SMaRT Research Group
The SMaRT Research Group is an interdisciplinary collective at the University of Birmingham dedicated to advancing innovation in sustainable surface and interface sciences. We lead research in surface modification, textile engineering, transport processes and tribology, mechanics and additive manufacturing to transform material performance in critical applications.
The SMaRT Research Group brings together academics, research fellows and postgraduate researchers across materials science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and sustainable manufacturing. Situated within the University of Birmingham, our mission is to enable step-changes in how materials and systems perform in demanding environments — from recycled textiles and 3D-printed nature-inspired structures to contact mechanics in tribological systems and sustainable surface engineering for water, energy, and health applications.
Our focus
We focus on the interfaces — solid–liquid, liquid–vapour, solid–solid — and how tailoring those surfaces can improve durability, reduce wear, enable new functional behaviours, and support circular-economy solutions.
Our remit spans from fundamental mechanistic understanding through to applied prototyping, industrial collaboration and technology translation. Themes include: surface modification (functional coatings, textures), textile-to-textile recycling and repurposing, transport processes in materials (fluid flow, heat transfer, multi-phase systems), tribology and contact mechanics under load, and additive manufacturing with tailored surface structures. With strong international collaborations, industrial partnerships, and a sustainability-first mindset, SMaRT plays a leading role in aligning materials research with global challenges, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UKRI agenda, and Horizon Europe ambitions.