Postgraduate Research
Postgraduate Research at the SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND ENVIRONMENT
Proudly positioned at the forefront of research and innovation in the sciences and engineering, and across the built and natural environments, we are passionate about nurturing the next generation of researchers.
Our postgraduate research community explores topics across a suite of interdisciplinary research centres. Across built environment, engineering and technology, science and environments and ecology, we can help you to engage with co-created, transformational research.
Collaborative. Industry-focused. Friendly and supportive. That’s our approach. Read on and explore how we can help you achieve your research goals.
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
The School of Science, Engineering and Environment is the largest school at the University of Salford. More than 300 postgraduate researchers (PGRs) research with us. We offer Full and Part-time PhD programmes as well as split-site and distance learning ones. Our innovative MPhil programme is designed to transition students from the guided module-structure towards independent learning and researching and our MSc students are supported acquiring the skills needed for a successful transition into a workplace of their choosing.
PGR students work together with our researchers in world-leading facilities such as the Energy House Labs, The ThinkLab, NERIC - our robotics centre, and laboratories for acoustics, civil engineering, biomedicine, and environmental sciences to name a few. Our PGR students are an integral part of our research and academic teams. They have the opportunity to act as demonstrators in laboratories where they support undergraduate students, are encouraged to attend academic conferences with a generous conference fund and have the opportunity to chair a session at our international PGR conference (PGRC)
Biomedical Research and Innovation Centre
The Biomedical Research and Innnovation Centre [BRIC] brings together a collaborative community of scientists who address critical challenges faced by society. Our research spans fundamental and applied aspects of bioscience research across a number of broad themes such as Microbial Communities, Cardio-Respiratory Physiology and Pathology, Cancer Diagnosis and Prevention, Ageing and Dementia, Infectious Diseases. We deliver world-class, interdisciplinary research which potentially benefits people’s lives; through tackling anti-microbial resistance, repurposing drugs for the treatment of malaria to identifying mechanisms, markers and molecules which can be used for prediction, diagnosis, therapy or prognosis. BRIC works closely with commercial, academic, and healthcare partners across local, national, and international regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa.
Our research community works to support internationality and includes people from diverse backgrounds and identities to achieve their research goals. If your research interest is around this area, please click on the link here
The Environmental Research and Innovation Centre
The Environmental Research & Innovation Centre (ERIC) is focused on advancing the understanding of key environmental challenges of major economic and societal importance in the 21st century. The Cockroft building – our laboratory building – provides the facilities to support postgraduate students to produce innovative research on topics such as: infectious and zoonotic diseases, fisheries management, green infrastructure, pollution and biodiversity and conservation. We work across the globe with strong links with the Amazon in Brazil, Chernobyl in Ukraine, and various sub-Saharan African countries. Projects address, for example, antibiotic resistance, using Virtual Reality to explore ecology in Chernobyl, and our understanding of primate evolution.
Researchers in ERIC work closely with colleagues in the Biomedical Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC). Both address topics related to human health and biotechnology. For further details on ERIC and its director Professor Mike Wood visit our website here
Informatics Research Centre
Research at the Informatics Research Centre evolves around data and information in all their types and usages. Researchers at this centre cover all phases and processes from data pre-processing to engineering and visualisation. In doing so, the centre is developing novel methods and systems for the analysis and recognition of various data sets, learning behaviours and causal models. The results are techniques and systems that have a range of potential applications, from digitisation of historical documents, medical diagnosis, and text mining to retrieval and data visualisation. Forensic computing, digital investigation, and Cyber security are additional areas of expertise of researchers at the centre here
The Centre For Future Engineering
The Centre for Future Engineering has a long-standing recognition for working across the fields of mechanical, aeronautical and civil engineering, robotics and automation and advanced materials. Researchers collaborate closely with industry partners and foster interdisciplinary approaches to address real-world engineering challenges. As early as in 1987 it had been appointed the home of the National Advanced Robotics Research Centre. Research topics investigated by PGRs since that time have included autonomous vehicle development, sustainable construction methods, innovative materials, and advancements in renewable energy technologies, digital innovation, and environmental engineering.
Today, the centre continues to pursue these research topics and more are added through the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC). NERIC It is a research facility that focusses on the rapidly growing robotics and automation sectors and translates pioneering research in engineering into cost-effective solutions for industry. Robots provide aid for work that is dangerous, repetitive, dirty, and difficult. Researchers at NERIC explore and drive the future of robotics together with industry partners who share the goal to explore how robots can drive productivity.
NERIC’s key areas or research include robotics for intelligent infrastructure, digital automation, and supply chain improvement. Working across a range of sectors, the research team addresses robotics and automation, the requirements of net zero, healthcare technologies, vehicle automation and the development of smart cities. Please click on the link for more information on NERIC here and to learn more about members of the team here
Built And Human Environments
The research centre Built and Human Environments encompasses a broad range of research facilities and researchers. Among them are teams at IGNITION Living Lab and THINKlab.
At the IGNITION Nature Based Solutions (NBS) Living Lab research tackles the climate emergency using Green Infrastructure (GI) experimentation technologies. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, appraised the lab as “…epitomising the kind of vision and innovation that Greater Manchester does best. … right now we are at the forefront of a new industrial revolution in sustainable technologies here in the North West.” Living Lab is an exciting development at the University of Salford campus demonstrating cutting edge green infrastructure technologies that continue to provide data for further research on hydrology, biodiversity, heat transmission through the structures, as well as how people interact with those installed green infrastructures. Use this link for more information on the lab and its director Prof Hisham Elkadi
THINKlab is a facility where research is produced that contributes to managing the effects of global warming, developing cities and economies sustainably, and determining how to best care for an ageing population. Because these areas are predominantly advantaged through innovative approaches through developments driven by governments, industry, and researchers, the THINKlab team collaborates with a range of academic and commercial partners. Individual project teams investigate questions on how Resilient Cities and Smart Cities are effectively developed with the help of the lab and its unique services and creative facilities.
The overarching goal of the THINKlab is to provide an atmosphere of collaboration and co-creation pursuant of the goal of advancing digital innovation to solve global challenges. To learn more about the THINKlab and its director Professor Terrence Fernando and the technical director Dulcidio Coelho click here
Our Research Facilities
Energy House
The Energy House Laboratories are one-of-a-kind, world-leading research facilities that are forging the way in making our buildings carbon neutral.
Through commercial and grant funded research, Energy House Laboratories helps businesses understand how effective their products and services are in lowering consumers’ carbon footprint and reducing energy bills.
You can learn more about our advance materials and manufacturing facilities here
Our PGR Student Stories
Jake Jackman Visits the British Ecological Society
Upon receiving travel funding from the University of Salford, I was able to attend and present my PhD work as a 15-minute oral presentation at one of the largest biodiversity-focused conference platforms, the British Ecological Society (BES) conference, which this year, was held in Belfast. This conference focuses on the ongoing biodiversity crisis and allows people to share their experiences and efforts towards helping mitigate some of the impacting factors affecting our ecosystems.
During my time at BES, I was able to share my research with a worldwide audience and attend a range of talks discussing new research methods in the field of ecology. This was an incredible opportunity for me to answer questions about my research, which in turn has helped me to improve my work. By gaining the invaluable insights of other researchers I have been able to plan future work and fine-tune my current methods based on their observations and suggestions.
Attending this conference has also provided me with the opportunity to network. I met countless people from a diverse range of backgrounds and institutions, in which conversations about work and general social chat were plentiful. Overall, this was a fantastic opportunity, I was able to gain new insights ideas and valuable connections with people who I will remain in contact with going into the future.
Doctoral School at Salford
Doctoral School
Research is rewarding - and challenging. What you need to succeed is focus, determination - and a supportive team to motivate, guide and inspire you.
The Doctoral School at Salford delivers world-class training and support tailored to your individual needs. We look for development opportunities that enable you to fulfil your potential.
Support
We are committed to creating a supportive and collaborative environment where researchers from all backgrounds can fulfil their potential.
We align our training and development activities to the principles in the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. Our long-term commitment is recognised at the European level through the HR Excellence in Research award, renewed again in 2018.
Community
A typical Salford research candidate? There’s no such thing. What connects our research community is our passion to explore. To question the world around us. To discover together. If you’ve got these attributes, you’ll fit right in.
Follow our community on social.
Annual PGR Conference
Our Salford Postgraduate Annual Research Conference (SPARC), is a popular two-day event that brings together our postgraduate research students and research community to showcase their work and exchange ideas.
Open Day
A postgraduate research degree with Salford is a rewarding investment in your future.
Learn more about postgraduate research opportunities by visiting our next open day.
You can speak directly to research team leaders, ask questions and consider your options.
Current Opportunities
In the school of SEE we have many exciting opportunities for research.
All our research vacancies are listed here, including our latest vacancy in our award winning Energy House 2. Find out more and apply for this role here
Ready to apply?
Ready to make a research application? There are a number of things you will need to consider, such as study documentation, your research proposal, entry points and funding.
You can find guidance on how to write your research proposal here.
We've also put together a summary to give your application every chance of success.
If you have any questions or queries about your application, you can email PGR-SupportSSEE@salford.ac.uk
Research news
Read the latest research news from our School of Science, Engineering and Environment.
