Monash University mathematician elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
Professor Jessica Purcell
Professor Jessica Purcell, a globally recognised expert in low-dimensional topology from the School of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science - one of the highest honours in Australian scientific achievement.
Professor Purcell is among 26 leading researchers elected in 2025, joining a prestigious cohort of scientists whose work spans disciplines from mental health to cosmology. The Academy’s President, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, described the new Fellows as representing “the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence.”
Professor Purcell’s research focuses on the geometry and topology of three-dimensional spaces, particularly hyperbolic 3-manifolds and knot theory. Her work explores how geometric structures can be used to understand topological spaces, with implications for both pure mathematics and theoretical physics. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of geometric structures on knot complements and their interactions with quantum invariants.
“It’s an incredible honour to be elected to the Academy,” said Professor Purcell. “I’m grateful to my colleagues, collaborators, and students, and to the Faculty of Science and the School of Mathematics for providing a supportive environment where deep mathematical research can flourish.”
Since joining Monash in 2015, Professor Purcell has become a key figure in the School of Mathematics. She has held an ARC Future Fellowship and has published extensively in top-tier international journals, and she is a regular speaker at international conferences.
Beyond her research, Professor Purcell is a dedicated mentor and advocate for equity in mathematics. She actively supports early-career researchers and is committed to increasing the participation of women in the mathematical sciences.
“Mathematics is a field driven by curiosity and creativity,” she said. “I hope this recognition helps shine a light on the beauty and importance of fundamental research, and inspires the next generation of mathematicians.”
Professor Purcell will be formally admitted to the Academy at the Science at the Shine Dome event in Canberra this September, where she will present her research alongside other new Fellows.
Further information
Silvia Dropulich
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T: +61 3 9902 4513 M: +61 435 138 743
Email: silvia.dropulich@monash.edu