Research
Our work ranges in scale from nuclear physics to interplanetary space exploration, and we have an enviable reputation for the contributions we have made towards a variety of challenges faced by our society. These challenges include improving our environment, health, communications, transport, security, information technologies, energy and water.
About our research
We believe in the importance of linking fundamental scientific research to engineering applications, so many of these activities are underpinned by strong industrial links, and several successful spin-out companies have resulted from this. About half of our income comes from Research Councils UK (principally EPSRC), a third from the EU, and the rest mainly from industry (our largest clients being EADS Astrium, Rolls Royce, E.on, Toyota, AWE and QinetiQ).
Take a look at the research outputs for University of Surrey on the Nature index site.
Research excellence
In the latest UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), Surrey achieved a ‘Research Power’ ranking of 22nd out of 106 institutions for its research in engineering and the physical sciences (REF Panel B).
The Faculty improved its quality rating score in each of the five key research areas where it made a submission, compared to the previous research exercise (RAE) in 2008.
Rated as world-leading or internationally excellent
- 93 per cent of our electrical and electronic engineering research
- 93 per cent metallurgy and materials research
- 84 per cent of our physics research.
In the General Engineering category, 80 per cent of our research was also rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Impact in conversation
Our academics and researchers show how we're making a positive impact on society both locally and globally.
Professor Anne Skeldon tells us about research on mathematical models for sleep, light and the body clock and predicting the effect of moving school start times and of permanent daylight saving.
Professor Steve Schneider tells us about the challenges of implementing and verifying electronic voting systems.
Professor Prashant Kumar discusses his work on mitigating air pollution on the local and international stages.
Themes, groups and centres
Our research strategy encompasses 10 multi-disciplinary themes which our groups and centres work in.
Innovation for health
Innovation for health research in the Faculty for Engineering and Physical Sciences includes: medical engineering such as biomedical, chemical, electrical and physical sciences such as chemistry, computing, mathematics across many medical indications. Our research helps to diagnose, treat, recover from and prevent illness and disease.
Postgraduate training
We are proud of our record in postgraduate training and we offer a rich variety of research topics for PhD study, through the traditional routes and also through our highly successful EngD programmes.
Research opportunities
We are keen to support fellowship applications for talented applicants so we have listed some current fellowships.
Faculty Research and Innovation team
Professor Julie Yeomans
Professor of Ceramic Materials, Associate Dean (Research and Innovation)
Research directors
Professor David Carey
Research Director of Surrey Space Centre
Professor Robert Dorey
Research Director of Department of Mechanical Engineering
Professor Angela Druckman
Research Director of Centre for Environment and Sustainability
Dr Marian Florescu
Research Director of Department of Physics and Advanced Technology Institute (Physics)
Professor Adrian Hilton
Research Director of Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing
Dr Devendra Saroj
Research Director of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor Nishanth Sastry
Research Director of Department of Computer Science
Professor Ravi Silva
Research Director of Advanced Technology Institute (EEE)
Professor Anne Skeldon
Research Director of Department of Mathematics
Professor Rahim Tafazolli
Research Director of Institute for Communication Systems
Professor John Varcoe
Research Director of Department of Chemistry
Professor Charley Wu
Research Director of Department of Chemical and Process Engineering
