Research specialties

UC’s advanced materials and nanotechnology researchers are working in the areas of Nanotechnology and condensed matter, Natural fibres and biocomposites, and Energy and fuel systems.

UC's biological sciences and biotechnology researchers are working in the areas of Biomolecular interactions, Biosafety, Biomedicine, Bioengineering, Antarctic studies, Atmospheric processes, Aquaculture and marine ecology, Free Radical biochemistry, Freshwater ecology and management, and Plant processes.

UC's chemical and process engineering researchers are working in the areas of Biochemical processes, Energy and fuel production, Catalysis, Food process engineering, Resources and environmental processes, Separation processes, Simulation, and control and computer modelling.

UC's civil and natural resources engineering researchers are working in the areas of Fire engineering, Geotechnical engineering, Fluid mechanics, Hydrological and ecological engineering, Environmental engineering, Timber engineering, Bridge engineering, Earthquake engineering, Structure engineering, and Transportation engineering.

UC's earthquake, disaster and resilience researchers are working in the areas of Earthquake resilience, Natural and geological hazards, Risk, resilience and renewal, and Hazard and disaster management.

UC's economics and law researchers are working in the areas of Commercial and corporate law, Socio-legal studies, and Biological economies.

UC's electrical and computer engineering researchers are working in the areas of Acoustics, Communications, wireless and geospatial technology, Computational imaging, Power systems and electronics, and Neural engineering.

UC's forestry researchers are working in the areas of Sustainable land management, Forest engineering, Forest variability, and Forestry business management.

UC's geology and geography researchers are working in the areas of Geoarchaeology and forensic geology, Tectonics and landscape evolution,  Engineering geology and hydrogeology, and Geothermal energy.

UC's health science, technology and psychology researchers are working in the areas of Mathematics and statistics health and ageing research, Health geography, Health services collaboration and effectiveness, Epidemiology, Sleep problems, Childhood development, Employee resilience, Mental health nutrition, Stroke rehabilitation and recovery, Sport and exercise research, and Intelligent and adaptive health systems.

UC's information and computer science researchers are working in the areas of Theoretical computer science and software engineering, Artificial intelligence and intelligent computer tutoring, Computer networking, Human-computer interaction and multimedia, Computer vision, computer graphics and image processing, and Cybersecurity.

UC's learning and pedagogy researchers are working in the areas of Inclusive and special education, Language and literacy, Creativity and educational change, Early years development, Science and technology education, Educational theory, policy and practice, Māori education, Teacher learning and practice, Language pedagogy, e-learning, Geoscience education, and Computer science education.

UC's linguistics and communication disorders researchers are working in the areas of Speech production and perception, Auditory processing, Child language development, and Language, brain and behaviour.

UC's management, marketing and entrepreneurship researchers are working in the areas of Energy sector modeling, Sustainability and innovation, Water market management, and Engineering leadership and management.

UC's Māori, Pacific and cultural studies researchers are working in the areas of Ngāi Tahu studies, Pacific studies, Asian studies, and European studies.

UC’s mathematics researchers are working in the areas of Algebra, combinatorics, and logic, Analysis and geometry, Applied statistics, Computational mathematics, Dynamical systems and differential equations, Financial and industrial mathematics, History and philosophy of mathematics, and mathematics education, Mathematical biology, and Theoretical and computational statistics.

UC's mechanical engineering researchers are working in the areas of Acoustics and vibrations, Applied mechanics, Design, Electrospinning, Fluid mechanics, Manufacturing, Materials science and engineering, Robotics, control and instrumentation, and Thermodynamics and heat transfer.

UC's political science and international relations researchers are working in the areas of Sustainable lifestyles and civic environments, Conflict mediation and peace-building, Future studies, and Defence and foreign policy.

UC's sociology, anthropology and social work researchers are working in the areas of Human-animal studies, Social sciences, and Violence reduction, prevention, and intervention.