Back to search results

PhD Studentship - Implications of Extreme Temperatures on Physiological and Cognitive Functioning in Offshore Wind Technicians

University of Hull

Qualification Type: PhD
Location: Kingston upon Hull
Funding for: UK Students, EU Students, International Students
Funding amount: £19,795
Hours: Full Time
Placed On: 18th November 2024
Closes: 4th December 2024

Supervisor(s)

  1. Dr. Kate Donnan, University of Hull K.J.Donnan@hull.ac.uk
  2. Dr. Rebecca Vince, University of Hull

Enquiries email: K.J.Donnan@hull.ac.uk

Work in offshore settings requires workers to engage in a variety of potentially risky, physically, and mentally demanding tasks. In 2019, 865 offshore accidents were reported, and similar numbers of incidents (including near hit/miss, amongst others) were reported in 2022. Human error is reported to be one of the most common causes of accidents on OSW platforms, including mistakes in judgement, fatigue, and attentional lapses, alongside extreme weather. Additionally, according to statistics from a manufacturing company, 40% of wind turbine errors are due to human error.

Working long hours in harsh environments, wind conditions and extremely low, and high temperature increases the susceptibility of human error.

Despite exposure to extreme heat and cold being frequently cited as a risk to OSW technicians, to date the focus surrounding weather implications for OSW technicians has focused predominantly on wind and lightning, and not the implications of extreme environmental temperature, which is becoming ever present due to global warming. Heavy personal protective equipment (PPE) may also increase thermal strain experienced in hot weather, contributing further to the susceptibility of human error.

This project will investigate the physiological and cognitive consequences of extreme environments (i.e., hot and cold) for technicians working in Offshore Wind (OSW).The project will implement both quantitative and qualitative approaches to understand the psychophysiological demands of the OSW technician’s role, examine the impact of hot and cold conditions (accounting for PPE use) on task execution, and explore strategies for maintaining physical and cognitive functioning in such conditions.

Training & Skills

You will benefit from a taught programme, giving you a broad understanding of the breadth and depth of current and emerging offshore wind sector needs. This begins with an intensive six-month programme at the University of Hull. It is supplemented by Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which is embedded throughout your 4-year research scholarship.

The successful candidate will develop a wide range of skills including research design, data analysis techniques, use of cognitive software (potential coding), use of environmental chamber and use of relevant physiological monitoring equipment (e.g., core temperature).

Eligibility requirements

If you have received or expect to achieve before starting your PhD programme a First-class Honours degree, or a 2:1 Honours degree and a Masters, or a Distinction at Masters level a degree (or the international equivalents) in psychology and/or physiology, and ideally have engaged in interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary work or have graduated from courses related to exercise sciences, we would like to hear from you.

If your first language is not English, or you require a Student Visa to study, you will be required to provide evidence of your English language proficiency level that meets the requirements of our academic partners. This course requires academic IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each skill.

For more information, please see the project page on the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience website.

We value your feedback on the quality of our adverts. If you have a comment to make about the overall quality of this advert, or its categorisation then please send us your feedback
Advert information

Type / Role:

Subject Area(s):

Location(s):

PhD tools
 

PhD Alert Created

Job Alert Created

Your PhD alert has been successfully created for this search.

Your job alert has been successfully created for this search.

Ok Ok

PhD Alert Created

Job Alert Created

Your PhD alert has been successfully created for this search.

Your job alert has been successfully created for this search.

Manage your job alerts Manage your job alerts

Account Verification Missing

In order to create multiple job alerts, you must first verify your email address to complete your account creation

Request verification email Request verification email

jobs.ac.uk Account Required

In order to create multiple alerts, you must create a jobs.ac.uk jobseeker account

Create Account Create Account

Alert Creation Failed

Unfortunately, your account is currently blocked. Please login to unblock your account.

Email Address Blocked

We received a delivery failure message when attempting to send you an email and therefore your email address has been blocked. You will not receive job alerts until your email address is unblocked. To do so, please choose from one of the two options below.

Max Alerts Reached

A maximum of 5 Job Alerts can be created against your account. Please remove an existing alert in order to create this new Job Alert

Manage your job alerts Manage your job alerts

Creation Failed

Unfortunately, your alert was not created at this time. Please try again.

Ok Ok

Create PhD Alert

Create Job Alert

When you create this PhD alert we will email you a selection of PhDs matching your criteria.When you create this job alert we will email you a selection of jobs matching your criteria. Our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy apply to this service. Any personal data you provide in setting up this alert is processed in accordance with our Privacy Notice

Create PhD Alert

Create Job Alert

When you create this PhD alert we will email you a selection of PhDs matching your criteria.When you create this job alert we will email you a selection of jobs matching your criteria. Our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy apply to this service. Any personal data you provide in setting up this alert is processed in accordance with our Privacy Notice

 
 
 
More PhDs from University of Hull

Show all PhDs for this organisation …

More PhDs like this
Join in and follow us

Browser Upgrade Recommended

jobs.ac.uk has been optimised for the latest browsers.

For the best user experience, we recommend viewing jobs.ac.uk on one of the following:

Google Chrome Firefox Microsoft Edge