Research centres
Discover our 13 centres of research expertise — helping us to better understand the world around us and share new insights with policymakers, businesses and wider society.
Research and knowledge exchange
Our university centres for research and knowledge exchange focus on 14 world-shaping disciplines.
Each centre is committed to advancing understanding through research excellence as well as finding opportunities for knowledge exchange with industry and wider society.
They bring together specialist staff, students and partners to make sense of the key challenges and drive progress towards a better world.
Advanced computational science
Our world-leading theoretical and applied research covers machine intelligence, data science, smart infrastructure, and human-centred computing.
Advanced materials and surface engineering
Developing new materials and innovative processes for sustainable modern manufacturing and transport. Our specialisms include nanotechnology, low carbon fuels and high performance coatings.
Applied social sciences
Challenging received wisdom about the world and our place in it - whether that’s about crime, youth, gender and sexuality, music, substance misuse, or community.
Bioscience
Helping improve the understanding and treatment of some of Britain’s most prevalent health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke and age-related decline.
Business transformations
Helping businesses adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world through new insights into digital technologies, emerging markets and improved operating strategies and practices.
Creative writing, English literature and linguistics
Research into writing that goes 'beyond the page'. Our expertise in poetry, the Gothic, writing about places, and linguistics helps drive improvements in cultural life around the world.
Decent work and productivity
Bringing together specialists in leadership, human resources, organisational behaviour, strategy, entrepreneurship and diversity to help improve workplaces of all sizes.
Ecology and environment
Tackling the impact of environmental change on species diversity, ecosystems and biological conservation. The centre includes experts on microbiology and urban environments.
Education and social research
New insights into the theory and practice of teaching and learning, and the impact they can have on childhood, community, technology, literacy and numeracy.
Health, psychology and communities
Enhancing the health and wellbeing of people and their communities - with a focus on mental health, stress, ageing, physiotherapy, neuroscience, communications and more.
History
Exploring key aspects of British and international history to draw new lessons for the modern world. Our expertise covers identity, belief, conflict, leisure and more.
Musculoskeletal science and sports medicine
Drawing insights from physiology, psychology, engineering, cell biology and other fields to better understand how people move - after injury, with age and at a high-performance level.