The detailed research vision and strategy for the Department is currently under revision as we start the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment period.

The overall vision of research excellence in interdisciplinary themes, as captured by the Research Challenges, will continue to act as the fundamental ethos in the Department. These challenges are outlined in the figure below, with the names of the academic staff that are affiliated with their fields. The Research Challenges enable the Department to align our research activity with the key global challenges represented in both the UK Industrial Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals agenda. In addition, collaboration with colleagues across the wider university and the Research Institutes, is a key facilitator for our research, as well as collaboration with leading academic and industrialists in the UK and worldwide. During the current REF cycle, the overall research strategy in the Department of Engineering includes a desire to diversify the research funding sources by increasing the industrial engagement with our research activity.

The Department strategy aligns with the overall University strategy of Quality rather than Quantity, reflecting the world class research across the breadth of the institution.

Research Challenges in the Department of Engineering and their affiliated staff – note a number of staff are members of more than one Challenge.