Interdisciplinary research projects

Cross-disciplinary collaborations help foster innovation in Physics research and impact a wide range of sectors.

We strongly support interdisciplinary research, both within and outside of our School, working with with scientists from across our University and with external institutes and companies.

We are host and partner in several Centres for Doctoral Training, and such programmes allow us to train the next generation of physicists and astronomers, and to enhance transfer of knowledge between academia and industry.

Research projects

Our diverse range of interdisciplinary research activity includes:

Biophotonics

Some of our researchers in the Condensed Matter and Photonics group work at the interface between physics and the life-sciences. They apply Raman and Coherent Raman microscopy and nanoscopy to the study of biomolecules and research the use of label-free optical biosensors using microcavities.

Submillimetre hyper-spectral sensing of the Earth’s atmosphere

Astrophysicists in our Astronomy Instrumentation Group are working with scientists at the UK’s Met Office to apply their technology to meteorological observations.

Characterisation of assembly mechanisms and light transfer in the cornea

We have academic staff collaborating with colleagues in the School of Optometry, applying physics techniques to elucidate the arrangement and chemistry of the collagen fibrils of the cornea.

Geophysics applications of spatial analysis

Working with the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, researchers in the Star and Planet Formation research unit have used techniques developed for the analysis of clustering of newly formed stars to measure the distribution of gas eruption sites on the sea bed off California and in the Nile Delta.