Topology at Monash

What is topology?

Topology is the mathematical study of shape and space.

Monash has a vibrant research group in topology, including several academic staff, PhD and honours students.

Our research specialises in low-dimensional topology, which includes surfaces, knots, 3-manifolds, and 4-dimensional spaces. We also specialise in contact and symplectic geometry, and dynamics.

Academics in the topology group

The following academic staff are members of the Topology group at Monash.

Prof Jessica Purcell

Jessica Purcell's research is in 3-manifolds, hyperbolic geometry, and knot theory, and problems that overlap all three areas. She also considers relationships of these areas with other fields.

Jessica Purcell's website
Dr Daniel Mathews

Daniel Mathews likes to study geometry, topology and mathematical physics, including such topics as: knot theory, contact and symplectic topology, hyperbolic geometry, Floer homology, topological quantum field theory. He especially likes when these topics include interesting algebra or combinatorics or categories.

Dan Mathews' website
Dr. Norm Do

Norm Do investigates mathematical problems at the interface of geometry, topology and combinatorics. He is particularly interested in such problems that arise from mathematical physics.

Norm Do's website
Dr Jonathan Bowden

Jonathan Bowden is interested in the topology of manifolds, particularly in dimensions three and four. He is also interested in geometric structures on manifolds, whether they be contact, symplectic or integrable (i.e. foliations).

Jonathan Bowden's website
Dr Andy Hammerlindl

Andy Hammerlindl works on dynamical systems and ergodic theory, including dynamics on 3-manifolds.

Andy Hammerlindl's website
Dr Joshua Howie

Joshua Howie studies knots in 3-manifolds and the surfaces embedded around them.

Josh Howie's website
Dr Brett Parker

Brett Parker works at the interface of algebraic and differential geometry, topology, and mathematical physics. He has invented a new kind of space, called an exploded manifold, useful for studying symplectic topology, holomorphic curves, and Gromov-Witten invariants.

Brett Parker's website

Events

Monash topology seminar:
Seminars run most weeks.
Click to view the seminar calendar.

Recent events:
- MATRIX Workshop:
  Dynamics, Foliations, and Geometry in Dimension 3
  3 September 2018 - 14 September 2018.
- Workshop and Conference: Classical and quantum 3-manifold topology
  14 - 21 December 2018 at Monash University.
- MATRIX Workshop:
  Interactions between topology in high and low dimensions.
  7 - 18 January 2019 .

Topology at Monash

What is topology?

Academics in the topology group

Prof Jessica Purcell

Dr Daniel Mathews

Dr. Norm Do

Dr Jonathan Bowden

Dr Andy Hammerlindl

Dr Joshua Howie

Dr Brett Parker

Events