Sand mining in Southeast Asia: Drivers, impacts and sustainable management

The Tropical Rivers Group at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), invites applications from exceptionally motivated and passionate individuals for a PhD opportunity to advance research on sand mining, one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The project offers an exciting opportunity to explore the drivers, extent, and sustainable management of sand mining activities, with a primary focus on Southeast Asia and the Mekong Delta, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Edward Park. Our team is at the forefront of this field, integrating cutting-edge methodologies from both physical and human geography perspectives to address critical scientific and societal challenges.

Research Scope and Objectives

The research project encompasses multiple themes and methodologies, allowing candidates to tailor their work based on their background and interests. Some potential research topics include:

Physical Geography Focus:

• Investigating the physical processes underpinning riverbank collapse and salinity intrusion caused by sand mining activities.
• Employing hydrodynamic modeling tools, such as Deft3D, to understand sediment dynamics, riverbed incision, and hydrological changes in impacted regions.
• Exploring the interplay between sand mining and climatic factors to quantify long-term geomorphological and hydrological consequences.

Human Geography Focus:

• Quantifying sand trade dynamics in Southeast Asia and mapping trade networks.
• Investigating the socioeconomic drivers of sand mining, including urbanization, infrastructure development, and global trade demands.
• Analyzing policy and governance frameworks to propose sustainable management strategies for balancing developmental and environmental priorities.

The PhD candidate will work within an interdisciplinary team of researchers, including other PhD students and research staff, focusing on sand mining across the Mekong Delta and Southeast Asia. Our lab leads internationally recognized projects in this field, providing candidates with unparalleled resources, datasets, and collaboration opportunities.

Program Timeline

The program offers two intakes annually: January and August. Interested candidates should apply well in advance to ensure sufficient time for proposal development and application processing.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the program:

• Academic Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree with honors (at least Second Class Upper) and/or a Master’s degree in a relevant field. Exceptional candidates with a First-Class Honors Bachelor’s degree or significant research experience (e.g., lead-author publications in top-tier journals) may be exempted from the Master’s degree requirement, subject to approval.
• GRE Requirements: A valid GRE score is mandatory for applicants who are not graduates of Singapore’s Autonomous Universities.
• English Language Proficiency: Applicants must meet the NTU standards for English competency.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview as part of the selection process.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Assistant Professor Edward Park (email: [email protected] ) to discuss their qualifications, research interests, and the suitability of the project. Early consultation is strongly recommended, ideally at least three months before the application deadline.

Application Deadline: January 2026 Intake: Apply by 31 July 2025 / August 2025 Intake: Apply by 31 January 2025.

For detailed information and application procedures, please visit: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/education/graduate-programme/doctor-of-philosophy-arts-education-and-sciences