Driven by curiosity. Driving changeResearch in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology brings together chemical engineering, biotechnology, physics, chemistry and mathematics to tackle complex real-world problems.
Our work is grounded in fundamental science and engineering, with a clear focus on translating discovery into impact. Across the department, researchers work collaboratively to address challenges in two priority areas: sustainability and healthcare.
Research themes
Sustainability
Research focused on creating cleaner, more efficient and resilient systems, from energy generation and storage to sustainable manufacturing, materials and chemical processes.
Healthcare
Research aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment and understanding of disease, spanning biotechnology, materials, sensors, diagnostics and bioengineering.
How our research works
Our research spans a wide range of disciplines and approaches, including biology and biotechnology, materials science, reaction engineering, sensor technologies and data-driven methods. These capabilities are often combined within and across research groups, enabling work at the interfaces between traditional fields.
By bringing together expertise in fundamental science, engineering and computation, our researchers are able to address problems that are too complex to be solved within a single discipline.
Explore our research
Research groups
Our 21 research groups form the core of the department’s research activity, spanning chemical engineering, biotechnology and interdisciplinary areas.
Enterprise & partnerships
We work closely with industry, startups and external partners to translate research into real-world applications, including spinouts and collaborative projects.
Fellowships
The department supports a wide range of research fellows at different career stages, contributing to a vibrant and diverse research culture.