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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 Coolen-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 Coolen-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

  • 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

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Research and Impact

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Staff

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Impact

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Fellowships

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Seminars and Events

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