We are a vibrant research community with a passion for understanding the physical and chemical processes that occur in functi ... onal interfaces. Surfaces and their relationship with the environment often dictate how an engineering system performs. We recognise that processes at the nanoscale can affect performance through to the macro scale. The world is adapting to some major challenges associated with climate change, an ageing population and the security of food and energy. In iFS we can provide a scientific understanding of how we can adapt technologies to cope with these new demands. Particularly, where materials have to survive in new, challenging and often arduous environments. The Institute of Functional Surfaces (iFS) is underpinned by scientific and engineering excellence. This stretches across our core areas of expertise in Corrosion, Tribology and Surface Engineering. As a renowned centre of excellence in engineering education and research, we engage strongly with industry, publish widely and educate research students to go on to be research leaders of the future. We also offer postgraduate training and continual professional development through our Centres for Doctoral Training and our short courses. Working with business We have a flexible approach to working with business and can provide a range of collaborative research, including specific projects to address a business need and pre-competitive joint industry projects. With a diverse range of funding portfolio of over £10m we support over 60 PhD students and 20 research fellows with expertise spanning from mechanical engineering, chemistry, physics, maths, surface engineering, particle science and materials science. read more