PhD Studentship in Biofouling Impact on Dynamic Cables for Offshore Floating Wind

Award Summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs will also be provided. 

Overview

Offshore Floating Wind (OFW) is key to unlocking deep-water renewable energy and achieving the global Net Zero targets. However, dynamic power cables that connect floating wind turbines to the seabed remain one of the challenging issues in the engineering analysis and design of floating wind applications. Over time, these subsea cables become coated with soft and hard biofouling – marine organisms that increase drag, weight and thermal resistance – potentially modifying the coupled electro-mechanical-fluid loading and causing fatigue and early failure. 

This PhD project will investigate how biofouling affects the hydrodynamic, thermal and fluid-structure interaction performance of dynamic flexible cables and develop novel engineering solutions to enhance their operational reliability. The PhD student will combine mathematical models, in-house laboratory tests in a wind-wave-current flume (https://research.ncl.ac.uk/amh/) and numerical methodology to quantify biofouling impacts on flow-induced vibration phenomena, structural responses and operational performance of dynamic cables, and to evaluate sustainable antifouling materials, structural design, optimisation and maintenance strategies. 

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team working at the frontier of offshore and subsea engineering and renewable energy research supported by industry partners. They will develop advanced skills in experimental hydrodynamics, materials characterisation and computational simulation – highly sought after in the UK’s growing offshore energy sector. 

This research will directly contribute to more reliable, cost-effective and environmentally responsible floating wind technology, helping secure a sustainable, net-zero energy future. 

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

1st October 2026

Award Duration

4 Years

Sponsor

EPSRC  

Supervisors

Dr Narakorn Srinil & Dr Weichao Shi 

Eligibility Criteria

We are adopting a contextual admissions process. This means we will consider other key competencies and experience alongside your academic qualifications. An example can be found here. 

A minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project is our standard entry, however we place value on prior experience, enthusiasm for research, and the ability to think and work independently. Excellent Analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. A Masters qualification may not be required if you have a minimum 2:1 degree or can evidence alternative experience in a work or research-based project. If you have alternative qualifications or experience, please contact us to discuss flexibilities and request an exemption.  

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills. International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How to apply 

For information on how to apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

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