Funded Master’s Opportunity at Tulane River-Coastal Science & Engineering
Tian Zhao
Dr. Tian Zhao and Dr. Mead Allison in the Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering at Tulane University (sse.tulane.edu/river) are recruiting a master’s student to begin in August 2026, supported by a Coastal Science Assistantship Program (CSAP) fellowship in Louisiana. This student will work on parameterizing aquatic vegetation geometry for hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models of the Birdsfoot Delta, through field observations and airborne LiDAR imaging. They will have the opportunity to collaborate broadly with the Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative (MissDelta) team. As part of CSAP, the student will complete 240 hours of internship with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) of Louisiana and present their thesis work to CPRA prior to graduation.
The ideal candidate should have:
- A strong background in math (linear algebra, differential equations, and statistics), physics, and programming.
- Strong communication skills.
- Preferred: Knowledge of ecology, remote sensing, fluid mechanics, sediment transport, geomorphology, numerical analysis and/or machine learning.
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to email Dr. Tian Zhao (tzh...@tulane.edu) with a brief introduction, CV, and unofficial transcript before submitting an application (sse.tulane.edu/academics/graduate/admissions). Priority consideration will be given to applications received by April 15, 2026, although late applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until mid-late May.
Please feel free to share this opportunity with your network. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Tian Zhao
Postdoctoral Fellow, Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative (MissDelta)
Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering
Tulane University
6823 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
tzh...@tulane.edu