Research

Research and scholarship underpins everything we do. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (conducted by the UK Government) we were ranked as one of the top six UK departments specialising in Mechanical and/or Aerospace Engineering. This reflects the department's research-intensive ethos, in which high quality research and teaching delivered by leading researchers in the field forms a core part. The department has people that conduct research of an international standard over the full range of mechanical engineering. The department has one of the most active and extensive research profiles in the University, concentrating in the three main research areas of:

• Design and Process Engineering
• Dynamics and Control
• Nuclear Research Centre
• Solid Mechanics

The Department is also active in the area of Robotics. Professor Chris Melhuish is the Director of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and further information can be found on the BRL website.

A particularly exciting development for research in the department is the Bristol Laboratory for Dynamic Engineering. This development was awarded £15 million under the UK government and the Wellcome Trust's Joint Infrastructure Fund scheme, the largest amount awarded to an engineering proposal. The laboratory will unite activities in dynamics and control over the Faculty of Engineering and provide them with new, unique large scale facilities. The result will be one of the largest and best dynamics centres in the UK and in the world. More information about BLADE is available.

The Department also has a range of activities relating to smart structures and the recent formation of the Institute of Smart Technology follows from the appointment of Professor Daniel Inman.

Information on how you might join us and undertake postgraduate or postdoctoral research is available.