RAE recognition

Chemistry UoA 18

Chemistry undertakes research which is rated as world-leading, according to the latest national assessment of research quality.

Chemistry has achieved a good result in the 2008 research assessment exercise (RAE) placing it 24th in the subject nationally (22 in some tables).

This means that 95% of our Chemistry research activity is rated as being world-leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised.

Prof Andy Smith, Head of Department, said: "Given the substantial rebuilding of chemistry at Sussex from 12.3 faculty FTEs in August 2006 to a submission of 21 Cat A research active faculty in December 2007 this is an excellent result and a strong base on which to build for the future,"

Overall the University of Sussex has over 90% of its research as internationally recognised or better, and was ranked overall in the top 30 in the UK. You can read more about Sussex's 2008 RAE results at www.sussex.ac.uk/res/rae08

Research activities

As well as the traditional research areas of inorganic chemistry, organic synthesis, physical and theoretical chemistry, Sussex is engaged in a range of interdisciplinary activities from medicinal and biological chemistry, to spectroscopy and materials science. Active research in organometallic chemistry, total synthesis, quantum chemistry and surface science co-exist with those of chemical biology, spectroscopy and biophysics in the three main synergistic groups tabled below.

The school is extremely well equipped for advance research, housing the Centre for Mass spectroscopy and Proteomics, a new NMR suite with 400, 500 and 600 MHz spectrometers, X-ray crystallography and High Performance Computing facilities. With more than 25 members of faculty and honorary faculty, over 35 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, Chemistry at Sussex provides a vibrant and stimulating environment for research in both core and interdisciplinary subject areas.