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

Project Description:

This project is open to applicants until 16 May 2024. The successful candidate will begin their study in September 2024.

This Research Project is part of the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Sustainability and Resilience’s The wellbeing triad: improving the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive health of workers in the offshore windfarm sector Cluster.

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

Student 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).

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 for the new student intake, drawing on the expertise and facilities of all four academic partners. It is supplemented by Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which is embedded throughout your 4-year research scholarship.

Further Queries

If you would like more information about this project, please let us know by emailing auracdt@hull.ac.uk.

Entry 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 the Aura CDT’s academic partners. This course requires academic IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each skill. Please contact auracdt@hull.ac.uk for further guidance or questions.

Funding

The CDT is funded by the EPSRC, allowing us to provide scholarships that cover fees plus a stipend set at the UKRI nationally agreed rates, £19,237 per annum at 2024/25 rates (subject to progress).

Eligibility

Our funded Doctoral Scholarships are available to UK Students. In addition, we have a number of Scholarships that are open to International Students. Research council funding for postgraduate research has residence requirements. To be considered a Home student, and therefore eligible for a full award, a student must have no restrictions on how long they can stay in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the scholarship (with some further constraint regarding residence for education). For full eligibility information, please refer to the EPSRC website.

How to Apply

Please note, you may only apply for ONE project offered through the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience.
Applications are open until 16 May 2024.

Applications for this project are made via the University of Hull admissions system. If you have not applied with the University of Hull before, you will need to set up an account to enable you to track the progress of your application and upload supporting documents.

Apply for the PhD Scholarship in Implications of Extreme Temperatures on Physiological and Cognitive Functioning in Offshore Wind Technicians:

Full time | Part time

With your application, you need to upload copies of the following supporting evidence:

• Complete transcripts (and final degree certificate(s) where possible). If your qualification documents are not in English, you will need to supply copies of your original language documents as well as their official translation into English.
• Your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• A completed Supplementary Application Form (please upload when asked to add your Research Proposal).

Guidance on completing your Supplementary Application Form:

The EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience is committed to generating a diverse and inclusive training programme. As part of our inclusive practices, the Centre adopts a process of assessing applicants’ experience, skills and attributes independently of personal details. To enable us to do this, we ask you, as the applicant, to complete the Supplementary Application Form, omitting the following personally identifying information from the form – name(s), ethnic group, nationality, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation. The form is then used by the Panel to assess and select applicants for interview. The form asks for details of your education, training and employment history as well as some specific questions about your motivations and research experience and interests. It is very important that you do not include the personally identifying information specified.

Completing the form

Applicants must:

• Remove all personal references in their application. Specifically, do not include the following details: Name(s), ethnic group, nationality, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation
• Complete all sections of the form in font and size Calibri 11pt
• Please download the Supplementary Application Form here.

Uploading the form

When you have completed the form, please save it as a pdf format and labelled as follows:

Last name_first name PhD application form

Upload the form through the University of Hull student application portal when asked to add a research proposal (the form replaces the research proposal which is not needed for this application). Our support team will then process the form removing your name and allocating you a number prior to your application being assessed.

Interviews

Interviews will be held during June and will be conducted by a panel of academics from the University of Hull.

For an informal discussion please contact auracdt@hull.ac.uk