Research and innovation
Can animals keep up with our changing climate?
Many of the world’s challenges are systematic in their nature. Tackling these challenges demands collaboration, a whole systems approach and innovations that generate fundamental and applied research. At Leeds, we are making major investments in our people, facilities and capabilities.
Tackling global challenges
We conduct interdisciplinary and impact-orientated research to address challenges at regional, national and global levels. To achieve this our research is user-led and solutions focused, driven by the needs of our partners and stakeholders. Leeds is committed to working across disciplines to help tackle global challenges in areas including:
Expertise in resilient infrastructure, sustainable cities and building sustainable societies is being applied to challenges including social justice and economic sustainability.
Read about our cities research
Climate change and its impact on society and ecosystems is a grand challenge at a global scale, demanding solutions developed by a community of researchers who work together across a range of disciplines.
Read about our climate change research
Culture is at the heart of exciting plans to galvanise the University's contribution to the city and region - as well as nationally and internationally - creating a wide range of collaborative opportunities for staff, students and partners.
Read about our culture research
The Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) is developing data analytics as a transformative technology and playing a crucial role where research, education and industry meet.
Read about our data analytics research
Energy Leeds brings together researchers to tackle one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century - maintaining clean, secure and affordable supplies as part of a sustainable energy future.
Read about our energy research
Leeds has a track record of food and nutrition research which has influenced policy, supported industry on R&D and innovation on issues from sustenance to sustainability.
Read about our food research
At Leeds, we aim to improve human health through nurturing interdisciplinary research collaborations in areas which can have the greatest impact.
Read about our global health research
We are working to understand and influence social change across the world. From modernising policing methods in the UK to keeping girls in school in Uganda, we aim for research which has an impact.
Read about our social change research
We are aiming to use structural biology to solve major issues from curing the common cold to developing new antibiotics. The Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology brings together researchers from physics, the biological sciences and chemistry to understand the molecular basis of life.
Read about our structural biology research
Leeds is home to the largest interdisciplinary water research centre of its kind in the world.
Read about our water research
News
Busting the myth of the 'white working class'
Early education setback for summer premature births
Antiseptic resistance in bacteria could lead to next-gen plastics
Better tests needed for urinary tract infections
Boosting health technology innovation
First independent report into UK Hajj industry
Scientists create the world's thinnest gold
Facilities
We continue to invest in our facilities. These range from the core tools needed to support cutting edge research through to highly specialised equipment, such as our driving simulator, electron beam lithography system and national robotics capability.
Spotlight
Our extraordinary research: Why Leeds
We explore why UKRI, the UK’s biggest public funder of research and innovation, is marking its anniversary event at the University of Leeds. Read More
Search our faculties
Search more of our research areas through our faculties listing.
Visit the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures website
Executive Dean - Professor Frank Finlay
Deputy Dean - Professor Luke Windsor
Pro-Dean for Student Education - Dr Simon Baines
Deputy Pro-Dean for Student Education - Dr Melanie Prideaux
Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation - Professor Philip Mellor
Pro-Dean for International - Professor Manuel Barcia Paz
Leeds Humanities Research Institute - Professor Alison Fell and Deputy Director Professor Sita Popat
Director of Postgraduate Research Studies - Dr Michael Spencer
Faculty office (3 Cavendish Road) - +44 (0)113 3432687
Schools of study
- School of Design - Professor Chris Carr
- School of English - Dr Fiona Becket
- School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies - Professor Abigail Harrison-Moore
- School of History - Professor Andrea Major
- Institute for Medieval Studies – Professor Emilia Jamroziak
- Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied - Professor Christopher Megone
- School of Languages, Cultures and Societies - Professor Matthew Treherne
- School of Media and Communication - Dr Kate Nash
- School of Music - Dr Karen Burland Clark
- School of Performance and Cultural Industries - Professor Alice O'Grady
- School of Philosophy, Religion and the History of Science - Professor Graeme Gooday
Visit the Faculty of Biological Sciences website
Executive Dean of Faculty - Professor John Ladbury
Pro-Dean for Student Education - Professor Kenneth McDowall
Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation - Professor Brendan Davies
Pro-Dean: International - Professor Jim Deuchars
Faculty office - +44 (0)113 343 5647
Undergraduate Admissions Enquiries: +44(0) 113 343 3021
Undergraduate Office enquiries for current students: +44 (0)113 343 8236
Postgraduates: see our Masters page
- School of Biology - Professor Ian Hope
- School of Biomedical Sciences - Professor Karen Birch
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology - Professor Richard Bayliss
- Faculty Director of Taught Student Education - Dr Aysha Divan
- Director of Biological Sciences Graduate School - Professor Alan Berry
Centres
- Antimicrobial Research Centre
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology
- Biological Sciences in LIGHT
- Biomedical and Health Research Centre
- Centre for Plant Sciences
- Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre
- Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (Joint with the Faculty of Engineering)
- WELMEC Centre of Excellence in Medical Engineering
Visit the Faculty of Business website
Head of LUBS and Executive Dean of Faculty - Professor Peter Moizer
Interim Deputy Dean - Professor Julia Bennell
Pro-Dean for Student Education - Professor Nick Scott
Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation - Professor Mark Stuart
Pro-Dean for International - Professor Iain Clacher
Faculty office - +44 (0)113 343 6321
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Divisions
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Centres/Research Clusters
- Adaptation, Information Management, Technology (AIMTech)
- Applied Institute of Research in Economics (AIRE)
- Business Confucius Institute at the University of Leeds (BCI)
- Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance (CASIF)
- Centre for Decision Research (CDR)
- Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC)
- Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies (CEES)
- Centre for International Business at the University of Leeds (CIBUL)
- Centre for Operations and Supply Chain Research (COSCR)
- Centre for Technology, Innovation and Engagement (C-Tie)
- Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC)
- Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC)
- Global and Strategic Marketing Research Centre (GLOSMARC)
- Institute for Banking and Investment (IBI)
- Socio-Technical Centre (STC)
- Workplace Behaviour Research Centre (WBRC)
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Research Degree Programmes – Dr Dan Coffey
Visit the Faculty of Social Sciences website
Executive Dean - Professor Jeremy Higham
Pro-Dean for Student Education - Dr Simon Lightfoot
Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation - Professor Anthea Hucklesby
Pro-Dean for International - Professor Norma Martin-Clement
Enquiries
- School of Education - +44 (0)113 343 4535
- School of Law - +44 (0)113 343 5033
- School of Politics and International Studies - +44 (0)113 343 6663
- School of Sociology and Social Policy - +44 (0)113 343 7938
Faculty office - +44 (0)113 343 7428
- School of Education - Professor Alice Deignan
- School of Law - Professor Alastair Mullis
- School of Politics and International Studies - Professor Jason Ralph
- School of Sociology and Social Policy - Professor S. Sayyid
Centres and institutes
- The Bauman Institute
- Leeds University Centre for African Studies
- Centre for Business Law and Practice
- Centre for Childhood, Education and Social Justice
- Centre for Criminal Justice Studies
- Centre for Curriculum, Pedagogy and Policy
- Centre for Business Law and Practice
- Centre for Democratic Engagement
- Centre for Digital Education
- Centre for Ethnicity and Racism Studies
- Centre for Global Development
- Centre for Innovation and Research in Legal Education
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies
- Centre for International Research on Care, Labour and Equalities (CIRCLE)
- Centre for Language Education Research
- Centre for Law and Social Justice
- Centre for Research on Families, Life Course and Generations (FLaG)
- Centre for Security Studies
- European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics
- Leeds Social Sciences Institute
- N8 Policing Research Partnership
Visit the Faculty of Engineering website
Visit the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences website
Executive Dean (Interim) – Professor Stephen Scott
Pro-Deans for Student Education – Professor Martin Levesley, Professor Paul Taylor
Pro-Deans for Research and Innovation – Professor Giles Davies, Dr Oliver Harlen
Directors of Postgraduate Research Studies – Professor Richard Hall, Dr Kelvin Tapley, Dr Stuart Barber
Pro-Dean for International – Dr Rob Sturman
Faculty office: +44
(0)113 343 6492
School of Chemistry – Professor Colin Fishwick
School of Chemical and Process Engineering – Professor Elaine Martin
School of Civil Engineering – Professor Muhammed Basheer
School of Computing – Dr Andy Bulpitt
School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering – Professor Robert Kelsall
School of Mathematics – Professor Dugald Macpherson
School of Mechanical Engineering – Professor Harvey Thompson
School of Physics and Astronomy – Professor Helen Gleeson
Centres and institutes
Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology
Bragg Centre for Materials Research
Centre for Immersive Technologies
Institute for High Speed Rail and System Integration
Institute of Process Research and Development
Leeds Institute for Data Analytics
Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics
Visit the Faculty of Environment website
Executive Dean - Professor Andy Dougill
Pro-Dean for Student
Education - Dr
Anne Tallontire
Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation - Professor
Joseph Holden
Director of Postgraduate Research Studies – Professor Pippa Chapman
Pro-Dean for International - Dr Bill Murphy
Faculty office - +44 (0)113 343 1941
School of Earth and Environment - Professor Simon Bottrell
School of Food Science and Nutrition - Professor Alan Mackie
School of Geography – Professor Robert Vanderbeck
Institute for Transport Studies - Professor Richard Batley
Centres and institutes
Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy
Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling
Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics
Global Food and Environment Institute
Leeds Social Sciences Institute
National Centre for Atmospheric Science
Priestley International Centre for Climate
Visit the Faculty of Medicine and Health website
Executive Dean - Professor Paul Stewart
PA to Faculty Dean - +44 (0)113 343 3264
Pro-Dean for Student Education - Dr Laura Treadgold
Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation - Professor Rory O'Connor
Pro-Dean for International - Professor Linda McGowan
- Faculty Graduate School
- School of Dentistry - Dr Alan Mighell (Dean)
- School of Healthcare - Dr Janet Hirst
- School of Medicine - Professor Mark Kearney (Dean)
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine - Professor David Beech
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS)- Professor Laura Stroud
- Leeds Institute of Medical Education - Professor Laura Stroud (Interim Director)
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's (LIMR) - Professor Pam Jones
- Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research (LICTR) - Professor Julia Brown
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Medicine (LIRMM) - Professor Philip Conaghan
- School of Psychology - Dr Peter Gardner
Centres and institutes
- ALPS CETL
- Biomedical Health Research Centre
- Centre for Innovation in Health Management
- Department for NHS Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (Yorkshire Deanery)
- ICON-Health
- LIGHT Data Management Group
- Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit
- Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre
- WELMEC Centre of Excellence in Medical Engineering