Geometry and Mathematical Physics

Calabi Yau Manifest illustration representing continuum mechanicsGeometry plays a fundamental role in Mathematical Physics, for example it underpins several theoretical models in relativistic quantum physics, typically by encoding the underlying hidden symmetries of the model at hand. The Geometry and Mathematical Physics group at the University of Birmingham was founded in 2018 by Professor Marta Mazzocco and brings together experts in algebraic geometry, integrable systems, mirror symmetry, cluster varieties, quantum groups and quantum Teichmüller theory.

Head of Geometry Group

Dr Cyril Closset

Dr Cyril Closset

Royal Society University Research Fellow (Associate Professor)
Birmingham Fellow
Head of the Geometry and Mathematical Physics group

The main focus of Dr Closset's research is on mathematical and 'formal' aspects of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) in the presence of supersymmetry. The underlying big question is: How do we use supersymmetry to learn more about QFT at strong coupling? Along the way there are beautiful mathematical structures to be uncovered. Many of these problems arise in string theory, or have deep relations to it.

Academic Staff

Professor Tyler Kelly

Professor Tyler Kelly

Professor of Pure Mathematics
UKRI Future Leaders Fellow

Professor Kelly is an algebraic geometer, specializing in its interactions in mathematical physics and mirror symmetry. The research primarily is focused on the mirror symmetry's implications for Landau-Ginzburg models and its applications.

Professor Marta Mazzocco

Professor Marta Mazzocco

Professor of Mathematics

Professor Mazzocco is a specialist in the area of integrable systems, namely mathematical problems often motivated by Mathematical Physics. Her research brings geometry, quantum algebra and analysis together to describe and tackle problems which have so far resisted all other methods.

Dr Michel van Garrel

Dr Michel van Garrel

Assistant Professor

Dr van Garrel specialises in enumerative geometry, in particular log Gromov-Witten theory, in birational geometry, especially with regards to rationality questions and in the Gross-Siebert programme as the mechanism that explains mirror symmetry and constructs mirror families.

Research and Teaching Fellows

Dr Elias Furrer

Dr Elias Furrer

Research Fellow in Mathematical Physics

Dr Furrer’s research deals with fundamental aspects and the mathematical structures of quantum field theory, gravity and string theory. He is in particularly interested in supersymmetry, dualities, topological field theory and modular forms.

Dr Ai Guan

Dr Ai Guan

Teaching Fellow

Dr Guan's research interests are in homological and homotopical algebra, derived deformation theory and category theory.

Dr Shengyuan Huang

Dr Shengyuan Huang

Research Fellow

Dr Huang is an algebraic geometer motivated by questions in homological mirror symmetry. His previous work on orbifold Hochschild cohomology uses tools from derived geometry and has applications to mirror symmetry and hyperkähler resolution conjecture.

Dr Nikita Nikolaev

Dr Nikita Nikolaev

Research Associate (Marie Curie Fellow)

Dr Nikolaev's research sits at the interface of algebraic geometry, differential geometry, perturbation theory, and mathematical physics, revolving around the study of moduli spaces of meromorphic connections.

PhD Students

Visiting Professors

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