Xie, Danghan

Bio

[Start date set for January 2026]

Dr. Danghan Xie is a coastal geomorphologist whose research focuses on the coupled dynamics of coastal morphology, vegetation, and sediment transport across estuarine, deltaic, and cliffed coasts. He received his PhD in Physical Geography from Utrecht University (Netherlands), where he developed bio-morphodynamic models to investigate how mangroves, saltmarshes, sediment transport, and human interventions interact and shape coastal wetlands. His doctoral work integrated numerical modeling, field data analysis, GIS, and high-performance computing. 

Following his PhD, Dr. Xie held postdoctoral positions at Boston University and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, where he expanded his research to sediment transport, storm impacts, and large-scale coastal change detection. At Boston University, he examined storm-driven sediment transport and circulation cells using field observations, numerical modeling, and supercomputing. At Scripps, he applied high-resolution airborne lidar, satellite imagery, and automatic workflows to quantify cliff retreat trends along the entire California coast and to identify the environmental and geomorphic factors that drive coastal cliff change. 

In 2026, Dr. Xie will join the University of Maryland, College Park as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences. His research program focuses on integrating geospatial information science, remote sensing, and coastal process modeling to understand long-term coastal morphodynamics, sediment-vegetation-human feedback, and the processes governing coastal evolution, cliff recession, and shoreline change. 

Students interested in joining Dr. Xie’s research group are welcome to reach out at danghan@umd.edu. 

Degrees

  • Physical Geography, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 2022 - PhD

  • Harbor, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, China, 2017 - MEng

  • Harbor, Waterway and Coastal Engineering, Hohai University, China, 2014 - BEng

Areas of Interest

  • Coastal and estuarine geomorphology
  • Waves, currents and sediment transport
  • Ecomorphodynamics of coastal wetlands
  • Quantitative assessment of coastal cliff retreat
  • Integrated use of modelling, field data and remote sensing
  • Sustainable management of coastal systems

Research Topics

As the adage goes, teaching people to fish is more valuable than merely providing them with a fish. Dr. Xie’s teaching philosophy is rooted in a learning-centered approach that emphasizes curiosity, critical thinking, and active engagement. He encourages students to ask questions, explore concepts independently, and develop their own interpretations rather than rely solely on direct instruction. His classes incorporate guided inquiry, collaborative problem-solving, and group discussions to help students connect theory with real-world environmental processes. As a mentor, he tailors his guidance to each student’s background and career goals, building strong foundational skills for undergraduates, cultivating research insights for master’s students, and fostering independence and scientific leadership for doctoral trainees. Overall, he aims to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment that empowers students to become thoughtful, creative, and collaborative scientists.

Dr. Xie’s research focuses on the morphodynamics of coastal systems and how they evolve under interacting physical, ecological, and human drivers. He combines numerical modeling, field observations, airborne lidar, and geospatial data science to investigate bio-physical feedback in coastal wetlands, shoreline stability, and large-scale patterns of coastal cliff retreat. His current work spans bio-morphodynamic modeling of mangrove-saltmarsh systems, process-based simulations of nearshore hydrodynamics and sediment transport, and automated approaches for extracting coastal change from high-resolution lidar. In the long term, Dr. Xie aims to integrate coastal modeling and remote sensing into comprehensive coastal monitoring frameworks, foster interdisciplinary collaborations across ecology, engineering, and climate science, and support resilience strategies through improved understanding of nature-based solutions and coastal adaptation under sea-level rise.

Dr. Xie views service as an essential component of academic leadership, one that strengthens university communities, advances scientific collaboration, and supports society’s understanding of coastal change. He is committed to contributing through professional service, community engagement, and interdisciplinary cooperation. His activities include reviewing for leading scientific journals, organizing and convening sessions at international conferences such as the AGU Fall Meeting, and participating in cross-institutional scientific workshops. He also works closely with coastal communities, agencies, and stakeholders to communicate scientific findings, support field initiatives, and inform coastal management decisions. Through these efforts, Dr. Xie aims to promote collaboration, broaden participation in coastal science, and ensure that research insights meaningfully contribute to public understanding and climate-resilient decision-making.

 

Personal Website(s)

profile2

Danghan Xie
Assistant Professor

| 4600 River Road, Suite TBD

| danghan@umd.edu

Accepting New Students  Yes