Women in mathematics
As a department, we are strongly committed to equality and diversity, and the success of our female mathematicians, be they staff or students.
We hold a bronze Athena SWAN award, demonstrating our commitment in this area, and showing the way forwards to a more diverse future.
Mathematics and its applications have never been more important to society, nor has the diversity of places of work and study. At The University of Manchester, we pride ourselves on the diversity of our student population, where we have consistently ranked above the national averages in the gender diversity of our undergraduate, master's and research postgraduate students in mathematics.
Meet our research fellows
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Veronica Kelsey
I research on finite group theory, and outside of work I love long distance running.
Read more about Veronica
I’m a Heilbronn Fellow at the University of Manchester in the Department of Mathematics. I completed my PhD at the University of St Andrews and before that I was an undergrad here in Manchester.
My current research is on finite group theory with a particular focus on generation and numerical invariants. I enjoy taking part in outreach and EDIA events, and next academic year I'll be lecturing for the first time.
Outside of work I love long distance running and have recently started indoor rock climbing.
Veronica's research profile
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Rachel Pengelly
I am interested in the study of Lie algebras and algebraic groups over fields of positive characteristic.
Read more about Rachel
My primary focus is on their subgroup and subalgebra structure and the connection with unipotent and nilpotent orbits. I am also interested in the property of G-complete reducibility.
Rachel's research profile
Meet our academic staff
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Marianne Johnson
My research interests are in algebra and combinatorics.
Read more about Marianne
I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics. I obtained my PhD from the University of Manchester in 2008, after which I held research associate positions in Manchester (2008-9 and 2010-2) and at the University of Oxford (2010) before joining the School of Mathematics in Manchester as a lecturer in pure mathematics in 2012.
My research interests are in algebra and combinatorics, particularly topics arising in the study of semigroups, semirings, and tropical matrix algebra. I am a member of the semigroups research group in Manchester.
I mostly teach courses on abstract algebra. Students/alumni might know me from one of the following courses: Foundations of Pure Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Algebraic Structures 1, Groups and Geometry, Number Theory, Galois Theory.
Marianne's research profile
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Taban Baghfalaki
My research focuses on longitudinal data, joint modelling, dynamic prediction, Bayesian methods, and variable selection.
Read more about Taban
I joined the University of Manchester as a Lecturer in Statistics in 2024. Previously, I was a Senior Researcher in Biostatistics at the University of Bordeaux (2022–2024) and served as Associate and Assistant Professor at Tarbiat Modares University (2014–2022). I have also held research positions at Université Paris-Saclay and Université de Pau, and collaborated with various groups in medical sciences and official statistics. My work has been supported by grants from the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM) and the Iranian National Science Foundation (INSF). I earned my PhD in Statistics from Shahid Beheshti University in 2014.
My research focuses on longitudinal data, joint modelling, dynamic prediction, Bayesian methods, and variable selection to advance evidence-based clinical decision-making.
Taban's research profile
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Catherine Powell
I am a Numerical Analyst. I am currently also researching scientific machine learning methods.
Read more about Catherine
I am a Professor in Applied Mathematics. Before working at the (new) University of Manchester, I was a lecturer at UMIST, where I was also a PhD student.
I am a Numerical Analyst. Numerical analysis is the branch of applied mathematics that deals with approximation. My research focuses on developing and analysing computational algorithms for approximating solutions of partial differential equations (PDEs). Such models are commonly used by scientists to model real-world processes. Algorithms need to be accurate as well as computationally efficient, which is a delicate balancing act. Since many physics-based models have uncertain inputs, I also develop algorithms for Uncertainty Quantification (UQ). I am currently also researching scientific machine learning methods.
Catherine's research profile
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Ashleigh Hutchinson
My research has a strong focus on fluid mechanics problems rooted in nature and industry.
Read more about Ashleigh
I am an applied mathematician and obtained my PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in 2016, where I also was employed as a lecturer for several years. Prior to taking up a lectureship at Manchester University, I was a Newton International Fellow based at Cambridge University.
My research has a strong focus on fluid mechanics problems rooted in nature and industry. I work with low-Reynolds number flows and non-Newtonian fluids. I adopt a multidisciplinary approach to solving problems using a synergy between theoretical models, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulations. My other research interests include using mathematical modelling to solve problems for industries such as finance, sugar, fishing, mining, and energy conservation.
Ashleigh's research profile
Women at Manchester throughout history
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Kathleen Ollerenshaw (1912-2014)
Appointed as a lecturer in Manchester shortly after WW2, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw had a distinguished career in mathematics and politics, becoming a founding Fellow and President of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.
Read more about Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw
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Hanna Neumann (1914-1971)
Hanna Neumman was a prominent group theorist, most well known for her work on varieties of groups. She contributed to Manchester gaining a reputation for strength in algebra; a tradition that continues to this day.
Read more about Hanna Neumann
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Phyllis Nicolson (1917-1968)
Phyllis Nicolson received her BSc (1938), MSc (1939) and PhD (1946) in Physics from The University of Manchester. She is most well-known for her work on the Crank-Nicolson method, to numerically solve the heat equation and other similar partial differential equations.
Read more about Phyllis Nicolson
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Joan Walsh (1932-2017)
Joan Walsh, who worked at The University of Manchester from 1963 to 1998, was a key figure in the development of Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing in the UK, as well as a founding Chairman of the Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG) Ltd.
Read more about Joan Walsh
