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Research

We produce innovative and interdisciplinary research that impacts on many areas of society including, ecology and conservation, pensions and finance, health, and medical science.

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, mathematical sciences at Kent was ranked 25th in the UK for research power, with 100% of research submitted judged to be of international quality.

We have a dynamic research community of over 100 postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers and academic staff. We are always looking to extend our research community and have a history of hosting fellowships sponsored by research councils and other funding bodies. Find out more about our research fellowships.

World-leading experts

Our academic staff are highly respected in their fields. Their work is published regularly in leading mathematical, statistical and finance journals.

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Global rise in childhood obesity

Kent statistics lecturer Dr James Bentham's data analysis contributes to WHO report on obesity

Research centres and groups

Financial Charts

Centre for Actuarial Science, Risk and Investment (CASRI)

Research in areas such as financial risk management and risk classification have led to consultancy projects with private and public organisations.
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Mathematics group

Cutting-edge research on a range of topics and a full programme of seminars make this an exciting place to undertake doctoral studies.
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Statistics group

Our research impacts many areas including biology, finance, economics, engineering, ecology and health.
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Statistical ecology group

Our research is improving how data on animal and plant species is collected and analysed, which helps to track the effects of climate change.

Research excellence

Our success in the REF underlined the quality and impact of our research nationally and internationally. We continue to attract substantial funding for our research projects.

Dr Bas Lemmens

Dr Bas Lemmens awarded EPSRC funding

Three-year project investigates interplay between geometry, order structures and Jordan algebras

Our research: Making a difference

We conduct high-quality research across the fields of mathematics, statistics and actuarial science. Collaborative and interdisciplinary research are particular strengths and we have a very active seminar programme involving a wide range of speakers.

Our areas of expertise include:

  • algebra, geometry and topology
  • computational and numerical mathematics
  • mathematical analysis
  • mathematical physics and nonlinear systems
  • Bayesian statistics
  • statistical biology
  • statistical ecology
  • multivariate statistics and regression
  • nonparametric statistics
  • economic capital and financial risk management
  • longevity risk and methods of modelling
  • public policy aspects of risk classification.

Our research projects have attracted substantial funding from sources such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, London Mathematical Society, Natural Environment Research Council, Marie Curie Career Integration Fund, Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship and the Royal Society.

Our staff conduct research that is having a major impact on the world around us. Our research in statistics has led to improved data collection for conservationists; research in mathematics to an online library of mathematical functions which is freely available to all; while research conducted by our Centre for Actuarial Science, Risk and Investment gets to the core of questions around the funding of pensions and evaluating insurance risks.

In the news

Person working in lab wearing purple gloves

Restrictions on research grant applications cause chaos
street sign with Saving Avenue and Retirement Street on it

Means testing the only way forward on state pension
A Common Carder bee, Bombus pascuorum, carding hairs from a dead-nettle.

UK bumblebee population trends – even common species in decline