Sutara H. Suanda

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography and a research affiliate with the UNCW Center for Marine Science where I co-lead the Coastal and Estuarine Hydrodynamics Group with Dr. Derek Grimes and Dr. Qianqian Liu. I am a Coastal Physical Oceanographer and my research concerns ocean processes that deliver or alter water properties next to the world’s coastlines. My work spans the surfzone (where waves break), continental shelf, and estuarine environments through a combination of observational and numerical methods. Research topics include internal wave variability, parameterization of unresolved wave effects in numerical models, and nearshore material transport. I am interested in interdisciplinary aspects of Physical Oceanography and often work with biogeochemical colleagues on topics such as sediment dispersion and shell-fish aquaculture. I collaborate with scientists, community members, and students with a wide range of interests. Prior to UNCW, I lived in New Zealand as a lecturer at the University of Otago and a scientist with the MetService. I did post-doctoral research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and graduate work at Oregon State University.

Education

- Ph.D. in Oceanography, Oregon State University (2014)
- M.S. in Oceanography, Oregon State University (2009)
- B.A. in Physics, Wesleyan University (2003)

Specialization in Teaching

- PHY101: Introductory College Physics
- PHY480/580: Coastal and Estuarine Systems
- MSC601: Oceanography of the South Atlantic Bight

Research Interests

- Environmental and geophysical fluids
- Coastal processes and extreme events
- Ocean waves, tides and material transport
- Ocean observations and numerical models