Offshore wind is central to the UK’s clean energy future, but the success of new developments depends on understanding the ground beneath the seabed. Across the North Sea, the shallow subsurface records a complicated history of glaciation, sea level change, erosion, and deposition. This history has produced buried valleys, boulder-rich units, over-consolidated tills, soft sediments, steeply dipping layers, organic deposits, and shallow gas. These features can influence where turbines, foundations and cables are placed, and how much uncertainty developers face during site investigation and design.
This PhD will use newly available ultra-high resolution seismic data shared through a data agreement with industry partners to investigate the glaciated shallow subsurface of a North Sea offshore wind development area. The project asks how geological complexity can be mapped at the scale needed for offshore engineering, how former glacial processes control the distribution of potential geohazards, and how geological interpretation can be translated into practical ground model outputs for the offshore wind sector.
The student will be trained in seismic interpretation, seismic geomorphology, Quaternary geology, geospatial analysis, three-dimensional visualisation, ground model development, and uncertainty mapping. They will work with an applied industry dataset while also addressing fundamental scientific questions about the development and preservation of glacial landscapes beneath the North Sea. The project will produce both academic outputs and industry relevant workflows that can help reduce uncertainty in offshore wind site characterisation.
This is an opportunity for a student interested in marine geoscience, environmental geophysics, offshore energy, or applied Quaternary geology to develop a highly employable skill set. The project is desk-based, data-rich, and closely linked to the UK clean energy transition. It will suit someone who enjoys interpreting complex spatial data and wants their research to contribute to the responsible delivery of low carbon energy infrastructure.
Candidate background
The student should have an interest in marine geoscience, environmental geophysics, Quaternary geology, offshore energy or spatial data analysis. They should be willing to learn seismic interpretation and three-dimensional visualisation software. Prior experience with GIS, Python coding, geophysical data or sedimentary geology would be beneficial but is not essential. The student should be comfortable working with complex datasets and communicating interpretations to both academic and applied audiences.
