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John studied MPhys Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of St Andrews before joining the SPIRE2 research group at Strathclyde. Originally from Montrose, Angus, John commenced his PhD in 2018.

John’s thesis is entitled “Modelling Hail Impact on Wind Turbine Blades". He is using computational modelling to assess the threat that hail strike poses to the long-term lifetime of wind turbine blade performance.

What attracted you to complete your PhD in this area?

I wanted to make a contribution to renewable energy technology as it is a very relevant area of research to modern problems, and I have always enjoyed using computational methods to solve physical problems.

What attracted you to study at University of Strathclyde?

The ability to study in a city like Glasgow, as well as the reputation of the engineering department here at Strathclyde.

What were your expectations for study and were these met?

Working independently on novel solutions to problems and spending a lot of time at conferences and among other academics. Due to circumstances the latter hasn’t been quite as true!

What were the highlights/lowlights of the programme?

Highlights: Visiting with turbine manufacturers and presenting at All-Energy

Lowlights: Working through software problems!

How has the PhD influenced your career aspirations?

Its has given me an experience of the renewable energy industry & has inspired me to pursue a career within this area.

What’s next for you?

I’m not sure – I’m focusing on finishing the PhD first & will worry about what comes next afterwards!