June 1, 2021

Making Waves

Montclair State doctoral graduate recognized for research on beach nourishment modeling

Posted in: Awards & Recognition, Program Alumni, Student Research

Arye Janoff is shown here on a groin field – the type of rock structure prevalent along the New Jersey coast — Arye Janoff '21 PhD researches the connection between natural coastal change and human intervention. He is shown here on a groin field – the type of rock structure prevalent along the New Jersey coast – after the recent tropical storm.

Arye Janoff ’21 PhD, a coastal geomorphologist who studies the long-term effects of climate change along the New Jersey coast, was awarded a prestigious modeler award for research that couples geomorphology and economics to understand how communities manage their beaches along developed coasts.

Janoff received the Jaia Syvitski Student Modeler Award for 2021 given by the Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System to recognize outstanding achievement in surface modeling, with a focus on how modeling is used to address scientific and societal challenges.

Completing his doctoral program last January in Environmental Science and Management, Janoff is currently a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, working with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation on projects that include decarbonization of the maritime transportation system (covering both domestic and transoceanic shipping), port and Coast Guard shoreside infrastructure resilience to sea level rise, Jones Act determinations on offshore wind farm construction, supply chain and maritime workforce safety issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and agency oversight of the Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, and Federal Maritime Commission. In this role, he has briefed members of Congress, drafted letters to relevant agencies, prepared hearing materials, drafted legislation, and participated in various subcommittee and committee meetings with environmental NGOs, industry groups, agency officials, member offices and House leadership.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supported his previous research through its Dynamics of Coupled Natural-Human Systems program.

Janoff delivered a keynote presentation during the annual meeting of the NSF’s scientific center Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System, and received the award on May 17 judged on the basis of ingenuity, applicability and contribution toward the advancement of geoscience modeling.