Science and Engineering

Overview

The Faculty of Science and Engineering is based on the Exton Park site of the University and has access to research facilities at Thornton Science Park – a major research and innovation hub for the North West. The Science Park is home to technology companies with active research links with the Faculty. It also offers incubator space and business services for young and developing enterprises.

The Faculty enjoys high-level facilities in materials analysis and characterisation, microscopy, chemical analytical science, photonics, laser treatments for surface and materials modification, mechanical, electrical and computational workshops. We have access to the University’s high performance computing cluster, and are supported by state-of-the-art library and information resources.

Research Areas

The Faculty of Science and Engineering welcomes students who are interested in pursuing PhD, MRes or MPhil research degrees in the following subject areas:

• Biological Sciences
• Physics and Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electronic and Electrical Engineering
• Mathematics
• Computer Science 

We support a wide range of topics, with an emphasis on research that focuses on green and sustainability themes.

We have a highly collegiate approach to research, with the research interests of staff falling across traditional departmental boundaries and across the academic-industry divide. This gives rise to exciting cross-disciplinary project areas that can make use of all the facilities of the departments that make up the Faculty. Projects are designed around the fundamentals underpinning science and technology necessary for progress in one or more specific industry sectors, and can involve experimental, theoretical, computational or modelling aspects.

Current Projects 

Currently the Faculty is engaged in research that covers a wide range of topics. Examples include: investigations of improved materials properties by surface laser treatments; development and evaluation of next generation technologies for fuel cell and redox battery systems; modelling and optimisation of biofuel source material pre-treatments; investigations of the adhesion and control of biofilms in industrial and medical processes; human-computer interaction; virtual and mixed reality; cybersecurity; information visualisation; visual analytics; wearable computing; domestic, farm and wildlife animal behaviour and welfare issues; animal conservation including population studies and population modelling; conservation genetics and marine and coastal resource management issues. Further information can be found on our research pages for Physical, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences, for Biological Sciences and for Computer Science.

Suggestions and proposals for research in these and related areas are always welcome. However, the Faculty is in an expansion phase and we expect the range of research activities to grow and broaden in the immediate future. In the first instance, please contact the head of the appropriate department for an initial discussion.