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

Project Description:

This PhD scholarship is offered by the EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience; a partnership between the Universities of Durham, Hull, Loughborough and Sheffield. It is part of a Research Cluster focussing on The wellbeing triad: improving the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive health of workers in the offshore windfarm sector . The successful applicant will undertake six-month of training with the rest of the CDT cohort at the University of Hull before continuing their PhD research at Hull.

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 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.

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).

Entry requirements

If you have received a First-class Honours degree, or a 2:1 Honours degree and a Masters, or a Distinction at Masters level with any undergraduate degree (or the international equivalents) in exercise sciences, psychology and/or physiology, we would like to hear from you. Ideally those who have engaged in interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary work.

If your first language is not English, or you require Tier 4 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.

If you have any queries about the project, please contact Dr Kate Donnan, K.J.Donnan@hull.ac.uk

You may also address queries about the CDT to auracdt@hull.ac.uk.

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Funding Notes

The Offshore Wind CDT is funded by EPSRC, allowing us to provide scholarships for Home students that cover fees plus a stipend set at the UKRI nationally agreed rates, circa £19,795 per annum at 2025/26 rates (subject to progress). In addition, a number of scholarships will be made available for International students.

Eligibility

Research Council funding for postgraduate research has residence requirements. Our CDT scholarships are available to Home (UK) Students. 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.

We also allocate a number of scholarships for International Students per cohort.