Mike Cuttler

Dr. Mike Cuttler is a Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia (UWA) within the School of Earth and Oceans and the UWA Oceans Institute. His research focuses on nearshore processes, coastal hazards, and complex coastlines, particularly reef-fronted environments. He investigates drivers of coastal evolution across storm to decadal timescales, leveraging field instrumentation (e.g., wave buoys, ADCPs) and numerical models (e.g., Delft3D, XBeach). He collaborates with UWA’s Coastal and Offshore Engineering Lab and leads projects on WA’s coastal dynamics, including wave monitoring and habitat connectivity. He actively supervises PhD students and has secured grants from agencies like the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing climate action and ocean conservation.

• Education: PhD in Earth Sciences (UWA, 2017), BSc (Hons) in Geology (Boston College, 2012)
• Research Group: Coastal and Ocean Dynamics, led by Prof Ryan Lowe and Dr Jeff Hansen

Research interests include coastal hazards (flooding/erosion), sediment transport, and reef systems. Recent projects involve developing tools for fine-scale oceanographic analysis in WA’s Dampier Archipelago and forecasting coastal safety for rock fishing areas. He also conducts aerial surveys for coastal morphology monitoring between Point Peron and Cape Naturaliste. His work integrates field, modeling, and laboratory studies to advance coastal resilience strategies.

Grants and collaborations include IMOS-funded projects on wave buoys and coastal moorings. His publications span coastal dynamics, coral reef resilience, and hydrodynamic modeling, with a focus on data-driven solutions for environmental challenges.