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Iain is from Hamilton, Scotland, and has a background in mechanical engineering with a Bachelors and Masters from Heriot Watt University. From here he gained an interest in design and numerical analysis which he has developed further through his PhD studies at Strathclyde.

Iain’s PhD thesis, “Numerical analysis of high velocity raindrop impact on wind turbine blades”, looks at analyzing the impact event of raindrops impacting wind turbine blade materials, such as gelcoats, GFRP, CFRP etc. He has looked at developing new models for the droplet impact as well as looking at how droplet shape effects damage.

What attracted you to complete your PhD in this area?

The research sounded interesting and I seemed to get on well with Margaret. She had a lot of interesting research outputs so that was a factor too. I had done some renewable research as part of my undergrad so I knew it was something I enjoyed.

What attracted you to study at University of Strathclyde?

The University of Strathclyde, when I started, had a lot of interesting developments. I had wanted to attend during my undergraduate so I was excited at the opportunity.

What were your expectations for study and were these met?

I expected to gain invaluable skills to develop professionally, engage in teaching and the opportunity to network. These expectations were met very well.

What were the highlights/lowlights of the programme?

Highlights of the PhD were the opportunity to travel abroad and network with other institutions and industry. Travel to Denmark was very rewarding. Additionally, the opportunity to teach and mentor undergraduate students were something I enjoyed tremendously. Low points for me were when certain research avenues didn’t materialize.

How has the PhD influenced your career aspirations?

It has made me more keen to explore teaching as a career opportunity. It has also made me a lot more confident through speaking at events and conferences.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently on a short term contract as a research assistant. I’m currently looking for similar opportunities when this contract ends.