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Geometry & Topology

The Geometry and Topology group at Durham has a wide range of interests.  The flavours of geometry we study include complex geometry; metric and Riemannian geometry; hyperbolic geometry; and cluster algebras.  In topology we have interests including Floer and gauge-theoretic invariants; aperiodic tilings; quantum topology; and computational topology.

The group is also a node in the Yorkshire Durham Geometry Days Network and the UK Metric Geometry and Analysis Network.

Academic staff

John Bolton

John has retired from active mathematical research, but still teaches undergraduate tutorials organised by the Department of Mathematical Sciences in certain areas of pure mathematics.

John Bolton

Sophy Darwin

Sophy is on the teaching track, and lectures on discrete maths, error-correcting codes, and general topology. She likes graph theory, knots, braid groups, and aperiodic tilings, and is involved in several outreach projects.

Sophy Darwin

Anna Felikson

Anna's current research interests include cluster algebras, Coxeter groups, hyperbolic geometry, and frieze patterns.

Anna Felikson

Fernando Galaz-Garcia

Fernando studies Riemannian and Alexandrov geometry; transformation groups; interactions between curvature, symmetry, and topology; links to data analysis via geometric statistics, topological data analysis, and Wasserstein metrics.

Fernando Galaz Garcia

Jeffrey Giansiracusa

Jeff studies topological data analysis, phase transitions in QFT, topology and geometry in machine learning and artificial intelligence, tropical algebra and geometry, and non-Archimedean geometry.

Jeffrey Giansiracusa

John Hunton

John’s research applies methods from homotopy theory and shape theory to the study of aperiodic tilings, and more generally hyperbolic, or chaotic, attractors in topological dynamics. He works on classifications of these spaces and their embeddings.

John Hunton

Martin Kerin

Martin is interested in the geometry and topology of Riemannian manifolds with non-negative sectional curvature, especially in the presence of symmetries.

Martin Kerin

Wilhelm Klingenberg

Wilhelm works in geometric analysis, with specific interests in those problems of differential geometry that can be addressed by methods of complex analysis, convex analysis, and partial differential equations.

Wilhelm Klingenberg

Andrew Lobb

Andrew studies geometric and topological spaces, often in low dimensions.

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John Parker

John studies hyperbolic geometry and discrete groups.

John Parker

Norbert Peyerimhoff

Norbert's research interests are centered around geometry. Of particular interest are relations between geometry and Laplace- and Schrödinger operators and relations between geometry and dynamical systems.

Norbert Peyerimhoff

Dirk Schütz

Dirk's current interests are mostly in knot theory and quantum topology, particularly in Khovanov homology and its generalizations.

Dirk Schütz

Roan Talbut

Roan studies the applications of tropical geometry in data science, such as phylogenetic statistics and neural networks.

Roan Talbut

Pavel Tumarkin

Pavel's research mainly concerns the theory of cluster algebras and its interactions with other subjects, in particular hyperbolic geometry and Coxeter groups.

Pavel Tumarkin

Raphael Zentner

Raphael is interested in low-dimensional geometry and topology. One of his main topics is the use of instanton gauge theory to study 3-dimensional manifolds and the representation varieties of their fundamental groups.

Raphael Zentner

News from our department

  • Young children have long-lasting memories of vegetable smells experienced in the womb

    Experiencing bitter or non-bitter flavours before birth can shape taste likes or dislikes after being born, according to new research led by our Department of Psychology.
    A young boy wearing glasses and sitting at a table eats a green vegetable from a plate full of vegetables.
  • Distinguished Lecture 2026

    We were delighted to host Professor Giuseppe Savaré on 6 May, an Italian mathematician internationally recognised for his contributions to mathematical analysis, variational methods, and optimal transport theory, as this year's speaker in the Distinguished Lecture Series.
    A photo of the mathematician Professor Giuseppe Savaré
  • Department hosts International Women’s Day lecture with Professor Mary Rees FRS

    On Wednesday 11 March, the Department of Mathematical Sciences was delighted to welcome Professor Mary Rees FRS from the University of Liverpool as the speaker for our annual International Women’s Day lecture. Colleagues, students, and visitors from across the University joined us for an insightful talk, followed by a drinks reception.
    IWD Lecture 2026

Distinguished Lecture 2026

We were delighted to host Professor Giuseppe Savaré on 6 May, an Italian mathematician internationally recognised for his contributions to mathematical analysis, variational methods, and optimal transport theory, as this year's speaker in the Distinguished Lecture Series.
A photo of the mathematician Professor Giuseppe Savaré

Department hosts International Women’s Day lecture with Professor Mary Rees FRS

On Wednesday 11 March, the Department of Mathematical Sciences was delighted to welcome Professor Mary Rees FRS from the University of Liverpool as the speaker for our annual International Women’s Day lecture. Colleagues, students, and visitors from across the University joined us for an insightful talk, followed by a drinks reception.
IWD Lecture 2026

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.
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Seminars and Events

Find out more about our seminars, colloquia, and other upcoming events.
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Research and Impact

Find out more about the research we conduct at the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
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Staff

Find out more about the members of staff at the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
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Impact

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

Find out more about all available fellowships, their deadlines and who to contact.
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