A major new academic centre to train the mathematicians of the future is to be opened at the University of Bath after it received Government funding of £4m.
The Centre for Doctoral Training in Statistical Applied Mathematics at Bath (SAMBa) is among 22 across the UK aimed at boosting postgraduate training in a wide range of engineering and scientific fields and funded by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council).
SAMBa will develop the next generation of interdisciplinary mathematicians, equipping them with world-leading analytical skills and helping large organisations with mathematical problem-solving across different sectors. 
Research will be at the interface of applied mathematics, statistics and probability and students will be trained as interdisciplinary mathematicians who see no barriers between mathematical modelling, stochastics (chance effects) and modern statistics, and have excellent problem-solving and computational skills for careers in academia and industry.
The emerging field of Big Data analytics will play an important role in their training.
SAMBa students will benefit from more than 35 PhD supervisors, in addition to 20 potential co-supervisors from across the University in fields such as engineering, physics, computer science, biology & biochemistry and pharmacy & pharmacology.
The bid for the centre was led by Professor Andreas Kyprianou, Professor Paul Milewski and Professor Simon Wood from the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
Prof Kyprianou said: “The latest funding announcement by the EPSRC will help us to train future mathematicians here at Bath who will be leaders in the field.”
Professor Milewski added: “This funding will bring a step change in research excellence in mathematical sciences at the University of Bath as well as bringing a completely new mindset into the training of the next generation of mathematicians.”
The Bath centre will be one of three CDT in mathematics.
Bath will also benefit from additional EPSRC funding for a CDT covering Condensed Matter Physics led by the University of Bristol.
The University of Bath has existing CDTs in sustainable chemical technologies and digital entertainment, and partners in three other CDTs with other universities.
Pro-vice-chancellor for research, Professor Jane Millar, said: “The new CDT in Statistical Applied Mathematics at the University of Bath will bring together the different disciplines in mathematical sciences to equip researchers with the real-world analytical skills which will be essential in the future. We are also delighted to partner with the University of Bristol in an additional CDT for Condensed Matter Physics.”
