Sensors and electronics
Our work spans from Silicon to systems; creating advanced sensors, electronics, and AI‑driven systems to solve real‑world challenges.
Proven real‑world impact through advanced industrial sensor innovation.
Strong industry partnerships, from SMEs to global multinationals.
A track record of successful spin‑outs turning research into products.
Driving innovation from Silicon to systems
We work across a wide portfolio under the umbrella of Silicon to systems.
Our research advances high‑performance semiconductor devices using unconventional materials while tackling real‑world problems through creating bespoke sensors and electronics. Our sensors address major global challenges; from robotics and wearable brain‑computer interfaces, to agriculture and jet engines. We also develop custom semiconductor devices and AI hardware to cut power use, use more sustainable materials and enable neuromorphic intelligence.
Our work covers everything from making custom microchips to algorithms for making sense of real-world sensor data. This lets us focus on both advancing the underlying technology, and on applying novel technologies to tackle real-world problems in many different application areas.
Alex Casson - Group Lead and Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Research
Our areas of research
Bio / Biomedical engineering
To support applications for humans, we have particular expertise in electrophysiology sensing - measuring electrical activity in the body - and in non‑invasive brain interfacing. This is supported by our work in flexible and sustainable electronics.
For agriculture, we have developed field‑deployable sensor systems that detect biotic stresses (such as viral, fungal or bacterial infection) and abiotic stresses (including drought, nutrient deficiency or bruising) across the supply chain.
Electromagnetic sensing
We have a track record of using electromagnetic sensing across a very wide bandwidth – from DC to microwave. We apply these techniques to solving real-world problems, from demining technology to innovations in public safety.
Non-destructive testing
We specialise in creating sensors and electronics for industry and have particular expertise in sensing in extreme environments. We have deployed our sensors in demanding applications such as steel production processes, inside nuclear reactors, and deep field in the Antarctic.
We are members of the Research Centre for Non-Destructive Evaluation (RCNDE) and leader of the £6M Frontiers in Electromagnetic Non-Destructive Research (FENDER) programme.
Semiconductors and digital electronics
We have a track record in making semiconductor devices and custom microchips. Our fully-printed flexible thin-film transistors (TFTs) arrays on plastic films have been tested as medical sensors, and some of our graphene-based microwave sensors have achieved unprecedented sensitivity and operation speed.
Our digital electronics research incorporates energy-efficient AI-specific circuits, in-memory compute, and bio-inspired machine learning, which can substantially outperform classical techniques in terms of power consumption.
Our research facilities
Advanced capabilities
We work across institutes and centres such as the Photon Science Institute, the Henry Royce Institute, the Pankhurst Institute the Thomas Ashton Institute, and the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems accessing key equipment and collaborating with their teams to drive innovation in materials, health technologies and engineering.
Our work is supported by an exceptional range of facilities. These include:
- Lab for Laser and Combustion measurements.
- School of Engineering cleanrooms (ISO 6 classification with laminar flow hoods to ISO 3 classification). Fabrication facilities include wet benches for cleaning and chemical etching, mask aligners, thermal evaporator, reactive ion etching (RIE) system, RF sputtering system, centrifuge, O₂ plasma system, and high‑temperature furnaces supporting device and process fabrication.
- School of Engineering anechoic chamber. An anechoic chamber with a tip-to-tip internal dimension of 7.7 m × 5.0 m × 3.9 m supports antenna and wireless measurement. RF characterisation facilities include a 4‑port VNA (300 kHz–8.5 GHz) and a portable VNA up to 26.5 GHz for antenna measurements, as well as a high‑frequency 2‑port VNA (45 MHz–40 GHz) supporting waveguide and on‑wafer measurements.
- Electronic design and test lab, equipped with a comprehensive suite of instrumentation, including high frequency oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, logic analysers, and probe stations.
- Chip design server cluster, with industry-strength Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software, including Cadence, Synopsys, Siemens, and access to state-of-the-art semiconductor fabs.
- Biomedical engineering lab (treadmills, physiological monitoring equipment).
Study with us
Your career in sensors and electronics starts here!
We are open to top applicants who want to pursue study in sensors and electronics:
- PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Please review the expertise and interest of our staff members and apply online for a PhD place.
- MPhil in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Master's courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Undergraduate courses in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Social responsibility
Our public engagement activities
Our group regularly engages the public, to help inform our research and bring its value to a wider audience. Recent activities include:
- Manchester Minesweeper Competition: a public engagement initiative funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering which secondary schools from across Greater Manchester compete in a month-long competition to build the best minesweeper robot, learning fundamental electrical engineering skills.
- Sensing Danger: an outreach activity run at local and national events which focuses on the design and manufacture of a novel dual-modality detector system, allowing the public to experience humanitarian demining themselves via a VR demo, as well as learning about the complexities of sub-surface detection through AR demonstrations.
We have also undertaken public engagement activities previously at Cheltenham Science Festival, The Museum of Science and Industry Platform for Engagement and other events.
Work with us
Supporting researchers to pursue ambitious ideas and build independent careers
At The University of Manchester, research fellows are empowered to develop innovative ideas, establish research independence and shape their own academic careers.
Working in a world-leading research environment, they contribute to discoveries that address some of society's most pressing challenges.
Explore the opportunities available and take the next step in your research career.
Our people
- Alex Casson - Professor of Biomedical Engineering
- Piotr Dudek - Professor of Circuits and Systems
- Bruce Grieve - Professor of Agri Sensors and Electronics
- Anthony Peyton - Professor of Electromagnetic Tomography
- Aimin Song - Professor of Nanoelectronics
- Wuqiang Yang - Professor of Electronic Instrumentation
- Wuliang Yin - Professor of Electromagnetic Sensing Systems and Instrumentation
- Leszek Majewski - Senior Lecturer
- Liam Marsh - Senior Lecturer
- Frank Podd - Senior Lecturer
- Paul Wright - Senior Lecturer
- Michael O'Toole - Lecturer
- Jayawan Wijekoon - Lecturer
- Ian Hawkins - Senior Technical Specialist
- Kane Williams - Technical Specialist
- Linqing Zhang - Technical Specialist
Work with us
For general and research enquiries, contact Professor Alex Casson: