Current members
Staff
Neil Strickland
I work in stable homotopy theory, a branch of topology in which one studies phenomena that occur uniformly in all sufficiently high dimensions.
On the one hand, the subject involves many direct geometrical constructions with interesting spaces such as complex algebraic varieties, coset spaces of Lie groups, spaces of subsets of Euclidean space, and so on. On the other hand, one can use generalised cohomology theories to translate problems in stable homotopy theory into questions in pure algebra, in a strikingly rich and beautiful way.
The algebra involved centres around the theory of formal groups, which is essentially a branch of algebraic geometry, although not one of the most familiar branches. It has connections with commutative algebra, Galois theory, the study of elliptic curves, finite and profinite groups, modular representation theory, and many other areas.
To translate efficiently between algebra and topology we need to make heavy use of category theory, and this also has applications both on the purely algebraic and the purely topological side.
Markus Szymik
My research revolves around symmetries in topology, geometry, and algebra. I use homotopy theory and homological algebra, representation theory and K-theory to understand groups and their generalisations.
These methods have applications far beyond the study of symmetry: they have been used in data and computer science (topological data analysis, homotopy type theory, and topological quantum computing).
On the theoretical side, I am currently thinking about knot theory and analogies with number theory.
Sarah Whitehouse
In algebraic topology, we use algebra to extract topological or geometric information about spaces. Among the standard tools used to carry out the translation from topology to algebra are generalised cohomology theories. Given such a theory there is an associated algebra of operations, carrying a wealth of structure and information.
I am particularly interested in studying the structure and properties of these algebras. A simple, yet still interesting example, is given by complex K-theory. This theory has a strong geometric flavour and yet there is a rich interplay with other areas, such as number theory.
The interplay between topology and algebra leads to "up to homotopy" versions of algebraic structures. I am interested in A-infinity and E-infinity algebras, arising when one weakens associativity and commutativity conditions.
Simon Willerton
I am interested in various ideas in low-dimensional topology coming from quantum physics, and in their relationship to geometry and algebraic topology. In particular, methods from quantum field theory give rise to new invariants of knots and three-manifolds – these are the so-called quantum and Vassiliev (or finite-type) invariants.
A large part of the motivation for my work is to understand these invariants from a topological or geometric point of view. For instance, the Kontsevich integral is a construction which takes a knot and gives back a sort of Feynman diagram expansion: this embodies a rich algebraic structure that is reminiscent of certain objects from algebraic topology, but it is not clear at the moment how to relate these.
Well-studied examples of quantum invariants arise when one fixes a Lie group. Motivated in part by trying to understand the Kontsevich integral, I have considered (with collaborators in San Diego and Oxford) the less well-studied invariants which arise when one fixes a hyper-Kahler manifold. This work has revealed unexpected algebraic structures in the derived category of coherent sheaves on a complex manifold.
The theory of gerbes is a related interest of mine. Gerbes can be thought of as the next step beyond line bundles. Ideas from this area feed into K-theory, string theory and the quantum invariants mentioned above. In recent times I have been interested in the connections between metric spaces and category theory. This has lead in particular to me studying measures of biodiversity.
Ieke Moerdijk
My focus of research is on the interface of category theory and algebraic topology. Currently, I concentrate mainly on developing the theory of dendroidal sets and dendroidal spaces. This is an extension of the simplicial theory, and can be used to model the homotopy theory of operads and their algebras, of infinite loop spaces and of several related structures.
Earlier on, I also did work on Lie groupoids and foliations, and on applications of topology to mathematical logic. My main affiliation is with Utrecht University. I also work on improving cross fertilisation between the topologists in Utrecht and in Sheffield.
James Cranch
I'm a member of teaching staff. When I get a chance to do research, I think about topology and higher category theory, two increasingly closely-related areas.
Recently I've been working with Sheffield's computer scientists, trying to explain why similar algebraic structures occur both in topology and in the study of concurrent programs.
Callum Reader
Postdoc working with Sarah Whitehouse
Students
Leyna Watson May
Supervisor: Sarah Whitehouse
Oliver House
Supervisor: Neil Strickland
Andrew Fisher
Supervisors: James Cranch and Sarah Whitehouse
I'm studying multiplicative structure of generalised Tate cohomology
Brad Ashley
Supervisor: Paul Mitchener
I am studying large-scale geometry, specifically coarse geometry. I am looking at a coarse version of homotopy theory, trying to draw close connections to analogous topological ideas.
My keen research areas are Category Theory, Coarse Geometry, and Algebraic Topology.
My personal website is found here.
Andrew Neate
Supervisor: Simon Willerton
Topics in enriched category theory
Jake Saunders
Supervisor: Markus Szymik
I'm studying ring spectra. At the moment I am studying the cobordism spectrum and investigating how to realise ring maps from the cobordism ring as maps of spectra.
Tam-lin Rooney Moonstone
Supervisor: Markus Szymik
I am studying algebraic K-theory and functor categories, currently exploring ideas related to Lawvere theories and possible extensions of results known for the algebraic K-theory of ‘linear theories’ to this setting.
Jack Davidson
Supervisor: Sarah Whitehouse
I'm studying homology theories for associative algebras and A-infinity algebras.
Meet the former members and visitors of our group.