The quality, reach and significance of research produced in Lancaster University's vibrant research environment is world-leading.
The UK Government's Research Excellence Framework (REF) confirms Lancaster as a home of world-leading research.
REF 2021 rated 99% of Lancaster's overall research environment as 4* 'world leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent'. This includes support and training of research students, research integrity, equality and diversity, as well as facilities available to support research.
REF 2021 resultsOur research directory allows you to search for specific people or publications or find a list of our research groups.
Research Directory
Academics and researchers from across Lancaster University are working to address the climate emergency in diverse ways.
60 Seconds with... Dr Xiao Hua, a lecturer in Chemistry at Lancaster University. Xiao’s work focuses on electric car batteries and how to make them more efficient and go for longer to reduce the need to charge them as much.
60 Seconds with... Professor Heather Brown, a Professor of Heath Inequalities at Lancaster University. Heather’s work focuses on understanding how both structural level factors and policy impacts on health inequalities across generations.
60 Seconds with... Professor Adrian Friday, a Professor of Computing and Sustainability at Lancaster University. Adrian’s work focuses on understanding the carbon footprint of digital systems.
60 Seconds with... Dr Catherine Oliver from the Sociology department at Lancaster University. Here she explains how her work and research will help the climate emergency and positively impact society.
60 Seconds with... Professor Jan Bebbington, Director of the Pentland Centre research centre at Lancaster University. Jan’s work focuses on the intersection between accounting tools/techniques and social/environmental issues: now captured under the Sustainable Development Goals.
60 Seconds with... Dr Dermot O’Reilly, a senior lecturer in Management Learning and Leadership at Lancaster University. Dermot’s work focuses on the implementation of sustainable thinking into organisations and business decisions.
60 Seconds with... Dr Ana Costa - a senior lecturer in at Lancaster University. In this video, she explains how her work is focusing on the re-use of materials in construction to reduce the carbon footprint of building work.
60 Seconds with... Professor Jess Davies from Lancaster Environment Centre. Jess is the Director of Centre for Global Eco-Innovation and a Professor of Sustainability who specialises in the role of land and soils in creating sustainable food, climate and water futures. In this video, Jess explains how her work with carbon capture in soil, could help solve the Climate Emergency.
60 Seconds with... Dr Michael Stead. Michael is a Lecturer in Sustainable Design from Imagination Lancaster, our open and exploratory design research lab. His work aims to develop innovative design approaches and tools in collaboration with industry, policymakers and the public to raise awareness and support adopting sustainable and equitable data-driven technologies and related practices.
60 Seconds with... Victoria Simpson, a Psychology PhD student at Lancaster University. Here she explains more about her research into the barriers to being vegan and how this impacts children's diet choices.
60 Seconds with... Dr Celine Germond-Duret, a Lecturer in Environmental Politics and Policy in the department at Lancaster University. Celine is interested in marine policy and the blue economy, international climate politics, and indigenous peoples.
In-depth stories from across our research community.
From catching criminals to reducing pollution and discovering secrets buried in original manuscripts, citizens are helping Lancaster researchers change the world.
Harnessing the power of entrepreneurship to help change lives around the globe.
Lancaster University researchers have been working for decades to detect and anticipate shifts in the natural world.
Lancaster’s world-leading Department of Linguistics and English Language examines how language works in learning, communication and within society.
From Tai Chi and crosswords to the under-appreciated importance of hearing - Lancaster’s researchers are taking inspiration from across the world as they unlock some of the secrets to a healthy life in old age.
Lancaster University academics are helping the NHS deliver better treatments that have improved the lives of millions of people.
Our research is documenting the lived experiences of men, women and children trapped in modern slavery in the hope that their work can make a difference.
Snorkelling with a clipboard and pencil in the Indo-Pacific region, observing hundreds of hours of fish behaviour and fighting for food justice in coastal West Africa is all in a day’s work for members of one of Lancaster University’s research groups.
See the full list of Lancaster's faculties, departments, institutes and research centres.
Here at Lancaster University, we bring people together to deliver solutions to complex problems, both in our region and around the world.
At the heart of Lancaster's research endeavour, our experts are working in partnership with others to make a difference. In this series of interviews, Lancaster University researchers share the stories, setbacks and discoveries behind the headlines and provide an in-depth look at some of the truly life-changing work taking place in our University.
This is Lancaster Podcast
A major strength of Lancaster University is its thriving ecosystem of interdisciplinary research. This collaborative approach is fostered by bringing together experts from different disciplines to address regional, national and global challenges.
Interdisciplinary research
Providing support and development opportunities for researchers is a key part of Lancaster's research strategy:
Lancaster’s Research Services team provides support for all aspects of externally-funded research activities.
Our experts help academic staff to:
The team also provides University-wide support for research governance and ethics, REF, research contracts and research information and systems.
The development of our researchers is central to the success of Lancaster's 2020 strategy.
As part of our People Strategy, we are fully committed to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and have an action plan in place to support its implementation.
Lancaster's demonstrated commitment to the Concordat has received European recognition in the form of the HR Excellence in Research award. First awarded to the institution in 2011. The award was retained in 2013, 2016 and 2023.
Researcher Development
Lancaster's Engagement Learning and Development Portal has been developed to help encourage engagement activity.
Aimed at researchers and other staff with a responsibility in this area, the portal has toolkits, digital guides, videos and case studies on topics including:
Lancaster University research stories from the past few weeks:
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