PhD or MSc Scholarship Opportunity:
Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) Modelling for Next-Generation Ocean Energy 
Systems

We are seeking motivated and talented candidates for a fully funded PhD or MSc 
scholarship in the field of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) modelling, 
contributing to the development of next-generation ocean-based renewable energy 
technologies.

Research Focus:

The work will involve advanced modelling of FOWTs, including Fluid–Structure 
Interaction (FSI) using CFD/FEA, OpenFAST, and complementary numerical tools.

Depending on the student’s background and interests, research topics may include:

Hydrodynamic and aerodynamic modelling

Coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic simulations with OpenFAST

Mooring system dynamics

Control strategies for platform stability

Performance optimization for large-scale offshore environments

Hybrid ocean energy systems and multi-platform configurations

This project aims to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of 
future offshore renewable infrastructures, ultimately contributing to the global 
reduction of fossil fuel consumption.


Candidate Profile:

Applicants are welcome from the following backgrounds:

Mechanical, Ocean, Naval, Aerospace, or Civil Engineering

Renewable Energy Engineering

Computational Modelling, CFD, FEA, or related fields

Experience with OpenFAST, OpenFOAM, ANSYS, OrcaFlex, MATLAB/Python, or similar 
simulation tools is considered an asset.


Location:

North of Portugal — www.ipvc.pt


What We Offer:

Fully funded PhD or MSc scholarship

Access to advanced computing resources (hardware and software)

Training in OpenFAST and state-of-the-art modelling workflows

Collaboration with international research teams and industry partners

Support for conference participation and journal publications


How to Apply:

Please send to mariotome@estg.ipvc.pt:

a short summary of your CV (3–10 lines), and

a brief statement of your motivation for this research area (3–10 lines)