James hails from Haywards Heath, England and has a background in Mechanical Engineering with a Biomedical theme (MEng). He began his PhD in October 2018 and will complete his studies in June 2022.
James’ PhD thesis is entitled "The Development of Testing Standards for the Rain Erosion of Wind Turbine Blades", and focuses on developing current testing practices and understanding how realistic or unrealistic the current testing standards are.
What attracted you to complete your PhD in this area?
Make a difference in climate change.
What attracted you to study at University of Strathclyde?
Best institution in the UK for Wind Energy research.
What were your expectations for study and were these met?
To learn more about the energy section, allowing me to pursue a career in the sector. Yes, these expectations were met.
What were the highlights/lowlights of the programme?
Highlights: building the rain erosion test rig. Lowlights: the pandemic and working from home.
How has the PhD influenced your career aspirations?
It has allowed me to transition to a career in renewable energy.
What’s next for you?
Work in industry in renewable energy.