The Faculty of Science and Engineering is one of Macquarie University’s strongest research faculties and excels in all research indicators including publications, internal and external competitive research grants, research contracts, Australian Research Council (ARC) Fellowships, distinguished visitors and postgraduate student numbers. The Faculty’s research is built on the strengths of its departments and research centres. Strong links exist between researchers in the different departments and research centres of the Faculty as well as with researchers at prominent national and international research institutes and universities. The Faculty sustains research activities with the highest international standing as well as maintaining a broad range of research activities of excellent national and international standing. The Faculty acknowledges that research activity is important to maintaining high-standard undergraduate and postgraduate programs; the Faculty therefore encourages and supports research activities that enhance its educational mission. The program of advanced study and research for the degree includes the submission of a thesis embodying the results of the student’s work. The thesis must form a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject and afford evidence of originality by the discovery of new facts or the exercise of independent critical power. A candidate’s program of study must be supervised by a member of the academic staff of the University, and will normally be carried out within the University.