University of Liverpool

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Liverpool is at the forefront of research in this fast-moving discipline and its postgraduate body is one of the largest in the University encompassing world-class fundamental and applied research. We offer an exciting, theoretical and practical range of degree programmes which address all of the major subject areas underpinning the new IT based modern economy including four full-time MSc programmes.

RESEARCH CULTURE

Research in the department is undertaken in well-defined, but interacting research groups, each having its own strong identity and culture. Each group is headed by a Professor who will provide more details of their new activities and the names of relevant supervisors (see also www.liv.ac.uk/eee). The four taught MSc (Eng) programmes in Information and Intelligence Engineering, Energy and Power Systems, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology, and
Microelectronic Systems and Telecommunications offer options relating to communications, signal processing, manufacturing, intelligence engineering, optoelectronics, digital electronics, energy and power systems, micro/nano technology and RF/ microwave engineering.

Research includes strong interdisciplinary connections to basic science, life sciences and mathematics - a key recommendation of the Royal Academy of Engineering/ EPSRC report evaluating UK engineering, “The Wealth of a Nation”. Research work is funded by the UK Research Councils, the EU and industry. Academics, research fellows, post-doctoral researchers, experimental officers and postgraduate students in the department make up a lively research community which carries out internationally-leading work and publishes in the most prestigious international journals.

The postgraduate research school is very active, with approximately 88 research students engaging in PhD studies and approximately 25 post-doctoral research assistants. There are also a large number of visitors from overseas universities, research institutes and industry. Our staff is highly recognised in a number of areas covering the core of new technology. Electronic and electrical engineering research is essential in the modern technological society and our department does much significant work in this area. We collaborate proactively with other departments on many projects. We also collaborate extensively with businesses and educational establishments around the world. Research in the department connects and contributes strongly to its undergraduate teaching.

MAIN AREAS OF RESEARCH SPECIALISM

Research activities are organised into four groups:
BioMEMS, Organic and Silicon Electronics
Intelligence Engineering and Industrial Automation
Plasma and Complex Systems
Signal Processing and Communications

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Electrical Engineering and Electronics occupies a suite of purpose built buildings in the heart of the university campus encompassing 50 laboratories and offices. Extensive state of the art
facilities are provided including well equipped electrical and computing laboratories and specialist sections for research activities. The postgraduate laboratories are well equipped with the latest research facilities and instrumentation. Postgraduate facilities include PCs and powerful workstations which also give direct and ready access to the University’s central computer system and the World Wide Web. Specialist sections include facilities for processing semiconductor devices, technological plasmas, equipment for testing switchgear,
underwater and welding robots, e-Automation, RF engineering, bionanoengineering laboratory and excellent mechanical and electrical workshops.

INTERNATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL LINKS

Electrical Engineering and Electronics has very strong links with British industry, Europe and overseas institutions and offers outstanding opportunities in postgraduate research. Its internationally renowned expertise in many areas is strongly reflected in substantial levels of research income and journal publication. Research interests are broad and include collaborative projects with other departments within the University (involving Mathematics, Physics, Materials, Biological Sciences, Mechanical and Clinical Engineering).

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

There is close involvement with more than 50 major electronic and electrical companies, and research organisations. Collaboration with UK and foreign universities is a feature of most of the groups. Funding for research has been at a high level: research income currently stands at about £3.1 million per annum and the total income available to research groups presently exceeds £11.2 million. The department’s research wing has recently undergone a £2.2 million refurbishment. The Centre for Intelligent Monitoring Systems was established in the department with over £4million support from the EU and some major UK companies for promoting fundamental research and technology transfer.

PROFILE
Students:
Academic and research staff: 48
Undergraduate students: 404
Postgraduate research students: 88
Postgraduate taught students: 42
International postgraduate students
(taught and by research): 70

RESEARCH ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2008
55% of research activity deemed world leading or internationally excellent and a further 35% internationally recognised.

The department aims to achieve excellence in selected dynamic areas of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, building on our previous research strengths; to pursue a modern research activity by promoting interdisciplinary, maintaining a good balance between strategic, applied, industrial and fundamental research and establishing an international dimension to research; and to create a “research and teaching continuum”, in part through the nurture of postgraduate students to become future researchers. The sustained campaign of upgrading the research culture within the department has resulted in the near doubling of the research output within the census period for the last RAE.

For further information on our Taught Postgraduate courses please see link below:

http://www.liv.ac.uk/engdept/pg_programmes/taught_programmes.htm


To submit an application online please see link below:

http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying/

The School of English has research expertise in all fields of English Literature and Language, but particular strengths in medieval studies, Shakespeare, the Renaissance, the eighteenth century, Romanticism, the Victorian period, American literature, textual editing, science fiction, modern poetry , discourse analysis, corpus linguistics and language teaching methodology. A rating of 5** (the highest possible) was obtained in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, and a grading of ‘Excellent’ in the 1995 HEFCE Teaching Quality Assessment.

The School of English awards two studentships each year to Home and EU students. The value of the studentships is £2,000 which is off-set against fees. Application is by letter (preferably by e-mail) to the Director of Graduate Studies. Deadline for applications is 30 July 2008.

Members of the School include general editors of major projects such as the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, the Longman Pope, the Longman Shelley, and the Records of Early English Drama. Library resources are excellent, reflecting our century-long tradition of scholarship and research. In addition to the substantial holdings of books and periodicals, all English books printed before 1642 are available on microfilm. The School of English founded the Gladstone Centre for Victorian Studies in Wales and the North West in collaboration with St Deiniol’s Library, Hawarden. St Deiniol’s houses an impressive collection of 19th century material, and our students benefit from this collection as well as the regular events and residential colloquia hosted there. The School also established and runs the interdisciplinary Liverpool University Centre for Victorian Studies. The Sydney Jones Library also houses the collection of the Science Fiction Foundation, the largest of its kind in Europe, with related collections in the same field and the recent Science Fiction Hub is administered from Liverpool. The Liverpool English Texts and Studies series has included many distinguished books and editions, especially in the fields of the Renaissance and Romanticism. The Liverpool University Press Science Fiction Texts and Studies series is edited in the School and publishes work by international specialists in the field. The Byron Journal is also edited in the School.
Computing facilities are offered, and programmes in computer-based editorial research and textual analysis are being developed.