At a Glance
- Tasks: Dive into algebraic geometry and number theory to tackle exciting research challenges.
- Company: Join the University of Bath, a world-class institution in a stunning heritage city.
- Benefits: Receive a stipend, tuition coverage, and access to training support for your PhD journey.
- Other info: Engage in collaborative retreats, summer schools, and conferences with partner universities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in arithmetic statistics while collaborating with top researchers.
- Qualifications: First Class or Upper Second Class degree in a relevant subject; master's preferred.
The predicted salary is between 21805 - 21805 £ per year.
This is a PhD position to join the EPSRC programme grant, Unifying Arithmetic Statistics. This programme grant runs for 5 years starting in October 2026 and is joint between Bath, Kings College London, Cambridge, and Glasgow. You will be based at Bath and supervised by the project lead, Professor Daniel Loughran.
The PhD project will require a mix of tools from algebraic geometry, algebraic number theory, Galois theory, and analytic number theory. It will work on some of the programme grant objectives, which concern applications of the theory of rational points on varieties to problems in arithmetic statistics, including some of the following topics:
- Distributions of number fields and class groups
- Local-global principles, including the Brauer-Manin obstruction to the Hasse principle and weak approximation
- Existence and distribution of rational points on varieties and stacks
- The inverse Galois problem
As part of the PhD project you will be fully integrated within the programme grant activities, which will include collaborative retreats, summer schools, study groups, conferences, and opportunities for secondments at the partner universities. Funding is currently available for at least 3 years.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or good Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Candidates may be considered for a University of Bath studentship tenable for a minimum of 3 years. Funding covers tuition fees, a stipend (£21,805 p/a in 2026/7) and access to a training support budget.
In the Funding your studies section, select ‘University-LURS’ as the studentship for which you are applying. In the Your PhD project section, quote the project title of this project and the name of the lead supervisor in the appropriate boxes. Failure to complete these two steps will cause delays in processing your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.
More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.
PLEASE BE AWARE: Applications for this project may close earlier than the advertised deadline if a suitable candidate is found. We therefore recommend that you contact the lead supervisor prior to applying and submit your formal application as early as possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.
Who is eligible to apply? The Faculty of Science at the University of Bath has studentships available for Home and Overseas students. However, in line with UKRI policy, the number of studentships available to Overseas students are capped.
Rational points and arithmetic statistics in Bath employer: Postgraduate Studentships
Postgraduate Studentships provides unique opportunities for students to engage in groundbreaking research projects. The collaborative environment fosters professional growth and encourages contributions to significant advancements in various fields.
