Our community of researchers brings together excellence and innovation, pushing the frontiers of knowledge and discovery to shape a better future.

This involves creating, nurturing and promoting an environment in which people work together across disciplines and with partners to solve complex problems.

The result is truly transformational fundamental and challenge-led research that advances knowledge and creates solutions to local, national and global challenges.

Spotlight on coronavirus

Learning lessons from lockdown school closures

Schools are being urged to support a study to help determine the effect of the national lockdown on children’s learning.

Research to understand COVID-19 spread on public transport

A major study has been launched to understand the risks of COVID-19 transmission on buses & trains and to identify measures to control it.

Covid-19 advice and support schemes for businesses

Nexus has compiled the latest information and resources to guide you through the advice and support schemes available related to COVID-19.

Spotlight on soil

Centre for Plant Sciences

Plant research in the areas of cell biology, developmental biology, gene expression, epigenetics, biotechnology and crop science.

Rock dust on croplands could draw two billion tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere

Adding rock dust to farmland could remove the CO2 equivalent of more than the current total emissions from global aviation and shipping.

Investigating the composition of dissolved organic matter

Dr Catherine Moody investigates the composition of dissolved organic matter and its impact on water treatment in a changing climate.

  • Top 10 in the UK for research and impact power

    Research Excellence Framework
    (REF 2014)

  • 3000 researchers

    in our postgraduate community

  • £100 million invested in the last five years

    to recruit future academic leaders

Research that changes the world

Using research power to tackle global issues

The University has secured part of a new £147 million research initiative to work with developing nations on the world's biggest challenges.

Leeds professor joins Digital Futures Commission

A leading academic from the University of Leeds has joined an influential panel of experts on the newly-launched Digital Futures Commission.

Policy Leeds launched to link academics with policymakers

The new policy institute aims to strengthen the ties between the University’s world-renowned research community and global policymakers.

Visit the Faculty of Social Sciences website

Interim Executive Dean - Professor Alastair Mullis

Pro-Dean for Student Education - Professor Simon Lightfoot

Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation - Professor Stuart Lister

Pro-Dean for International - Professor Norma Martin-Clement

Enquiries

Faculty office - +44 (0)113 343 7428

Centres and institutes

Our environment allows interdisciplinary research to flourish, creating fresh ideas and approaches to problem solving. We conduct interdisciplinary and impact-orientated research to address challenges at regional, national and global levels. Below are some of the areas where we are working across disciplines to tackle global challenges.