Professor of Mathematics and AI

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The School of Mathematical Sciences at Lancaster University is seeking to appoint a new professorial position alongside a new £15M investment in “MARS: Mathematics for AI in Real-world Systems”. The post will take a prominent strategic lead within MARS, shaping the formation of a new 10FTE unit within the School, which is supported by an initial 5 years of pump-priming funding. This new unit will conduct research and teaching at the interface of mathematical modelling and AI, with a focus on methodological mathematics supporting application areas including Health, Environmental Science, Manufacturing Engineering, and Cybersecurity.

You will have a strong track record of excellence in research within a field related to dynamical modelling and/or AI methodology, with an enthusiastic approach to scientific leadership both within MARS and the wider School of Mathematical Sciences. You will be able to demonstrate a strong record of accomplishment in obtaining external research funding and publishing in internationally leading Mathematical Sciences literature. You will have considerable experience in translating foundational mathematical findings into real-world solutions through partnerships outside the academic sector, and have a vocation to developing an outward-facing talent pipeline. As such, strong applicants will be expected to have an application focus in areas including (though not limited to): epidemic modelling; systems modelling in biological, environmental, and ecological systems; areas of manufacturing and materials engineering; and network modelling and/or anomaly detection in cybersecurity applications. 

“MARS: Mathematics for AI in Real-world Systems” is an exciting new £15M investment at Lancaster University, expanding on our excellence in impactful and industrially engaged research. Bringing in 10FTE new academic posts, with associated research staff and PhD students, MARS will revolutionise Lancaster’s research capacity in mathematics connecting systems modeling and AI methods, to support its flagship strategies in the applied sciences of Manufacturing, Environmental Science, Health, and Cybersecurity. New undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will accompany this, providing opportunities to address a major skills-gap in the principles underlying AI and their application to real-world systems. These activities will will reach out to industry and government partners as regional, national, and global leaders in next-generation mathematics. With E3 funding, MARS will become a unique national capability in the North West, pushing the boundaries of AI-driven modelling to tackle key challenges in the modern world. 

We welcome applications from all diversity groups. The School provides an environment aiming to meet the individual needs of each staff member. All new staff members are provided with mentoring and support from a carefully selected group of colleagues, with a lead individual taking responsibility for personal development. We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies, and seek to promote a healthy work-life balance. The University is a charter member of Athena Swan and has held a Bronze award since 2008, in recognition of good employment practice to address gender equality in higher education and research. The School achieved its own Athena Swan Bronze award in 2017 (renewed in 2021), and is a registered supporter of the London Mathematical Society’s Good Practice Scheme. We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job-share basis and habitually agree to flexible modes of working.