The EPSRC CDT in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainabilty and Resilience will welcome over 65 funded doctoral researchers between 2024 and 2028.
Applications are now open for September 2026 entry for the research scholarship projects listed below.
Shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview as applications are received.
As offers may be made before all applications are reviewed, early application is strongly encouraged. The scholarships will remain open until filled.
Specific entry requirements and application instructions are given on each research project page.
We strongly encourage applications from women, mature students, those with a disability and marginalised black and Asian groups with home status as these are the most underrepresented groups in our cohorts.
The advertised CDT scholarships are available to Home (UK) Students only.
Research Council funding for postgraduate research has residence requirements. We have reached our quota for international student applications for 2026 entry and so advertised CDT scholarships are only 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.
Join us to tackle some of the biggest research challenges, in a supportive environment where you can grow your own career while you help grow the offshore wind industry.
The CDT is a partnership between Hull, Durham, Loughborough and Sheffield universities, along with over 40 industry partners. To join us, you will apply for a specific funded research project and enrol at the partner university where your lead supervisor is based.
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.
If your research will be based at Durham, Loughborough or Sheffield, we may be able to offer 6 month, on campus University of Hull rental contracts to cover the initial training period.
PROJECT TITLE
LEAD SUPERVISOR
HOST INSTITUTION
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Dr Simona Rasciute
Loughborough University
The Crown Estate – Project co-sponsor
Dr James Maguire
University of Sheffield
Dr Elisabeth Bowman
University of Sheffield
Dr Sina Saremi Yarahmadi
Loughborough University
Metol Ltd
Dr Wangcheng Zhang
Durham University
Prof James Gilbert
University of Hull
Prof Antonio Griffo
University of Sheffield
ORE Catapult
Prof Will Coombs
Durham University
Dr Tim Marjoribanks
Loughborough University
Turbidites Research Group
Lifecycle Optimisation of Wind Farms using Machine-Learning Models Enhanced with Numerical Modelling
Dr Majid Basthankhah
Durham University
Dr Zahur Ullah
Durham University
Prof Rob Dwyer-Joyce
University of Sheffield
ORE Catapult / Victrex
Dr Lian Gan
Durham University
Dr Colin Freeman
University of Sheffield
Siemens Gamesa
Dr Zhengyu Lin
Loughborough University
The National HVDC Centre
Dr Ignacio Martin-Fabiani
Loughborough University
Trelleborg
Prof Charles Augarde
Durham University
Dr Charlie Lloyd
Loughborough University
CEFAS / National Oceanography Centre
Dr Timothy Rogers
University of Sheffield
Dr Mahmoud Shahbazi
Durham University
Dr Alessandro Leonardi
University of Sheffield
PROJECT TITLE
LEAD SUPERVISOR
HOST INSTITUTION
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Dr Simona Rasciute
Loughborough University
The Crown Estate - Project co-sponsor
Dr James Maguire
University of Sheffield
Dr Elisabeth Bowman
University of Sheffield
Dr Sina Saremi Yarahmadi
Loughborough University
Metol Ltd
Dr Wangcheng Zhang
Durham University
Prof James Gilbert
University of Hull
Prof Antonio Griffo
University of Sheffield
ORE Catapult
Prof Will Coombs
Durham University
Dr Tim Marjoribanks
Loughborough University
Turbidites Research Group
Lifecycle Optimisation of Wind Farms using Machine-Learning Models Enhanced with Numerical Modelling
Dr Majid Basthankhah
Durham University
Dr Zahur Ullah
Durham University
Prof Rob Dwyer-Joyce
University of Sheffield
ORE Catapult / Victrex
Dr Lian Gan
Durham University
Dr Colin Freeman
University of Sheffield
Siemens Gamesa
Dr Zhengyu Lin
Loughborough University
The National HVDC Centre
Dr Ignacio Martin-Fabiani
Loughborough University
Trelleborg
Prof Charles Augarde
Durham University
Dr Charlie Lloyd
Loughborough University
CEFAS / National Oceanography Centre
Dr Timothy Rogers
University of Sheffield
Dr Mahmoud Shahbazi
Durham University
Dr Alessandro Leonardi
University of Sheffield
Please contact auracdt@hull.ac.uk if you have any queries or would like to discuss any elements of the programme with the Aura CDT Team
