Postgraduate Research

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)

Acoustics Research Centre

The Acoustics Research Centre is a large acoustics group. Much of our research combines work in physical sciences and engineering, with sound perception by humans and other animals. We work to improve health, wellbeing and accessibility, for example by reducing the harms caused by noise. We also work closely with industry, government and third-sector organisations to make a better sounding future. Our postgraduate research is supported by extensive laboratories include anechoic chambers, reverberation chambers and listening rooms. The research centre runs two large doctoral training programmes. These are the Leverhulme Doctoral Training Hub in Aural Diversity (LAURA) and the ESPRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Sound Futures. Both of these fund PhD places.

Biomedical Research and Innovation Centre

The Biomedical Research and Innovation 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. 

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 Environmental Research and Innovation Centre page.

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 Informatics Research Centre.

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 is a research facility that focuses 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. Learn more about members of the NERIC team.

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 and heat transmission through the structures, as well as how people interact with those installed green infrastructures. More information on the IGNITION 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. Learn more about the THINKlab and its director Professor Terrence Fernando and the technical director Dulcidio Coelho.

Current Opportunities

In the school of SEE we have many exciting opportunities for research.

All our research vacancies are listed on Find A PhD.

Find guidance on how to write your research proposal.

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