Science and Engineering

Queen Mary University of London conducts world-class science and engineering research delivering fundamental knowledge and translational impact to benefit society.

Professor Martin Knight

Dean for Research, Faculty of Science and Engineering

We provide a supportive and stimulating research environment with high-quality facilities attracting talent from across the globe and delivering the highest quality research and societal impact which is recognised all over the world.

Research across our 5 schools includes both applied and fundamental research in areas of biology, biotechnology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, materials, mathematics, physics and psychology. Much of our research fits within the following cross-cutting strategic research themes.

Our strategic research themes

Environment, biodiversity and genomics

Research using technology, modelling and genomics to reduce environmental degradation and deliver biodiversity and sustainable habitats.

Social interaction, health and wellbeing

Research into the factors that influence behaviour and mental health and how humans adapt to changes.

Engineering better medicine

Bioscience and bioengineering supporting the development, manufacture and pre-clinical testing of medtech, implants, diagnostics and therapeutics.

AI & data modelling

Data-centric engineering research using artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data to support the digital environment.

Green energy

Science and engineering to facilitate net-zero emissions through development of sustainable power generation, transmission and storage

Fundamental discovery science

We undertake fundamental, discovery-led research in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, materials, mathematics and physics.

Research overview

Queen Mary has a distinguished tradition in science and engineering, and was one of the first UK universities to establish engineering, computer science, chemistry, and materials departments. The faculty of Science and Engineering now hosts five Schools with over 400 academic staff, 900 PhD students, and an annual research income in excess of £40M.

Our research is highly rated all over the world. In the most recent UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), Queen Mary University of London is amongst the top 10 institutions in the UK for Engineering (7th in REF 2021) and Computer Science and Informatics (8th in REF 2021), with excellent research recognised across all areas of the faculty. 97 per cent of science and engineering research outputs were rated at least internationally excellent with almost half considered to be world-leading.

We are active in exploring the commercial potential of our research with multiple active spinout companies and a track-record of delivering outstanding positive impact for society in areas including healthcare, wellbeing, the environment and sustainability.

Research talent from all corners of the globe are attracted to join Queen Mary where we support and nurture our researchers at every stage of their careers.