Mark is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Coastal Processes at the University of Plymouth. His work includes in-situ measurement, video remote sensing and numerical modelling of hydo- and morpho- dynamics. Past research topics have included infragravity oscillations on high-energy dissipative beaches, and wave reflection from a variety of different coastal structures. He has worked on two EPSRC projects looking at the storm response of gravel barriers and the resilience of UK coastlines fronting nuclear power plant installations. His main research focus currently is developing models for predicting shoreline change on time-scales of days-to-decades.

Present Roles

• Associate Head of School (SoBMS) Admissions and Marketing
• Lecturing on undergraduate and postgraduate courses
• Ph.D. Supervision
• Coastal Processes Research Group Leader 2019 - Present Coastal Processes Research Group

Past Roles

• Leader of postgraduate taught programs (SoBMS)
• Co-ordinator of the European Framework V CoastView Project
• Line manager for postdoctoral researchers and research assistants
• Departmental Director of Research

Successful Ph.D. Completions:

• Suzana Ilic. 1999. Transformation of Multidirectional Seas (EPSRC)
• Ken Kingston. 2003. Application of complex adaptive systems approaches to coastal systems. (Office of Naval Research USA
• Ismael Marino Tapia. 2003. Cross-shore sediment transport processes on natural beaches and their relation to sandbar migration patterns. (Brazilian Government)
• Eduardo Siegle. 2003. Sediment transport and morphodynamics at an estuary mouth: A study using remote sensing and numerical modelling. (Brazilian Government)
• Marcos Bernardes. 2005. Modelling the long-term morphodynamic evolution of estuaries. (Brazilian Government)
• Richard Thain. 2005. Understanding and prediction of tidal intrusion fronts. (Britannia Royal Naval College)
• Daniel Buscombe. 2008. Shingle beach morphodynamics. (UoP)
• Nigel Aird 2009. Coastal sediment dynamics. (EU)
• Iain Failey 2010- Video monitoring of shoreline response to offshore segmented breakwaters (EPSRC)
• Emma Rendle 2016 - Artificial surfing reefs (UoP)
• Luis Melo de Almeida 2016 - Applications of LIDAR to the measurement and understanding of coastal processes (EPSRC)
• Erwin Bergsma 2017 - Morphodynamic modelling (UoP)
• Kris Inch 2017 - Infragravity wave dissipation during storms (Int. Coastal Symposium Studentship)
• Melissa Mole 2017 - Monitoring and modelling of coastal evolution (Australian Research Council)
• Sam Prodger 2018. Sediment variability and beach morphodynamics (WCE Ltd Studentship)
• Oliver Bilson 2019. Infragravity oscillations on natural beaches.

Current Ph.D. Students:

• Emily Hunt. Modelling coastal evolution on time-scales of days-to-decades (School funded PhD)

• Advanced Surfzone Dynamics
• Waves and Beaches
• Estuaries and Shelf Seas
• Physical Oceanography
• Underwater Acoustics
• Scientific Diving
• Surf Science
• Applied Marine Science (MSc)