Research
The scientific research within the School was highly rated in the 2021 REF peer-review exercise, with 91% of research being judged as internationally excellent or world-leading.
Research in Mathematics and Physics spans a wide range of disciplines and is organised around six research centres. Our vibrant research activity is a result of world-class academic staff, postgraduate research fellows and high-class research support facilities and infrastructure.
Our Research Impact
- Some of our Impact Case Studies can be viewed below:
The Sun as you've never seen it before - clearest and most detailed images of the sun revealed
Delivering next generation nano-photonic devices with Seagate Technologies
Improving healthcare management and government policy through data analytics driven modelling
Further information on the REF2021 results can be viewed here.
Research Highlights
Our world-class facilities support research and teaching across a diverse range of areas designed to fulfil specific activities. The School contains 4,700m2 of purpose-built laboratory space which includes the ANSIN materials research hub, the Ewald Microscopy Facility (EMF) and the Taranis laser facility.
Our laboratories and equipment are looked after by a dedicated team of technicians and are used by our researchers, students and industry.
Our Postgraduate Researchers are the lifeblood of the School. Our research is conducted and recognised as excellent across the world. You will have the opportunity to work with highly experienced researchers involved in cutting-edge research projects that span a multitude of fields.
Are you interested in doctoral study in the School of Mathematics and Physics? Find a PhD supervisor
We host a wide range of events, from PGR seminars to large, public lectures with headlining speakers such as Professor Donna Strickland, Nobel Laureate 2018 (pictured). Our academics enjoy significant international recognition evidenced through invited or keynote talks at national and international conferences.
We are committed to the promotion of equality of opportunity and to creating and sustaining an environment that values and celebrates the diversity of its staff and student body. In particular, the school is committed to supporting the career progression of women in science, engineering and technology in line with the beliefs of the Athena SWAN Charter.
We have recently been awarded the renewal of the Athena SWAN Silver Award until 2025 to recognise and celebrate good employment practice for women working in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) in higher education and research. Find out more
The School is involved in some major national and international consultancy roles taken on by several staff.
These consultancy roles have led to stronger connections to industry and the public sector. This encouragement and support has led to nine Knowledge Transfer Partnerships during the period, connecting research to industry.
The School's Green team oversee the development and implementation of the School-based Green Impact Strategy, aligned with the University's Green Impact Scheme.
One current project is renovating the balcony in The Physics Building. Once completed with plants added, this will make inviting and relaxing area for all staff, students and visitors.
Latest Publications
Application of Step-by-Step and Paediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) Clinical Decision Aids in the management of young febrile infants in a UK cohort
- Etimbuk Umana
- Hannah Norman-Bruce
- Clare Mills
- Oenone Rodgers
- Hannah Mitchell
- Lisa McFetridge
- Gareth McKeeman
- Steve Foster
- Michael Barrett
- Damian Roland
- Mark D Lyttle
- Chris Watson
- Tom Waterfield
Tailoring the electronic properties of monoclinic (InxAl1-x)2O3 alloys via substitutional donors and acceptors
2 October 2025Cartan semigroups and twisted groupoid C*-algebras
- Tristan Bice
- Lisa Orloff Clark
- Ying-Fen Lin
- Kathryn McCormick
Surface wave electron acceleration from flat foils at parallel laser incidence
- Adrian McCay
- A. McIlvenny
- A. Macchi
- L. Romagnani
- Philip Martin
- Owen Cavanagh
- Daniel Molloy
- L. Lancia
- Thomas Dzelzainis
- H. Ahmed
- J. Sarma
- Satyabrata Kar
- Daniele Margarone
- Marco Borghesi
Response of ionospheric total electron content to the impulsive and late phases of X‐class solar flares with various center‐to‐limb locations
- Susanna Bekker
- Ryan Milligan
- I. A. Ryakhovsky