Phillip P. Schmutz
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of West Florida
Welcome
I am a coastal and aeolian geomorphologist interested in how physical and ecological processes shape dynamic beach and dune landscapes. My research combines field observations, uncrewed aerial systems, geospatial analysis, and statistical modeling to better understand coastal system change.
My work focuses on beach–dune systems, sediment transport, dune development, coastal resilience, and relationships between coastal morphology and habitat use. I use drone-derived topography, LiDAR, field surveys, and long-term monitoring datasets to support data-driven conservation and coastal management.
As Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of West Florida, I am committed to student success, interdisciplinary collaboration, field-based learning, and undergraduate and graduate research.
Contact
Email
pschmutz@uwf.edu
Department
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Institution
University of West Florida
Professional Profiles Google Scholar
ResearchGate
ORCID
GitHub
Current Roles
Department Leadership
Research
Co-Director
Computational Geomorphology and Modeling Lab
Teaching
Mentoring
Student Research
Mentoring two graduate thesis and two undergraduate students.
Highlights
Recent Updates
New Research
Paper accepted in Southeastern Geographer, Space–Time Mapping and Identification of Sea Turtle Nesting Clusters on Pensacola Beach and Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida. https://doi.org/10.1353/sgo.0.a981639Community News
Featured in the WEAR-TV story on Pensacola Graffiti Bridge.Conference or Fieldwork
Presented research on beach wrack, wind reduction, and sediment deposition at the International Conference on Aeolian Research (ICAR) in Swakopmund, Namibia. — ICAR 2026 Poster PDF
Featured Publications
Lagging behind: Impact of non-native gravel within a coastal dune system Aeolian Research, 2025