MARS (Mathematics for AI in Real-world Systems), is a £22 million strategic investment that will rapidly expand research capability in the Mathematical Sciences

Thank you for taking an interest in this exciting role at Lancaster University.

MARS (Mathematics for AI in Real-world Systems), is a £22 million strategic investment that will rapidly expand research capability in the School of Mathematical Sciences – one of the highest-ranked maths departments in the UK with an international reputation for top-quality teaching and world-class research. It is funded by £13m from the Research England Expanding Excellence in England scheme and a further £9m from the University.   With 10 FTE new academic posts supported by dedicated research staff and PhD students, MARS will enhance Lancaster’s excellence in impactful and industrially-engaged research and support its flagship strategies in cyber security, engineering, environment, and health.

MARS will become a unique national capability, pushing the boundaries of mathematical modelling and AI methods to tackle key global challenges. New undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will equip the next generation with the critical skills needed to innovate the mathematics underpinning AI and apply them to real-world problems. MARS will forge strong partnerships with public and private sector partners, positioning Lancaster as a regional, national, and global leader in next-generation mathematics.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a team at the forefront of mathematical AI research in an institution that values innovation, impact, and collaboration. Join us and help shape the future of mathematical AI at Lancaster University.

Thank you for your interest and I look forward to reading your application.

Our University

Lancaster University is an international leader in the provision of inspiring teaching and research; this reputation is reflected in our ranking in the UK top 13 in all three major UK rankings (Times/Sunday Times, Guardian, and the Complete University Guide 2025).

Lancaster is in the top 150 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2025.

We are placed 141st in the league table which includes 1,503 universities across 106 countries and regions, remaining the highest-ranked non-Russell Group institution in England.

Lancaster University has been awarded a gold overall rating in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which aims to recognise and reward excellence in teaching and learning in UK institutions. Our TEF Gold rating indicates that student experience and student outcomes are typically outstanding.

The University’s research has also been rated as world-leading in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, which assesses the quality and impact of research submitted by UK universities across all subjects. In the last research assessment exercise, 91% of our research was rated ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world-leading’ including 46% rated in the highest category of 4*

Further information on reputation and ranking

Our research

Our research is truly international in focus with research partnerships in over 60 countries around the world. Lancaster University is also proud to be a member of the N8 Group, a research partnership of the eight most research-intensive universities in the North of England.

A major strength of Lancaster University is its thriving ecosystem of interdisciplinary research. This collaborative approach is fostered by its mixture of formal and informal structures - including Institutes and University Research Centres - bringing together experts from different disciplines to address regional, national, and global challenges. The University's UK campus comprises 16,000 students and around 3,200 staff.

As well as being a global leader in transnational education, Lancaster University’s esteemed academic reputation is evidenced by the numerous international research partnerships we are involved in, and the influence and impact our academics have on delivering innovative solutions to the world’s ever-changing issues.

Our purpose is to advance knowledge, wisdom and understanding through the excellence of our teaching and research. By engaging with others, we aim to use our collective intellectual and wider capabilities as a force for good and create positive economic, cultural, societal and environmental change.

Lancaster is one of only a handful of universities with a collegiate system which has helped to forge a strong sense of identity and loyalty, and continues to be a distinctive feature of Lancaster University life. More than £450 million has been invested into the Campus since 2003, creating new academic facilities, student social facilities, and improved teaching space.

Our campus has transformed over recent years due to a number of significant redevelopment projects, including the refurbishment of the library and multi- million pound investments in other facilities across the University.

Our strategy

As well as being a global leader in transnational education, Lancaster University’s esteemed academic reputation is evidenced by the numerous international research partnerships we are involved in, and the influence and impact our academics have on delivering innovative solutions to the world’s ever-changing issues.

Our purpose is to advance knowledge, wisdom and understanding through the excellence of our teaching and research. By engaging with others, we aim to use our collective intellectual and wider capabilities as a force for good and create positive economic, cultural, societal and environmental change.

Driven by research and stimulating learning, the globally significant university informs and changes practice and thinking worldwide. Our strategy is founded on three priorities of equal importance. Success across all three of these domains will be critical if we are to fully realise our strategic goals. In the rapidly changing context of UK higher education, the University community has identified that we now need to increase our engagement with third parties, enhance our reputation and continue to grow in scale. We have reviewed and updated our objectives to reflect these factors, and new or revised objectives are highlighted against each of our three overarching priorities.

The priorities are to deliver:

• Research that changes practice and thinking.
• Teaching that transforms society and the lives of people in it.
• Active engagement with students, businesses and our communities.

Further details on our Strategic Plan can be found at: www.lancaster.ac.uk/about-us/strategic-plan

Our people

Lancaster’s success depends on talented, creative and committed people who work hard to make this University so special and distinctive.

Our vision for the future is to be a sustainable and an academically excellent institution recognised as one of the leading universities in the world.

You will be joining a university which is amongst the best on any objective measure, but also modern, forward thinking, and quick and nimble in adopting the latest developments in teaching and research.

Lancaster University is committed to attracting, developing and retaining the best staff, celebrating equality and diversity, and recognising how all staff contribute to and enhance the overall success of the University. Our People and Culture Plan clearly articulates that the core strength of the university is our people.

For further information about working and living in Lancaster please visit: www.lancaster.ac.uk/working-at-lancaster

Our local and global impact

Being part of Lancaster University means sharing in the feeling that you’re making a difference to people and places. From our campus in Lancaster, our regional partnerships in north-west England and our international partnerships in China, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia and Malaysia, the impact of our research, teaching and community work extends across the globe.

Stopping the spread: Model-based methods for hospital infection control

Innovating the Material World: Exploring defects in materials: new tools for atomistic modelling

Optimising Wound Recovery: Agent-based modelling for wound healing

Our vision

Shaping the Future of Mathematics for AI in Real-World Systems

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we tackle some of the most complex challenges in science and industry. From image and language processing to predicting molecular structures, virus evolution, and cyber threats, AI is unlocking new possibilities beyond human cognitive and computational capabilities.

To lead this transformation, we have established MARS—Mathematics for AI in Real-World Systems. This pioneering research community will be an influential hub where mathematical innovation and AI intersect to solve real-world problems.

By building on our strong reputation for interdisciplinary, industry-focused research, and with continued investment in people, spaces, and technology, we are shaping the next era of AI-driven mathematics.

Why MARS?

• Advance AI-driven mathematics, integrating traditional applied mathematics with cutting-edge AI methodologies.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration across academia and industry to tackle real-world challenges.
• Create an inspiring academic environment that attracts top talent, supports innovative teaching, and delivers an exceptional student experience.

Traditionally, applied mathematics has modelled real-world systems using equations that encode the laws of nature. Today, AI offers a transformative approach—one that integrates vast datasets with mathematical modelling, enabling us to address challenges where explicit natural laws are unknown.

With this vision, MARS will become a world-leading centre for mathematics in AI, bringing together people, ideas, and technology to push the boundaries of what is possible.