News

Exciting news for the future of SAMBa
12 March 2024

We did it! We are delighted that we have been awarded EPSRC funding to continue SAMBa. This exciting news means we will have fully-funded PhD studentships available for a further 5 years, from September 2024.

Further funding awarded

We are very pleased that we have been awarded further funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to continue SAMBa for another 5 annual intakes of PhD students.

Read the UKRI announcement and University of Bath press release for more details.

The successful proposal was submitted by Alex Cox, Susie Douglas, Matthias Ehrhardt, Tim Rogers, and Theresa Smith. However, as has always been the case with delivery of SAMBa, this was a huge team effort, in particular from the current Executive Team: Lou Adkin, Silvia Gazzola, Lindsay Melling, Matt Nunes, Marcel Ortgiese, and Phil Trinh. We are also grateful for the support of many colleagues from the department and wider University.

SAMBa research

SAMBa projects cover a wide breadth of statistical applied mathematics research areas. Current projects include:

  • Using refined machine learning methods, based on physics-informed low-rank matrix completion to make X-ray spectroscopy experiments more efficient. Currently Diamond Light Source, the UK’s synchrotron, requires scanning at many spatial positions and beam energies so new methods would vastly reduce the scanning time, X-ray dose, and cost.
  • Working with clinicians from NHS Lothian, agent-based modelling approaches are being used to develop a within-host model of tuberculosis infection within a human lung. In particular, the goal is to understand the differences in immune responses for patients with type 2 diabetes, and simulate improved treatment strategies.
  • Developing advanced machine learning models based on the framework of differential privacy, in collaboration with Novartis, to provide new methods for data sharing which can be guaranteed to protect individual data.
  • Developing probabilistic methods for stochastic processes on random networks describing e.g. the spread of messages, diseases or opinions. The goal is to understand how the underlying geometry influences the long-term behaviour of the process such as the speed of propagation or mixing properties.

A full list of all our PhD research projects can be found on the Student Research Projects page.

SAMBa training

SAMBa has been in operation since 2014 and has 148 current or graduated PhD students. We expose our cohort to a broad range of mathematical areas and application, giving them hands on experience of problem formulation and development with external partners through our flagship Integrative Think Tank (ITT) workshops.

SAMBa graduates have gone on to roles in academia, industry and the public sector, utilising the skills and experience that they gained through their time in Bath.

I’m now working as a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the University of Glasgow. This career path was made possible by the interdisciplinary training I received on SAMBa, which I now leverage to model problems arising in industry. I am particularly grateful for SAMBa supporting my 3-month placement at MIT, which marked an important turning point in my research and future prospects.” – Matt Durey, completed 2018

“I am now working as an Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick. The majority of my research is focussed on interdisciplinary projects, applying maths to different real world problems. SAMBa’s ITTs enabled me to work with different departments and industries, and formulate projects across multiple STEM areas, which provided me with the training necessary to be successful in my career.” – Emma Horton, completed 2019

“I’m now working as a statistical scientist at Roche in Basel Switzerland which is possible because during my time in SAMBa, I was trained in different statistical concepts such as Bayesian inference and decision theory in drug development. I am often able to use the techniques and skills honed during this during my day-to-day work of designing, running, and analysing clinical trials to investigate whether new treatments can meet unmet clinical needs.” – Robbie Peck, completed 2020

“I’m now working as a statistician at the pharmaceutical company UCB. This is possible due to the focus SAMBa has on professional development as well as strong academic training: the countless opportunities to practice presenting, networking, interacting with industry, learning how to ask the right question, facilitating discussions, work in interdisciplinary teams and apply knowledge to a broad range of contexts. The opportunity to undertake placements and develop strong computational skills also set me up for success.” – Lizzi Pitt, completed 2021

“I am now a postdoctoral researcher at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City. My current research lies in the intersection of operator theory and complex analysis. I owe my present role to the rigorous training in operator theory, and the opportunity to visit the UNAM to give a talk during my time in SAMBa. This visit was also where I first met my present supervisor.” – Yi Sheng Lim, completed 2023

“I’m currently a computational scientist in the Tomography Group in Scientific Computing at the Science and Technology Facilities Council. My role involves implementing algorithms for image reconstruction, a direct extension of my PhD research, and involves building on connections and collaborations that I gained during my time at SAMBa. We also address user community challenges, and I utilise the collaboration and problem-solving skills honed during SAMBa ITTs. SAMBa not only provided technical training but also gave my confidence to work with a wide range of people and this is crucial for my work in scientific computing and imaging.” – Margaret Duff, completed 2023

“I’m now working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Georgia, USA, a position made possible by my formative experiences in SAMBa. During my time at SAMBa, I received training in advanced statistical and mathematical methods, as well as in practical interdisciplinary research approaches through the SAMBa ITT. SAMBa’s emphasis on real-world applications and problem-solving equipped me with the skills necessary for my current role. Moreover, interacting with a diverse group of talented peers within SAMBa granted me the support and inspiration to pursue innovative research which significantly enhanced my sense of belonging and collaborative spirit. – Oluwatosin Babasola, completed 2023

Getting in touch

Work with us
If you are interested in collaborating with SAMBa, please contact us: samba@bath.ac.uk.

Join SAMBa
We have funded PhD places available to start in September 2024, there is no formal deadline but you are encouraged to apply early as we have limited places available. You can find out more on our Programme and Apply to SAMBa pages.

 

News and events

Events
Centre for Doctoral Training in Statistical Applied Mathematics (SAMBa) ignites in style
19 December 2014

On Thursday 11 December 2014, the University of Bath hosted the official launch of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Statistical Applied Mathematics.

Register
Events
SAMBa’s first Integrative Think Tank a great success
09 February 2015

48 PhD students, academics and industrialists gathered at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution for the first SAMBa Integrative Think Tank.

Register
Events
SAMBa’s second Integrative Think Tank explores energy supply and nuclear reactor core design
19 June 2015

For our second Integrative Think Tank (ITT) at the beginning of June, over 60 academics, students and industrialists came together for a week of collaboration.

Register
Events
Third SAMBa Integrative Think Tank focuses on uncertainty and forecasting
08 February 2016

We hosted our biggest Integrative Think Tank (ITT3) yet in January with almost 90 people taking part.

Register