Offshore Wind PhD Day 2026 recap: From research expertise to offshore wind careers
29 October 2026
What comes after a PhD — and how can your research expertise open doors you may not have considered?
What comes after a PhD? And how can your research expertise open doors you may not have considered?
For PhD researchers in offshore wind, the possibilities extend far beyond a single specialisation or career path. At the OWI Academy PhD Day on 27 October 2026 in Ghent, academics came together to explore the skills the sector needs, the opportunities it offers and how PhD graduates can turn their expertise into a springboard for their future careers.
The winning profile: expertise plus complementary skills
A PhD provides a strong foundation for a career, but how can researchers make the most of their expertise beyond their specific research topic?
The key message of the day was clear: the winning profile combines four building blocks: deep offshore wind expertise, digital skills, systems and project insight, and human and organisational skills.
Through insights from skills research, industry perspectives and an interactive workshop, participants reflected on their existing strengths, where their expertise could make a difference and which additional skills could help broaden their career opportunities.
Interested in the presentation? You can find the slides here:
Four PhDs, four career paths
The career testimonials brought this message to life, showing the different directions a PhD can take:
Farid Sofiani Mehri, Installation Analysis Engineer at Jan De Nul, shared his experience of working in industry.
Timothy Verstraete, from Verdias, explored the route from research to entrepreneurship and creating a spin-off.
Fien Demuynck, Innovation Manager Offshore Energy at De Blauwe Cluster, explained how her passion for science communication led her towards innovation and networking.
Kris Hectors, Associate Professor at Ghent University, offered insights into a career in academia through his presentation slides.
The many concrete questions during the Q&A showed just how interested participants were in these real-life experiences. The testimonials demonstrated that a PhD is not a career destination in itself, but a starting point for different professional paths.
Research meets industry: 26 posters on display
A highlight of the day was the poster session, organised alongside the Sirris Wind Energy Technology Summit. The 26 high-quality posters attracted considerable interest during the networking moments, sparking conversations between researchers and industry professionals about the practical relevance of their work.
The audience vote for the Best Poster Award went to Anil Sudhakar from Ghent University, whose research addresses the assessment of pitting corrosion in offshore wind monopiles.
His work introduces a user-friendly dashboard that transforms 3D-scanned corrosion data into actionable screening information, helping identify priority locations for inspection and intervention.
Reflecting on the event, Anil said:
“The poster session generated engaging questions and constructive feedback, and winning the Best Poster Award was a very encouraging recognition of the potential industrial value of this research.”
Congratulations to Anil and all the poster presenters for showcasing the breadth and quality of offshore wind research!
Building connections for offshore wind innovation
The PhD Day highlighted the importance of looking beyond specialised research expertise: recognising transferable skills, exploring different career possibilities and connecting academic knowledge with industry needs.
Thank you to all the speakers, researchers, poster presenters and Summit participants who made the day a valuable opportunity for learning, exchange and new connections.
At OWI-Lab Academy we look forward to continuing to connect researchers, knowledge institutions and industry to strengthen offshore wind innovation.