Individuals and groups within the Faculty of Science conduct research in a wide variety of fields, several of which are formally recognised as areas of research strength within the University and have a strong national and international reputation. In a number of cases, physical resources and staff have been concentrated into groups so as to facilitate and provide a focus for research within a particular field. These are described in the Research Centres page.

The University of Technology has recently reviewed its strategic directions. In response to Setting the Pace: Strategic Directions for the next Decade UTS has established four new Advanced Technology Research Institutes. Three of these institutes are based on research strengths in the Faculty of Science.

The Institutes are:

Institute for Nanoscale Technology

Institute for Water and Environmental Resource Management

Institute for the Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases

Within the Faculty of science research is focused in the activities of several research centres and units. The Faculty also runs the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and administers two clinics.

Opportunities for postgraduate research leading to the degree of Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy are available in all areas. Australian students undertaking these degrees may be eligible for an Australian Postgraduate Research Award, a UTS Doctoral Scholarship or a Faculty of Science Doctoral Research Scholarship.

Key University Research Strengths (KURS)

A number of research areas have been designated as special research strengths in the University and receive special support. The Faculty of Science has two KURS.

Health Technologies (with the Faculty of Engineering)

Quantitative Finance (with the Faculty of Business)

Other Research

University Designated Research Groups are:

• Forensic Science
• Photonic Crystal Technology

The Faculty of science includes departments, centres and units, each specialising in particular areas of research and education. Centres include:

• Centre for Ecotoxicology
• National Centre for Groundwater Management.

The centres for Quantitative Finance and Photonics are focussed in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, which hosts the UTS node of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS).

There are three Student Learning Centres which include

• Chemistry Learning Centre
• Mathematics Study Centre
• Physics Learning Centre

Units include

• Microstructural Analysis Unit
• Health Psychology Unit
• College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Computational Research Support Unit

Other areas in which significant research is conducted include:

• Earth Science
• Chemistry
• Applied Physics
• Materials Science
• Mathematical Science
• Pesticides
• Psycho-oncology
• Acupuncture

Faculty Support for Research

Several areas have been identified for internal funding from 2006 onwards. These are:

1) PG project support
2) Conference travel (student)
3) Visiting scholars scheme
4) Conference travel (staff)
5) Leverage funds
6) New staff start-up funds
7) PhD top-ups
8) 1 year internships, post-Honours
9) Publications reward

Faculty Policy on Research Support in 2006

External Research Funding

The Faculty receives research funding from many sources. Funds come from competitive grant schemes operated by the Federal and State Governments, from funding schemes run by industrial and professional bodies, from individual industries, from community organisations, and from private sources.

ARC Funding.

Research Student Completions

Each year, the Faculty graduates a large number of research students in the doctoral and masters (by thesis) programs. Most graduates have worked closely with industries and government agencies on their projects and continue to maintain close links with the Faculty.

Research student graduands