ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

iomechanics/biomaterials, where attractive possibilities exist for considerable
research funding and for collaboration with the Division of Solid
Me c h a n ic s .
In the DPME/ME group, the research activity in metal cutting and
forming is good and should be continued. The evidence in support of
the other research areas identified is less clear. In Machine Elements,
the retirement of the professor in 2006 together with the lack of recent
publications makes it difficult to predict continued success in this area.
The research activities in manufacturing systems are clearly valuable in a
national context (industrial projects, Swedish Production Academy) but
this area has yet to make an international impact.
Overall, there are a lot of research areas to be supported by a relatively
small department. The department might consider consolidating its
research activities into a smaller number of strategic research areas, in
order to maximize its research impact. Alternatively, a significant increase
in collaboration, both national and international, might provide a way to
enhance the research quality and impact.
5.8 Gender and Equal Opportunity Issues
Out of 11 academic staff, 4 are female; this is quite a good gender balance
for a Mechanical Engineering department. With regard to research
students the situation is, poor at best, with no female doctoral research
students currently on the register and 21% of doctoral exams completed
over the 2003–2007 period being female. These figures look typical of
trends in many countries. There is insufficient information to address
this matter further but the department is encouraged to continue striving
towards good gender balance, of both staff and research students.
5.9 Viability
The main research achievements of the department are the publication
output in fatigue and metal cutting and the growing research activity in
nano mechanics. The strong level of engagement in international conferences,
albeit by a limited number of research leaders, is also a positive
indicator. The relevance of the research, as indicated by the level and
extent of the interaction with local industry and the Swedish research
community, is strength.
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