Our research

With increased attention on the interdependent infrastructure that society relies upon, and future drivers such as urbanisation, climate change mitigation and increased climate variability, our research is designed to formulate the questions that society must answer and to assist in answering them.

Our research is recognised for its international standing, achieving a grade-point average (GPA) of 2.6 in the latest UK Government Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 

All academic staff are research active and have extensive knowledge and expertise accumulated over time, many of whom are leading experts in their chosen fields of specialisation.

Research activity takes place across many different countries and we have a strong reputation for our pioneering work in developing countries - ranging from the treatment of waste and wastewater in tropical climates and the development of energy centres in India, to the design of low-cost housing in Malaysia and Brazil.

The School's research activity is led by two institutes:

Institute for Resilient Infrastructure (iRI): ensuring that the physical infrastructure systems underpinning our way of life can adapt to changes, both in the way we use them and in the social and physical environment in which they are created, designed, built and operated

Pathogen Control Engineering Institute (PaCE): undertakes research in all aspects of the built environment in which the presence of pathogens influences design, including water treatment, solid waste and airborne transmission of disease

The School has first-class facilities and established links with industry and other international organisations, both in the UK and abroad. Staff in the School have conducted research in the UK with, for example, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of the Environment and Transport (DETR) and internationally with, the Department for International Development and for a number of the Directorates of the European Union.

Both institutes have strong links with the University wide cross disciplinary institute Water@Leeds which is a concentration of all expertise involved in water research within the University.