EPSRC PhD: Environmental Modelling and Assessment of Opportunities for the Transition to a Sustainable Marine Economy

Student Name:

Jack Winfield

Student Bio:

I graduated with a master’s degree in physics from Swansea University, after which I completed a PGCE in Secondary Science and taught for two years. While I valued the experience and the skills that I developed - particularly in communication, organisation, and leadership - I came to realise that teaching was not the long-term career path for me. I was drawn back to academia and eager to apply my background in physics to a field where I could contribute to meaningful, real-world change. As a result, I decide to apply to an industrial doctoral training centre for offshore renewable energy – IDCORE.

The IDCORE programme stood out to me because of its unique blend of academic and industry experience. The taught year at the University of Edinburgh offers a comprehensive overview of the offshore renewable energy sector, which is especially valuable as I transition into this field. Throughout the course, there are numerous opportunities for exposure, allowing me to engage with both academic research and industry practice, and benefit from the strengths of each.

As a research engineer, my ambition is to gain a truly holistic view of the renewable energy sector - one that allows me to understand and engage with people across the entire spectrum, from technical engineers to policymakers and business leaders. I want to be able to have meaningful conversations with all parts of the sector and help connect the dots between them.