Skip to main content

 

Algebra and Number Theory

The research activities of the Algebra and Number Theory group at Durham fall into the following broad categories:

  • Representation theory (of finite groups of Lie type, algebraic groups, and p-adic groups) sheds important light on properties of groups, the central algebraic building blocks. Key themes include generalizations of Deligne–Lusztig theory to reductive groups over finite rings, supercuspidal representations, and the geometry of Langlands parameters. Staff members: Shotton, Stasinski, Girsch
  • Arithmetic geometry (automorphic forms, L-functions, polylogarithms) provides powerful tools for exploring number-theoretic questions, including p-adic interpolation of special values of L-functions, theta lifts and geometric cycles on arithmetic manifolds, and the connections between multiple polylogarithms and algebraic K-theory. Staff members: Abrashkin, Bouganis, Funke, Gangl
  • Tropical algebraic geometry studies algebraic varieties through a piecewise-linear combinatorial lens. Research has a strong computational flavour, encompassing algorithms for tropical varieties and Grassmannians and applications to enumerative geometry and moduli spaces. Staff members: Ren, Schleis
  • Analytic number theory uses tools from real, complex and harmonic analysis to study the properties of arithmetically interesting sequences like the prime numbers. Important themes in this subject include: the study of exponential and character sums; the behaviour and distribution of multiplicative functions; analytic aspects of automorphic forms; and the role of number theory in ergodic theory and additive combinatorics. Staff members: Mangerel

Academic Staff

Victor Abrashkin

Ramification theory of local fields, p-adic Hodge theory

Victor Abrashkin

Athanasios Bouganis

L-functions, Automorphic forms

Athanasios Bouganis

Oliver Clarke

Combinatorial commutative algebra, algebraic statistics

Tahani Maturi

Dan Evans

Arithmetic combinatorics, Maths education

Dan Evans

Jens Funke

Theta correspondences, cohomology of arithmetic manifolds

Jens Funke

Herbert Gangl

Polylogarithms, explicit algebraic K-theory

Johannes Girsch

Representations of p-adic groups

Johannes Girsch

Steven Harrap

AI; digital assessment; feedback processes; student engagement; transition to university

Stephen Harrap

Sacha Mangerel

Multiplicative functions, character sums

Sacha Mangerel

Yue Ren

Tropical geometry, Machine learning, computational algebraic geometry

Yue Ren

Victoria Schleis

Tropical geometry, valuated matroids

Tahani Maturi

Jack Shotton

Galois deformation rings, local Langlands correspondence

Jack Shotton

Alexander Stasinski

Deligne–Lusztig theory, representation zeta functions

Alexander Stasinski

News from our department

  • Exploring mathematical biology: Durham Symposium and Pascal Public Lecture

    The Durham Symposium on Mathematical Biology brought together around 100 researchers from the UK, Europe and North America to explore mathematical approaches to biological problems. As part of the programme, Professor Philip Maini FRS delivered the Pascal Public Lecture, demonstrating how mathematics can generate insights into biology, ecology and medicine.
    Durham Symposium on Mathematical Biology group photo
  • Department celebrates outstanding postgraduate research achievements

    The Department of Mathematical Sciences is delighted to celebrate the success of our postgraduate researchers, whose recent awards recognise the exceptional quality of research, academic achievement and scholarly contribution taking place across the Department.
    A group of four students walking in front of the Computer Science building in the summer.
  • Durham Symposium strengthens UK–Japan research links

    About 50 researchers from the UK, Japan, Mexico, China, and across Europe visited Durham University from 13–17 July for the Durham Symposium on Metric Geometry, Analysis and Probability. The five-day symposium, hosted by the Department of Mathematical Sciences, brought together established and early-career researchers to share ideas, showcase recent advances, and identify new opportunities for future collaboration.
    Symposium participants sitting in lecture hall.

Department celebrates outstanding postgraduate research achievements

The Department of Mathematical Sciences is delighted to celebrate the success of our postgraduate researchers, whose recent awards recognise the exceptional quality of research, academic achievement and scholarly contribution taking place across the Department.
A group of four students walking in front of the Computer Science building in the summer.

Durham Symposium strengthens UK–Japan research links

About 50 researchers from the UK, Japan, Mexico, China, and across Europe visited Durham University from 13–17 July for the Durham Symposium on Metric Geometry, Analysis and Probability. The five-day symposium, hosted by the Department of Mathematical Sciences, brought together established and early-career researchers to share ideas, showcase recent advances, and identify new opportunities for future collaboration.
Symposium participants sitting in lecture hall.

Discover more

Find out more about our research, research areas, other members of staff and more.

Research Areas

Find out more about the Department of Mathematical Sciences' research areas.
Equations on blackboard

Research and Impact

Find out more about the research we conduct at the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
Students working at computers in a study room.

Staff

Find out more about the members of staff at the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
Diversity amongst staff in Mathematical Sciences

Impact

Find out more about our work with industrial and public sector partners.
Theology discussion

Fellowships

Find out more about all available fellowships, their deadlines and who to contact.
limestone quarry, a wall of stones

Seminars and Events

Find out more about our seminars, colloquia, and other upcoming events.
Image of a calendar