you will also work closely with, Prof Lucy Marshall and A/Prof Tim Ralph.

ARC Project description

The 2021-2022 floods across eastern Australia highlighted the vulnerability of rivers to changing climate extremes. We must urgently re-examine how to live with rivers and build nature-based flood mitigation capacity and resilience into them, to prepare for an inevitable future where floods are forecast to be more intense and extreme.

This Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage project aims to address the potential for, and implementation of, Natural Flood Management (NFM) as a next-generation nature-based flood mitigation tool for the 21st Century for river systems in eastern New South Wales (NSW), Australia. NFM uses natural processes to slow floods down, reduce their erosive and destructive power, and reduce flood risk. In collaboration with NSW Government partners, the project will undertake foundation research on the geomorphology, vegetative, hydrological and social aspects of NFM using field-based, lab-based and modelling techniques, and social science.

The project expects to deliver the scientific evidence-based for NFM and solutions for implementation in on-ground river rehabilitation prioritisation, planning and community capacity building.

Available PhD projects and scholarships

1. Geomorphology and hydrology of Natural Flood Management.
2. Hydrological modelling and simulation for Natural Flood Management.
3. Geomorphology of floodplains and wetlands for Natural Flood Management.
4. Social science and implementation of Natural Flood Management.

Start date of PhD projects:

The position will be offered, contracted and filled as per normal selection processes. The candidate is required to be enrolled and on-site at Macquarie University, Sydney, by 31st January 2025. Later start dates will not be accepted.

Visa and relocation expenses:

The program of research is fully funded by the ARC Linkage project, however candidates on all positions are responsible for their own (and accompanying person’s) visa and relocation expenses.