Research Assistant - Coastal Seawater Dilution

Job Description

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of NUS invite applications for a Research Assistant position in Geotechnical Engineering.

Singapore, as a densely populated island nation, faces significant challenges in freshwater scarcity and land limitation. Despite its abundant rainfall, there are insufficient natural reservoirs and aquifers for rainwater capture and storage due to its limited land and geological formation. The reclaimed lands, typically filled with sandy soils, are prone to seawater intrusion and erosion due to seepage, intensified by alarming sea level rise. In this context, we propose to construct seepage cut-off walls enclosing the coastal regions, which can provide dual benefits: creating extensive underground reservoirs in the reclaimed sand layer for freshwater storage and protecting reclaimed land from seawater intrusion.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to join our team as a Research Assistant. This project focuses on investigating the active dilution of seawater using pumping systems coupled with rainfall replenishment in sand-filled reclaimed land. The research will combine 1-g physical model testing with analytical and numerical modeling to design optimal dilution strategies for underground freshwater reservoirs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Physical Testing: Construct and manage a 1-g physical model box simulating Singapore's reclaimed land stratigraphy (sand and clay layers).
• Data Collection & Monitoring: Execute extraction and replenishment tests; install and calibrate salinity sensors, piezometers, and flow visualization tools (dyed freshwater injections).
• Model Development: Develop analytical drawdown trajectory models based on classic pumping well theory and coupled groundwater flow/solute transport models using software such as SEAWAT or COMSOL.
• Field Simulations: Perform field-scale numerical simulations to evaluate dilution efficiency, timescales, and key influencing factors under varying soil conditions.
• Research Output: Analyze data, prepare progress reports, and present findings in academic journals and international conferences.

The findings will offer hydrological, geotechnical, and environmental insights into the entire implementation process and substantiate the feasibility of using seepage cut-off walls for underground reservoir establishment and coastal protection. This work will advance geomechanics and hydrogeology understanding, underground space development, coastal protection infrastructure multi-utilization, and sustainable urban planning.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Skills:

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydrogeology, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Technical Skills: Experience with physical laboratory testing, soil mechanics, or hydrogeology experiments is preferred. Familiarity with numerical simulation software (e.g., COMSOL, SEAWAT, MODFLOW) or coding (Python, MATLAB) is an advantage.
• Language: Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical thinking, self-motivation, and the ability to work collaboratively in a research group.

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Engineering

Department : Civil And Environmental Engineering

Employee Referral Eligible: No