Research

    Research areas

    Our research is helping answer pressing questions facing society and the planet.

    Working with industry and academic partners, and across our 5 faculties, our researchers are leading their fields and creating impact.

    Whether we're developing better methods to prevent drowning at sea, discovering an enzyme to tackle plastic pollution, studying the origins of the planet and the Universe, or exploring new ways to care for vulnerable people, our research is making the world a better place. Discover our research areas below.

    Biological Sciences

    We're exploring how life on Earth has evolved over time, the huge ecological consequences of human activity, and the growing threat posed by antibiotic resistance.

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    Business and Management

    We're investigating the pressing issues facing organisations and governments – from how to encourage the growth of entrepreneurs and small businesses, to how to improve sustainability across industries, and implement new products and services.

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    Cosmology and Astrophysics

    We're working to understand the cosmos and the fundamental physical laws at work – including gravity and the nature of spacetime. And how these laws of nature play out in the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies.

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    Digital and Creative Technologies

    We're fuelling technological advances in animation, visual effects (VFX), cross reality (XR), User Experience (UX), computer and video games, and visual computing.

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    Earth and Environmental Sciences

    With the future of our planet under threat from environmental crises such as climate change, we're examining our planet and the evolution of life – and using our findings to protect it.

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    Economics

    Our research explores how governments can regulate natural resource use efficiently, develop effective monetary policies, and legislate to influence people’s economic decisions.

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    Health informatics

    We're improving the design of computer systems and wellbeing services to make the delivery of healthcare more efficient and cost-effective, and we're exploring how technology can influence lifestyle choices and reduce health risks.

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    Law

    We're exploring how laws and the legal system shape society and how the legal system affects the daily lives of people within it.

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    Marketing

    We're analysing existing and emerging business models and consumer segments to help businesses better understand their markets and how consumers buy products and services.

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    Operational Research and Logistics

    We're helping develop new and better transportation and maritime systems, showing how analytics can positively impact people around the world, and finding new ways to create more sustainable and efficient renewable energy.

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    Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences

    We're growing our understanding of how the body functions in health, how it malfunctions in disease, and the genetic and molecular drivers of physical and mental illnesses to find new, more effective treatments for patients.

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    Politics and International Relations

    We're working with organisations, governments and individuals to deal with some of the world's most pressing issues – from reducing the impact of war, to fighting political exclusion.

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    Psychology

    We're exploring topics from child development of social skills and eye witness testimony, to the evolution of primate facial expressions and the factors affecting drug use.

    Eye tracking technology in the Psychology department
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    Sport and Exercise Science

    We're focused on enhancing human performance and health – from helping elite sports men and women to win Olympic medals, to developing safety guidelines for sporting bodies, and improving the quality of life of individuals living with chronic disease.

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    Discover more research areas

    Explore the work we're doing in other research areas across the University.

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    Accounting

    Accounting plays an integral role in the stability and development of economies and financial markets all over the world.

    Architecture, Interiors and Urbanism

    We're researching the latest methods, technology and ideas to build smart cities of the future and preserve historical architecture.

    Area Studies

    We're exploring international relations, history, politics, economies, cultures, languages and geography across specific regions.

    Art and Design: History, Theory and Practice

    We're researching image making, visual communication and design, solving problems through active experimentation, and analysing images and visual processes.

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    Biological Sciences

    We're exploring how to treat genetic disorders, identifying novel targets for drugs and searching for advances in treatments that could impact millions.

    Business and Management

    We're investigating the growth of entrepreneurs and small businesses in an uncertain global economy as well as how to improve business sustainability and implement new products and services.

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    Civil Engineering

    Explore the work we're doing across our areas of expertise in Civil Engineering research, including environmental technology and management, and building design, construction management and surveying.

    Computing

    We're exploring aspects and implementation methods of information systems that can help organisations while ensuring their cyber security.

    Cosmology and Astrophysics

    We're researching the fundamental laws of physics, including gravity and the nature of spacetime, and how this effects the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies.

    Criminology

    We're researching how to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute crime to keep up with the changing nature of crimes.

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    Dental and Oral Health

    We're developing evidence-based health care for patients and the wider community, and higher-quality education for dental teams.

    Development Studies

    Work with governments, communities & people to encourage growth in stagnant economies, & develop the sustainable technology to provide resources to developing countries.

    Digital and Creative Technologies

    We're researching the next technological advances in animation, visual effects (VFX), cross reality (XR), user experience (UX), computer and video games, and visual computing.

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    Earth and Environmental Sciences

    We're researching our planet and the evolution of life, from the very beginning to the present day, to better understand the future.

    Economics

    We're researching how people, businesses, societies and nations manage and allocate scarce resources such as land, labour or capital.

    Education

    We're researching what education looks like for different groups of people around the globe, while pushing for social justice and the human rights agenda worldwide.

    Energy and Electronic Engineering

    We're researching how to explore methods and theories in energy and electronic engineering, and their application to real problems.

    English Literature

    We're researching how literature provides insight and understanding into the lives of other individuals, communities and cultures.

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    Film and Media

    We're exploring how film and other forms of screen media shape societal attitudes and beliefs, and informs our daily lives.

    Finance

    We're looking into the health of the global economy, the wellbeing of individuals, the performance of big and small businesses, and using capital.

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    Health Informatics

    We're finding ways to ease the pressure on the health and social care services by advancing how information technology can help people live longer, happier, healthier lives.

    Health and Care Professions

    We're exploring managing the demands of an ageing population, rising numbers of mental health problems, and increasing complex, long-term health problems.

    History

    We're understanding our society through the study of experiences, culture, values and activities of people throughout history.

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    Journalism, Communication and Creative Writing

    We're researching how media can be used by organisations, institutions and people to benefit society, how we consume media, and how the media's influence can be abused.

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    Law

    We're exploring the many ways that laws and the legal system shape society and affect the daily lives of people at all levels within it.

    Linguistics

    We're looking beyond words to explore how they're used in certain contexts, and the relationship words can have with social constructs such as class or power.

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    Marketing

    We're researching existing and emerging business models and consumer segments to give businesses insight into their markets, customers and more.

    Mathematics

    We're delving into the mathematical complexity behind the processes and functions all around us, to develop solutions to problems in science and industry.

    Mechanical Engineering

    Explore the work we're doing across our areas of expertise in Mechanical Engineering research.

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    Operational Research and Logistics

    Our research brings together our maths, technology, business and industrial experts to answer complex questions that face organisations.

    Organisation Studies and Human Resource (HR) Management

    We're investigating the practices, processes and structures of organisations, including how they evolved and the way that organisational change is moving.

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    Performance, Theatre and Music

    We're conducting research which feeds into governmental and parliamentary inquiries, such as employment and data protection.

    Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences

    We're improving our understanding of how the body functions, how disease effects these functions, and the genetic and molecular drivers for illness.

    Physical and Human Geography

    We're researching physical and human geography and the causes and effects of social and environmental crises, and finding solutions to these problems.

    Physics

    We're working to find solutions to global issues like climate change, infrastructure, transportation and new energy sources.

    Politics and International Relations

    We're exploring pressing issues in politics and international relations and working with organisations, governments and individuals to find solutions.

    Psychology

    We're exploring topics from child development of social skills to eye witness testimony, and from the evolution of primate facial expressions to factors affecting drug use.

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    Sociology

    We're studying the patterns of relationships, social interaction, cultures and communities, and how people live their lives.

    Sport and Exercise Science

    We're researching sport and exercise science with the goal of enhancing human performance and health.

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    Women's and Gender Studies

    We're exploring women’s issues and gender issues in social and cultural contexts through time, and how gender is represented in the media.

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