From Ocean Wave Energy to Offshore Wind 

PhD candidate at NTNU | MS in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering | Ocean Renewable Energy 

My path to engineering research began as an undergraduate student working at NASA’s Glenn Research Center for a summer research program. I had the opportunity to perform collaborative research on the impact of extended durations of space travel in reduced gravity environments (like the moon and Mars) on astronaut’s bone mineral density loss and the resulting risk of early onset osteoporosis. I previously had no exposure to biomechanics, but I was fascinated by researching and applying of my mechanical engineering knowledge to model the human body.  

While my first exposure to research was related to space, I discovered my true passion for renewable energy while studying abroad at the University of Stuttgart. While living in Germany during my studies abroad, I had the opportunity to travel around the country and see large wind and solar farms. At the time, renewable energy was less prevalent in the United States, and I decided that was the field I wanted to pursue. 

My combined passion for renewable energy and the ocean led me to study ocean wave energy at Oregon State University, where my research was focused on modeling the dynamics and performance of wave energy converters. This is an inherently interdisciplinary topic, because it requires both an understanding of dynamics and the ocean. My research at Oregon State led me to a nearly 15-year career at Sandia National Laboratories, where my research was also focused on ocean wave energy.  

One day, while I was working, I received an email advertising an exciting PhD position at NTNU researching wave loading on offshore wind structures as part of the TWEED Doctoral Network. I thought that I had closed the door on pursuing a PhD, but I decided to apply for the position anyway, and that decision ultimately led me to Norway where I am now a PhD candidate.  

Many people ask me why I made this choice, and the answer is not simple. Personally and professionally, I enjoy being challenged. In my personal life I like to run marathons, and in my professional life I was ready for a new challenge. At NTNU my research is focused on wave loading on offshore wind structures. This requires numerical simulation of the full fluid domain, which is a fundamentally different approach than my prior research. It’s challenging leaving what you know and transitioning to a new field and country, but there’s also a lot of joy in the process. So far, I’m enjoying the process.