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Physical and Chemical Sciences

Maths, chemistry and the physical sciences are the cornerstones of progress in countless areas. Our longstanding reputation for top-quality research in these vital disciplines allows us to offer a rich variety of topics for PhD research.

Research Environment

Our research groups organise seminar programmes featuring leading mathematicians and scientists, as well as regular opportunities for interdisciplinary discussion and collaboration. We provide a programme of training in generic, transferable skills, as well as research methods.

Key Research Areas

  • Analysis of PDEs
  • Ergodic theory
  • Geometry, mechanics and fluids
  • Mathematical physics
  • Mathematical statistics
  • Modelling, numerics and applications
  • Materials and devices for sustainable energy
  • Drug discovery: natural products and synthetic organic chemistry
  • Environmental analysis, biosensors and forensic analysis
  • Strategic new inorganic materials and polymeric materials
  • Thermochemistry
  • Theoretical and computational chemistry
  • Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics
  • Photonics

Research centres and groups

Mathematics

Analysis of PDEs

Research in this area focuses on the analysis of non-linear partial differential equations (PDEs) using a variety of techniques such as calculus of variations, dynamical systems techniques, energy and ladder methods, and geometry. The methods are used to analyse PDEs in various contexts such as non-linear elasto-statics, reaction-diffusion systems, dispersive wave equations, Navier-Stokes equations, delay equations and both dissipative and Hamiltonian equations.

www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/research/groups/analysis

Ergodic Theory

Ergodic theory deals with the probabilistic aspects of deterministic dynamical systems. For chaotic systems, one cannot predict particular trajectories over long time periods, but the average behaviour of typical trajectories is predictable. In this sense, laws of probability theory have counterparts in dynamical systems. Examples are the central limit theorem, mixing rates, return statistics and approximation by Brownian motion. Systems studied by our group include billiards, Lorentz gases, low-dimensional maps, systems with intermittency and piecewise isometries. Other interests are  thermodynamic formalism, stochastic tests for chaos and applications to signal processing.

www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/research/groups/ergodic

Geometry, mechanics and fluids

Our main focus in this area is a geometric approach to Hamiltonian systems and their manifestation in areas such as mechanics and fluid dynamics. Topics range from fundamental aspects of symplectic geometry to their applications, including bifurcation theory, structure preserving discretisations and data assimilation. Specific problems studied are, for example: N-body problems, Josephson junctions, liquid-crystal flow, weather prediction, oceanographic waves and satellite dynamics and control. For the applications, we collaborate with the Surrey Space Centre and we are a partner in the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO), leading the theme on data assimilation.

www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/research/groups/geometry

Mathematical physics

The mathematical physics group is primarily interested in quantum field theories and string theories, and especially in the interplay between mathematics and physics in these theories. Quantum field theory is a framework that combines quantum mechanics and special relativity in a self-consistent manner, and underpins most of theoretical physics today. Over the past 40 years, string theory has emerged as the leading candidate for a unifying theory of the fundamental forces of nature. It assumes that all particles are different harmonics of small vibrating strings, much in the way the different harmonics of a guitar string correspond to different musical notes. What is perhaps less well-known is the rich and fruitful interplay between quantum field theory, string theory and mathematics. New and sophisticated mathematical techniques have rendered many problems in string theory and quantum field theory tractable and in certain cases exactly soluble. Conversely, string theory has also led to striking advances and conjectures in mathematics. It is this bridge between theoretical physics and mathematics that forms the foundation of our research.

www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/research/groups/mathematical_physics

Mathematical statistics

The focus of our statistical research is in Bayesian statistics, design of experiments and process control. Particular emphasis is given to medical and industrial applications of theoretical results. An important topic in the area of Bayesian statistics is degradation modelling and model choice diagnostics. Our work in experimental design concentrates on connectivity and robust design choice when observation loss is likely.

www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/research/groups/statistics

Modelling, numerics and applications

We develop and analyse mathematical models and numerical simulations for many applications including biological systems and life sciences. Examples are population dynamics and epidemiology, industrial eco-systems, localised pattern formation, systems biology of TB, physiological and biological fluid flows, non-linear electronic systems, disease and pharmacological modelling,  reaction- diffusion and predator-prey systems, modelling in tumour growth, the carbon cycle, weather prediction and climate modelling, and surface chemistry.

www.surrey.ac.uk/maths/research/groups/modelling

Chemistry

Materials and Devices for Sustainable Energy

This research group includes both fuel cell and biofuel cell research. Funded research projects include two national consortia in biological fuel cells (six universities) and energy storage (four universities). The latter explore novel and internationally leading strategies in alkaline fuel cell and supercapacitor technologies. This group links strongly with the Surrey Materials Institute and the materials and nanobiology theme.

www.surrey.ac.uk/chemistry/research

Drug Discovery: Natural Products and Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Current research interests include the development of novel therapeutic agents derived from natural plant products and the use of synthetic organic chemistry in drug design and medicinal chemistry. This group links strongly with the drug design theme in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/drugdesign

Environmental analysis, biosensors and forensic Analysis

This research group focuses on the application of functional nanomaterials at the physical and life sciences interface and on the application of analytical techniques to problems of environmental pollution. Materials development and functionalisation for electrochemical sensors, in particular biosensors, is a strong feature and one area of current research is concerned with analysing the levels of arsenic in water supplies in Argentina, using ICPMS in particular.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/materialsandnanoscience

Strategic new inorganic materials and polymeric Materials

This group researches magnetic and spin transition inorganic materials along with structural polymers and composites. The group is well supported by industry, with over £800,000 in industrial funding gained in the 2010–11 funding cycle from most of the major polymer companies in Europe. The synthesis of new materials, characterisation of polymers and composites and molecular modelling of polymers feature strongly here.

www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/materialsandnanoscience

Thermochemistry

This group concentrates on calorimetry of calixarenes and other materials and is a large group strongly funded by the EU.

www.surrey.ac.uk/chemistry/research

Theoretical and computational chemistry

This group applies modern computing techniques to problems ranging from the molecular modelling and subsequent design of polymers to protein modelling and computational drug design. This group interfaces with most of the other groups, applying its computational expertise to problems of a chemical nature.

www.surrey.ac.uk/chemistry/research

Physics

Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics

The centre brings together expertise in both pure and applied nuclear physics, radiation detector physics, environmental monitoring and medical imaging. The centre is the largest of its kind in the UK. Surrey’s nuclear physics activity combines internationally leading research in both experimental and theoretical nuclear physics. The research focuses on experimental and theoretical studies of the structure and reactions of exotic nuclei using radioactive ion beams. The group’s experimental work takes place at forefront international facilities. Radiation and medical physics research covers many areas of medical physics, environmental radioactivity, radiation imaging techniques and fundamental studies of semiconductor radiation detectors. We have extensive research links to regional hospitals and institutes in the south east of England.

www.ph.surrey.ac.uk/cnrp

Photonics

The Photonics Group investigates the interactions between light and matter, and the control of them to make state-of-the-art devices. It combines experiment and computational theory. Our achievements include the invention of the strained quantum well laser (every optical fibre system and DVD player uses this technology). Much of the technology around us needs the generation of light, the detection of light or the conversion of light energy into other forms. The areas we are now exploring encompass the future of information and communications technologies, developing a ‘green’ Internet and transferring energy from space. For these applications we are working to understand how to control and manipulate electron energy and spin in novel crystals and nanostructures, the photon modes in novel microstructures and the interactions between electrons and photons in optoelectronic devices.

www.surrey.ac.uk/ati/photonics

Career Development

Prospects for students are excellent, for example, our Chemistry students have recently been appointed by companies such as Syngenta, Johnson Matthey in the UK, a pharmaceutical company in Shanghai and the CSIR in South Africa, after achieving their postgraduate qualification with us.

Our Physics and Mathematics graduates have also gone on to the following positions:

  • Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital – Medical Physicist
  • AWE – Trainee Health Physicist
  • AWE – NMR Physicist
  • Fujitsu – Researcher
  • DPA Invoked – Researcher
  • Lab Impex Systems – Principal Physicist
  • PMES – Scientist
  • Riddlesdown School – Teacher
  • Shlumberger Research/British Antarctic Survey Researcher
  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Researcher
  • AHVLA, Defra – Researcher

My supervisors and colleagues are experts in their fields, and they constantly support and encourage me in my research.

Lara Barazzuol
PhD Biophysics

During my time at Surrey I made many lasting contacts and developed a strong appreciation of the effort that goes into effective research, in particular in a field as vital as cancer treatment.

My research project focuses on the combination of particle therapy and novel chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of high-grade brain tumours. Particle therapy uses ion beams to treat tumours located near critical organs and those that are resistant to conventional radiation therapy, like highgrade brain tumours.

I chose to do my research here because Surrey’s Ion Beam Centre is unique in the UK – in fact, there is only a handful of institutions around the world which house a vertical ion beam line. This beam line can be used to study how cells react to different ions, to investigate the effects of combined drugs and radiation, and ultimately to analyse structures within single cells.

My supervisors and colleagues are experts in their fields, and they constantly support and encourage me in my research. My PhD is part of an EU-funded Marie Curie project that involves eight research institutes and two industrial companies across Europe. This is a great opportunity as it allows me to be involved in networking and training courses, as well as giving me open access to worldwide facilities.

You should expect research to be a challenging experience, but if you’re prepared for the opportunities that Surrey offers, you will have a truly fulfilling time here. I am extremely happy that I chose to conduct my PhD at Surrey. It is a great place where I have made many new friends for life.