University of Birmingham appoints Professor Paul Houston to lead School of Mathematics

The University of Birmingham has today (Monday 9 February 2026) announced the appointment of Professor Paul Houston to lead the School of Mathematics from July 2026, succeeding Professor Christopher Good, who has led the School since 2020.

Professor Houston will join during a period of exciting growth and increased strength for the School, marked by sustained excellence in research, an expanding student body, and outstanding levels of student satisfaction.

Paul joins Birmingham from the University of Nottingham, where he has served as Head of the School of Mathematical Sciences since 2018, bringing extensive leadership experience within a Russell Group institution. Paul joined Nottingham in 2005 as Professor of Computational Applied Mathematics, following earlier appointments as Lecturer and subsequently Professor at the University of Leicester, after completing his PhD and postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford.

The appointment will strengthen Birmingham's applied mathematics research portfolio; with an exceptional track record of world‑leading contributions in numerical analysis and scientific computing, Paul's pioneering work on finite element analysis has had a transformative impact on the field.

Paul also brings substantial experience in developing and managing contemporary mathematical sciences programmes, including significant engagement with transnational education (TNE).