Topology
Group overview
The UBC Mathematics Department has a strong group working in algebraic and geometric topology, which covers classical, equivariant and motivic homotopy theory, K-theory, group cohomology, orbifolds, low-dimensional topology, knot theory, and Heegaard-Floer homology. The work has important connections to topics in algebraic geometry, representation theory and physics. Members of this group are known internationally for their contributions to areas such as homotopy theory, group actions, cohomology of groups, orbifolds, K-theory, low dimensional topology, knot theory, geometric group theory, etc. During the term, the UBC Topology Seminar meets once or twice a week at PIMS, and features distinguished speakers from other universities. This seminar is currently organized by Marc Stephan (see address below).
The faculty members in the group are Alejandro Adem (group cohomology, orbifolds, equivariant & classical algebraic topology and K-theory), Ben Williams (motivic, classical & equivariant homotopy theory and K-theory), and Liam Watson (low-dimensional topology, knot theory and Heegaard-Floer homology). For the academic year 2018-2019, there are three postdoctoral fellows: Krishanu Sankar, Claudius Zibrowius and Kevin Casto; and six graduate students: Daniel Sheinbaum, Juan Camilo Fiallo, Santanil Jana, Niny Arcila Maya, Sebastian Gant and Mihai Marian.
INFO FOR PROSPective students
All three faculty members are open to taking on interested graduate students.
The Topology and Related Fields seminar meets in the second and subsequent weeks every term, and consists on talks on the subjects above---attendance by people in fields adjacent to topology is frequent and encouraged. We are also active participants in and frequent hosts of the twice-yearly Cascade Topology Seminar, which serves all branches of topology in Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest.
In addition to the introductory course on Algebraic Topology (Math 527), a course on Topics in Topology is offered each academic year.
People
| Faculty | Research Interests |
|---|---|
| Alejandro Adem | Topology and Algebra: Cohomology of groups, Sporadic simple groups, Group actions, Arithmetic groups, K-theory Orbifolds, Homotopy theory, Spaces of homomorphisms |
| Liam Watson | |
| Ben Williams |
| Postdoctoral Researchers | Research Interests |
|---|---|
| Keegan Boyle | |
| Shubhodip Mondal | Algebraic geometry, Number theory, Algebraic topology. |
| Graduate Students | Research Interests |
|---|---|
| Huub de Jong | |
| W. Sebastian Gant | Algebraic topology |
| Max Gheorghiu | Group theory; in particular profinite groups, group cohomology, right-angled Artin groups |
| Santanil Jana | Algebraic Topology, Spaces of homomorphisms, Group Cohomology |
| Mihai Marian | 3-Manifolds, Heegaard Floer Theory, Knot Theory |