Early Stage Researcher (Marie Sklodowski-Curie DN) in Cohomology, Geometry, Explicit Number Theory

We are seeking applications for a Research Fellow, in a Horizon Europe MSCA-Doctoral Network (DN) program (Funded by EU, GA: 101169527) entitled "Cohomology, Geometry, Explicit Number Theory (COGENT)". The position is funded through UKRI EP/Z535485/1 within the framework of the Horizon Europe guarantee funding.

The following criteria apply to all the Researcher positions within COGENT:

• Early-Stage Researchers Rule: All researchers recruited in a doctoral network must be Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs, i.e., be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree).
• Nationality Rule: Researchers can be of any nationality.
• Mobility Rule: At the time of recruitment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not considered. The mobility rule applies to the (first) beneficiary where the researcher is recruited, and not to beneficiaries to which the researcher is sent or seconded. It is also only determined at one point in time: that of the fellow's first recruitment in the project.
• English Language: ESRs must demonstrate that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive the full benefit from the network training.
• Host Specific Criteria: Every ESR must qualify for admittance as a PhD student at the university the position is assigned to. Consequently, there may be additional criteria for every position that are laid out in the detailed description of every ESR position.

Salary range

Researchers will be provided with the following living allowance, subject to local taxation and government contribution: £42,124.39 to £48,232.43 per annum.

Should you have a family at the time of your recruitment, you are entitled to an additional "family allowance" of EUR 500 per month. For the purposes of the MSCA, family is defined as "persons linked to the researcher by marriage (or a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country where this relationship was formalised) or dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher". Note that your family status is determined at the time of your recruitment and remains fixed during the lifetime of the project.

In addition to your salary you will also have access to funds to pay for travel and other expenses related to your position.

Durham University

Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.

The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

Less than 3 hours north of London, and an hour and a half south of Edinburgh, County Durham is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. The Durham Dales, including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to breath-taking scenery and attractions. Durham offers an excellent choice of city, suburban and rural residential locations. The University provides a range of benefits including pension and childcare benefits and the University's Relocation Manager can assist with potential schooling requirements.

Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.

The Department

The Department is one of the UK's leading Mathematics departments with an outstanding reputation in teaching, research, and employability of our students. It has an active programme of internationally recognized research in Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics and Probability. In particular, it has active research groups working in applied algebra, tropical geometry, and applied topology. The research culture is vibrant, with many visitors, seminars, international conferences, and workshops. We aim to provide a supportive and friendly environment with a strong sense of community.

The Department currently has 116 permanent members of staff, and is currently in a process of significant growth.

The Department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award. Athena SWAN is a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression, and success for all in academia. The Department also supports the London Mathematical Society Good Practice Scheme, whose aim is to support mathematics departments to embed equal opportunities for women within their working practices. Durham University is committed to the Concordat to support the career development of researchers. For further information please visit the Research Staff web pages on http://www.dur.ac.uk/hr/researchstaff/.

The Pure Group of the Department of Mathematical Sciences in Durham provides the opportunity to attend the (live and online) MAGIC courses provided by lecturers from different universities. There is a dedicated regular seminar 'GandAlF' (Geometry and Algebra Forum) in which the doctoral students in the Pure group present their work, providing a platform to share insights with their peers. A regular traditional research seminar "Arithmetic Study Group" will provide the students with further opportunities to interact with their peers as well as with research staff. Every year the department organises both the Willmore Pure Postgrad Day, a special celebration during which selected students present their findings and prizes are being awarded, and a Postgrad Day for the whole department.

The Role

Early Stage Researcher positions -

1) Cryptographic Applications of Motivic Cohomology Groups

2) Torsion elements in higher K-groups

Two EU-approved UKRI-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Early-Stage Researcher (ESR) positions are available in the Department of Mathematical Sciences of Durham University, Durham, UK.

These are a full-time positions (35 hours per week), fixed-term for 36 months, with a start date of 1^st September 2025 (or as soon as possible thereafter) and will require the successful candidate to register for the study for a PhD (NB applicants must NOT already have a PhD).

The doctoral candidates will participate in a range of online seminars, face-to-face workshops, conferences and other training activities organised as part of this COGENT Doctoral Network.

They will also undergo secondments to other nodes.

Responsibilities

The post-holder will have specific responsibility for the following areas of research:

• Assist with the development of research goals and objectives.
• Meet the members of their supervisory team to discuss their research on a regular basis.
• Develop and test new hypotheses, analysing scientific data from a variety of sources, assessing, and refining working hypotheses as appropriate.
• Widen their personal knowledge in the research area and undertake complementary training.
• Directly contribute ideas to the direction of the research project supported by detailed and critical reference to previously published literature.
• Prepare regular research reports and participate in scheduled face-to-face and Zoom/Teams meetings including presentation of research results.
• Undertake regular, comprehensive and systematic literature reviews.
• Participate actively in group meetings and other network meetings.
• Liaise effectively with all members of the local research team, and the technical and research support staff.
• Help to prepare and give research presentations to national and global conferences.
• Write or assist with the preparation of papers for publication in global journals and conference proceedings.
• Participate in the activities of the COGENT Network as specified in the Grant Agreement and/or required by the project coordinator, including travel to/secondments at other network institutions and international project partners' laboratories, taking part in the network meetings and in the network's training activities.
• Keep records of these network activities, such as secondments, visits, and leave of absence.
• Be prepared to undertake some aspects of undergraduate student teaching, which may include small-group teaching (workshops and tutorials).