The Centre for Complex Systems is one of the largest in the UK working on statistical mechanics aspects of dynamical systems and stochastic systems, and on complex systems and complex networks.
The Centre has a broad range of research interests in mathematical foundations of dynamical systems theory, in statistical physics and stochastic modelling methods as applied to non-equilibrium situations, and in the mathematical description and modelling of the architecture and dynamics of complex systems and networks. A significant part of the research work has applications in an interdisciplinary context.
The Centre also welcomes applications year-round from students with alternative sources of funding, such as self-funding, Doctoral Loans, Commonwealth scholarships, or other funding options. Contact the relevant academic to discuss projects alternatively if you are considering a PhD using funding not listed below, we encourage you to contact the relevant academic to discuss potential projects.
The School of Mathematical Sciences invites applications for the PhD projects listed below in the Centre for Complex Systems.
Each project includes information on eligible funding applicants, expected start dates, and submission deadlines.
All the projects below are open to applicants and will be considered on a rolling basis for interview and offer:
S&E Faculty Studentships (EPSRC) - apply by 29th Jan 25 - start date expected by 1st Sep 2025.
S&E DRS Underrepresented Groups 2025/26 - apply by 29th Jan 25 - start date expected by 1st Sep 2025.
- Dynamic Mode Decomposition for Chaotic Dynamical Systems - Supervisor: Dr Oscar Bandtlow
- Generative AI modelling with jump-diffusions - Supervisor: Dr Adrian Baule
- Stochastic modelling of frequency fluctuations in power grids of the future - Supervisor: Prof Christian Beck
- The dynamics of higher-order networks - Supervisor: Prof Ginestra Bianconi
- Modelling stochastic processes in cancer evolution and healthy tissue with driver mutations - Supervisor: Dr Weini Huang
- The Typically Periodic Optimization Conjecture in Dynamical Systems - Supervisor: Prof Oliver Jenkinson
- Understanding creativity and success in modern innovation ecosystems - Supervisor: Prof Vito Latora
- Contagion and cascading failures in complex interacting systems - Supervisor: Prof Vito Latora
- Local and global geometry of graphs and applications - Supervisor: Dr Anna Maltsev
- Random matrix approaches to quantum graphs - Supervisor: Dr Anna Maltsev
- Non-conformal self-affine fractals - Supervisor: Dr Ian Morris
-Analytical and computational model the emergence and evolution of spatial patterns in networks with coloured nodes- Supervisor: Dr Vincenzo Nicosia
- Quantum Monte Carlo methods for simulations of complex geometric clusters - Supervisor: Prof Thomas Prellberg
- Fighting fish - scaling functions for near-planar lattice models of vesicles - Supervisor: Prof Thomas Prellberg
- Topological invariants for symbolic dynamical systems with sparse irregularities -Supervisor: Dr Reem Yassawi
- Including socioeconomic indicators into mathematical epidemic models - Supervisor: Dr Nicola Perra