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University of Nottingham
Results from the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) reaffirm the University of Nottingham as among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research.
Our research provides real-world responses to global challenges and we’re placed 7th in the UK for research power according to analysis by Times Higher Education
Securing sustainable food supplies, ending slavery, developing greener transport, and striving for net zero aviation are just some of the challenges where our world-leading researchers are driving innovation.
We support an international community of 3,000 researchers, 8,000 postgraduates and 160 research groups. Bringing together talented, passionate and dedicated people who strive to make discoveries that change lives and societies across the world.
Our REF2021 performance at a glance:
- 90%* of our research is classed as ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*)
- 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
*According to analysis by Times Higher Education.
- 51% of our research is assessed as ‘world-leading’ (4*) for its impact*
*According to our own analysis
- We are placed in the top 5 for our research in Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Area Studies and Economics
- Our research in Public Health and Primary Care placed 1st in the UK for real-world impact, with Engineering placing third, and nine of our units of assessment are in the top 10 for the impact of their research
- We are placed 1st for our research environment in Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Computer Sciences
Academic Units
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof K Thomas)Identifying core instruments for inclusion in the core outcome set for lichen sclerosus trials (CORALS)
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Erica Ballantyne)Engineering Doctorate (EngD): Investigating the benefits of using palletised eHGV batteries for transport fleet electrification / decarbonisation
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Bill Nimmo)Engineering Doctorate (EngD): New exhaust gas clean up systems for the combustion of new, low carbon fuels in heavy duty engines
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Meihong Wang)Engineering Doctorate (EngD): Development of direct air capture (DAC) technology driven by renewable energy and CO2 conversion to fuel
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Richard Marsh)Engineering Doctorate (EngD): Hydrogen combustion in large scale decarbonised heat and power plants
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Richard Marsh)Hydrogen for future propulsion
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr T Liu)Life Prediction of Power Plant Components with Welds under Flexible, Thermal-Mechanical Loadings and Operation Cycle Optimization
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr O Williams)Optimising Biomass Milling, Classification and Conveying for Enhanced Power Generation
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr J Robinson)Recycling of acrylic plastics: Understanding how to achieve virgin-quality monomer product from chemical recycling technologies.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr David Scurr)The Characterisation of Carbon Deposits using Modern Surface Science and Bulk property Analytical Techniques.
Research Profiles:
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof I Dimitriou)3-year PhD studentship: “Techno-economic feasibility and life-cycle assessments of chemical recycling of plastic waste” - (ENG 1564)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr I Centre for Additive Manufacture)Bioelectronic interfaces that exploit the unique optoelectronic properties of printed 2D multilayer devices - (ENG 1569)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof D Axinte)Computer vision and robot control for performing on-wing repair of aero-engines - (ENG - 1398)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr I Centre for Additive Manufacture)Design and 3D Printing of multimaterial functional structures - (ENG 1551)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Vilius Portapas)Development of handling quality criteria and assessment techniques for eVTOL aircraft - (ENG 1570)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Parimala Shivaprasad)Flower waste valorisation: Towards a sustainable feedstock for the chemical industry - (ENG 1544)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof J Andrews)High Speed Railway Degradation Modelling - (ENG 1534)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Samanta Piano)Improving data analysis speed of optical measurement systems for real time inspection - (ENG 1549)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof D Axinte)Mechatronics system for hybrid manufacturing processing - (ENG 1316X1)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof D Axinte)Microstructural and surface integrity in machining of specialist composite materials for next generation aero-engine applications - (ENG 1317X1)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr L Turyanska)Nanomaterials for targeted cancer imaging and therapy - (ENG 1524)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Mitchell Kenney)Nanophotonic Metamaterials for Imaging - (ENG 1565)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr R Remenyte-Prescott)Network Rail Fully Funded PhD Studentship – An optimisation approach for railway network recovery actions in response to disruptions - (ENG 1539)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Luis Neves)Network Rail Fully Funded PhD Studentship – Modelling Bridge Deterioration and Maintenance - (ENG 1538)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr I Centre for Additive Manufacture)PhD Studentship in Additive Manufacturing (3D-Printing) of Glass-based Multi-material Structures (ENG 1554)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Adam Thompson)Realisation of a metrological characteristics approach to calibration of X-ray computed tomography - (ENG 1550)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof D Axinte)Rolls Royce sponsored PhD scholarship - Machining of new aerospace materials - (ENG - 1413)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof D Axinte)Rolls Royce sponsored PhD scholarship, Micromechanics and in-depth materials analysis of advanced aerospace materials upon the manufacturing process - (ENG 1494)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof D Axinte)Rolls-Royce sponsored PhD scholarship - Laser Beam Processing of Aerospace Materials - (ENG 1408)
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof D Axinte)Rolls-Royce sponsored PhD Scholarship, Design and Simulation of Stiffness-Adjustable Robotic Systems for Performing on-Wing Repair of Aero-Engines - (ENG 1318X1)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr N Watson)Sensor Fusion for Sustainable Process Technology - (ENG 1552)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr I Centre for Additive Manufacture)Synthesis of Novel High Performing Polymers for the Additive Manufacture of Bacterial Biofilm Resistant Surfaces (ENG 1555)
If you wish to be considered for any School of Biosciences PhD vacancy please email a copy of your CV with a covering letter to biosciences-admissions@nottingham.ac.uk
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Qian Yang)Understanding the sensory perception of topically applied products
The School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham is one of the leading chemistry departments in the UK, with a reputation for world-class research and excellent teaching. With over 40 academic staff, our research interests are wide-ranging, from the traditional core of physical, organic and inorganic chemistry to the interfaces with biology, engineering, nanotechnology, materials science, physics and astronomy. The School of Chemistry was ranked second in the UK in terms of research quality in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Rabi Chhantyal Pun)Atmospheric Chemistry of Peroxy Radicals
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr M Cliffe)Harnessing quantum radical metal-organic frameworks
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Michael George)Sustainable Chemicals Innovations Enabling Net Carbon Emissions (SCIENCE)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Vincenzo Taresco)Synthesis of Biodegradable and Functionalisable Polyesters for the delivery of active ingredients
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr M Silvi)Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis for the Functionalisation of Complex Organic Molecules
Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre (Formerly The School of Life Sciences) covers a wide spectrum of biological and medical sciences in both teaching and research. The expertise in the School spans molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, anatomy and zoology. The School aims to achieve Excellence in Education, both in its own undergraduate science and postgraduate MSc degrees and with the major contributions it makes to professional courses in Medicine, Pharmacy and Dietetics. The School has a substantial research portfolio and strives to achieve research excellence across this range. There is a large cohort of early career researchers, comprising postdoctoral research fellows and over 250 postgraduate research students, together with highly skilled technical staff underpinning the research activities.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof R Chalmers)A new approach to CRISPR-Cas adaptation and the discovery of host accessory-proteins
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr A MacColl)Adaptation to environmental change in animals: ecology, evolution and genomics.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr R Wilkinson)Characterising blood-brain barrier formation and function using zebrafish to understand human vascular hyperpermeability
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr A Renault)Characterising congenital heart disease variants in Drosophila
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof J McInerney)Conflict and Cooperation in Prokaryote Pangenomes
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr A Davison)Genomic approaches to understanding molluscan crop pests
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Matthias Brock)Identification and characterisation of natural products from fungal non-reducing NRPS-like enzymes
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr K Woodridge)Interactions between the pathogenic Neisseria (N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae) and human cells
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr G Sheridan)Neuroinflammation, glial cell dysfunction & neurodegenerative diseases
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr E Bolt)Overcoming replication stress–defining new mechanism from archaea to human
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr S Loughna)Providing insights into the molecular understanding of heart development and the formation of congenital heart defects.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr M Gering)Robustness of the molecular programme that drives cellular differentiation during embryonic blood cell development
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr K Winzer)Saving the planet through carbon recycling: engineering bacterial capture of gasified waste for bioplastics production
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr C Friel)Unlocking the potential of a novel microtubule growth inhibitor as a cancer therapeutic
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr R Griffin)What really makes a bacterial lipoprotein a real lipoprotein? Important implications for developing or improving lipoprotein-based vaccines
The School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham carries out world-leading research and provides outstanding research supervision and education. The school offers a huge breadth of subject matter, from medical engineering, to imaging, stem cell culture, epidemiology, computational modelling and clinical medicine.
Our research supervision and education processes have been built upon years of experience and global best practice, and have resulted in excellent completion rates, happy students and plentiful, high-impact research publications.
Students graduating from the School of Medicine are the next generation of high-profile biomedical researchers and teachers and go on to enjoy successful careers in hospitals, universities and industry.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr S Rigby)Engineering Doctorate (EngD): Improving the water-handling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr C Merry)Exploring the role of matrix encapsulation on early developmental decisions using non-animal sourced hydrogels
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(PhD Supervisor: Assoc Prof Andrew Green)Masonic Charitable Foundation Breast Cancer Studentship
The School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham has a world class reputation for its research and is ranked as the top Pharmacy School for research quality in the UK (RAE 2008). Our portfolio of multidisciplinary research is focussed on understanding and developing treatments for some of the most complex and challenging diseases of our time. To help achieve this we have a global network of academic and industrial collaborators. The School's excellence in research was recognised by the award of the 2007 Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Innovation Category for 'enhancing significantly the development of new medicines'. The international quality of our academics and researchers has also been recognized by a number of current prestigious personal fellowships including a BBSRC Professorial Fellowship and two BBSRC David Phillips Fellowships.
The School has five major and integrated Research Divisions housed in state of the art modern facilities. Researchers receive funding from the UK Research Councils and the European Union as well as charities and industry. This funding helps us attract around 45 PhD students a year and supports many outstanding postdoctoral researchers.
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Anna Piccinini)3D OrbiSIMS for the investigation of the molecular fingerprints of cellular senescence
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Jing Yang)3D printing of osteogenic and cortical-bone-strong scaffolds with biomaterials and human blood for personalized bone tissue engineering
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Naoto Hori)Development of molecular simulation model for heterogeneous RNA and RNA-protein structures.
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Phil Williams)PhD studentships in the University of Nottingham / EPSRC Thematic doctoral training programme in Astropharmacy: Space Biology and Space Engineering
Research Profiles:
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr S Francis)Development of sodium Magnetic Resonance Imaging (23Na MRI)
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Adam Berrington)Model-based approaches for magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain at ultra-high field strength
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr James Sharp)Nanoscale Physics of Polymer Thin Films and Membranes (3 year PhD studentship)
The School of Physics & Astronomy is a flourishing member of the Science Faculty in this research-led university. The School has an international research reputation, with a large portfolio of research contracts from EPSRC, PPARC, STFC, MRC, BBSRC, NERC, CCLRC, RCUK, the Wellcome Trust, the Royal Society, the EU and industry.
The School currently has around 120 full-time postgraduate research students. Students come from a range of countries and there is a thriving international research student community in the School and University. We offer excellent support in an exciting city. Find out more about postgraduate life and opportunities at Nottingham.
The School was ranked joint second in the UK in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
Project List:
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Assoc Prof Denis Schluppeck)A brain-based approach to identifying and treating cerebral visual impairment in children
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Deborah Serrien)A shared representation for action and perception
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Jan Derrfuss)An uncontroversial cancel culture: Cancelling aware and unaware errors
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof M Humphries)Divergent networks: a new class of complex systems.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr N Holmes)Improving the reproducibility of brain stimulation and brain connectivity through collaboration
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Katherine Dyke)Improving understanding of non-invasive brain stimulation in neuro typical and neuro diverse groups
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Richard James)International determinants of gambling related harm
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Elizabeth Sheppard)Rejection sensitivity as a mechanism for social disability in autism
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Walter Van Heuven)The role of brain oscillations in bilingual language processing: insights from tACS and EEG
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Daniel Jolley)The world is an unjust place: The impact of personal adversity on belief in conspiracy theories
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Brian O'Shea)UK’s Infectious Disease Geospatial Project: Mapping incidences to understand and predict behaviour.
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Lauren Marsh)Understanding Social Connections Between Autistic and Non-Autistic People
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Mark Haslegrove)Understanding the relationship between working memory and associative learning
Project List:
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(PhD Supervisor: Prof Jasmeet Kaler)PhD Living lab for precision dairy health technologies: understanding and evaluating user engagement
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(PhD Supervisor: Dr Peter Down)Prevalence, etiology, control and prevention of clinical mastitis and associated antimicrobial use