• Professor, Ocean Engineering
  • Director, Graduate Programs
  • Associate Director of Dredging and Coastal Studies
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Jens Figlus

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Delaware – 2010
  • M.Eng, Civil Engineering, University of Delaware – 2007
  • Dipl.-Ing, Civil Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany – 2005

Research Interests

    • Coastal and hydraulic engineering
    • Sediment transport processes
    • Beach, dune, and barrier island morphodynamics
    • Waves and nearshore dynamics
    • Innovative coastal protection systems against storm surge, flooding, and erosion
    • Nature-based solutions for sustainable coastal flood-risk reduction
    • Vessel wake dynamics

Awards & Honors

  • Fulbright Scholar
  • ASCE Excellence in Civil Engineering Education (ExCEEd) Fellow
  • Tulla Medal, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Karlsruhe, Germany
  • Faculty Fellow and Distinguished Partner with the Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT)

Selected Publications

  • Ilami, D. and Figlus, J. (2026). A novel trajectory-informed stochastic closure for near-wall deposition onset in horizontal slurry pipe flow. Physics of Fluids, 38, 093349, 1-16.
  • Tong, F., Figlus, J., Chang, K.-A., Gao, H., Kaihatu, J. M., Socolofsky, S. A., Bae, S. B., Kim, J.-Y., Huang, C.-H., and Zhang, S. (2026). Wave energy contributions from hurricane, front, and vessel passages near coastal wetland edges in Galveston Bay. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, 153/1, 04026023, 1-18.
  • Turnbaugh, J., Figlus, J., Kamalanathan, M., Labonte, J. M., and Jonkman, S. N. (2026). Increasing rock revetment slope stability through microbially induced bio-cementation. Journal of Coastal Research, 42/5, 862-870.
  • Joubert, J. and Figlus, J. (2026). Vessel wake induced suspension of bed sediment in a shallow bay. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, 152/3, 04026005, 1-14.
  • Christiaanse, J. C., Antolínez, J. A. A., Marshall, C. D., Figlus, J., Dellapenna, T. M., and Reniers, A. J. H. M. (2025). Beach groundwater response to ocean processes and rain on a mild-sloping barrier island: implications for sea turtle nest flooding . Coastal Engineering, 201, 104795.
  • Tong, F., Figlus, J., Joubert, J., and Fuller, W. P. (2025). Field measurements and numerical simulations of deep-draft vessel-wake hydrodynamics in a shallow-bay system. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, 151(3), 04025011.
  • Figlus, J., McKee Smith, J., Tomiczek, T., and McFall, B. C. (2023). “Editorial: Natural and nature-based features for flood risk management.” Frontiers in Built Environment – Coastal and Offshore Engineering, 8.
  • Figlus, J. (2022). Chapter 21—Designing and implementing coastal dunes for flood risk reduction. In S. Brody, Y. Lee, and B. B. Kothuis (Eds.), Coastal Flood Risk Reduction (pp. 287–301). Elsevier.
  • Figlus, J., Sigren, J. M., Feagin, R. A., and Armitage, A. R. (2022). “The unique ability of fine roots to reduce vegetated coastal dune erosion during wave collision.” Frontiers in Built Environment – Coastal and Offshore Engineering, 8.
  • Figlus, J., Song, Y.-K., Maglio, C.K., Friend, P.L., Poleykett, J., Engel, F.L., Schnoeblen, D., and Boburka, K. (2021). “Particle tracer analysis for submerged berm placement of dredged material near South Padre Island, Texas.” Journal of Dredging, 19/1: 14-30.
  • Anarde, K., Figlus, J., Sous, D., Tissier, A.M. (2020). “Transformation of infragravity waves during hurricane overwash.” Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 8, 545.
  • Almarshed, B., Figlus, J., Miller, J., and Verhagen, H. J. (2020). “Innovative coastal risk reduction through hybrid design: combining sand cover and structural defenses.” Journal of Coastal Research, 36/1:174-188.
  • Figlus, J., Song, Y.-K., Chardon-Maldonado, P., and Puleo, J. A. (2018). “Numerical Simulation of Post-Storm Recovery and Time-Averaged Swash Velocity on an Engineered Beach with Ridge-Runnel System.” International Journal of Offshore and Polar Engineering, 28/2: 143-153.
  • Harter, C., and Figlus, J. (2017). “Numerical Modeling of the Morphodynamic Response of a Low-Lying Barrier Island Beach and Foredune System Inundated during Hurricane Ike Using XBeach and CSHORE.” Coastal Engineering, 120: 64–74.
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