Representation theory and Categorification (MIEMIETZV_U27EMPSFP)
Key details
- Application Deadline
- 31 July 2026 (11:59 pm UK time)
- Location
- UEA
- Funding Type
- Self-funded (Home students only)
- Start Date
- 1 October 2026
- Mode of Study
- Full or Part time
- Programme Type
- PhD
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Project Description
Primary Supervisor: Prof Vanessa Miemietz(opens in a new window)
Categorification has led to major advances in representation theory in the last 30 years, including the proof of Broué’s abelian defect group conjecture for symmteric groups and the proof of the Kazhdan—Lusztig conjectures for all Coxeter types.
Classically, a representation of an algebra (a ring that is also a vector space) is an action of the latter on a vector space via linear maps. This is categorified to an action of a monoidal category on another category (or, more generally, of a 2-category on a collection of categories) via (nice) functors. This yields new information by looking at natural transformations between such functors.
This project will study specific examples of such categorifications.
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirement is 2:1 in mathematics.
Funding
This project is offered on a self-funded basis. It is open to applicants who are self-funded or who are in the process of securing external funding. Details of tuition fees can be found here.
A bench fee is payable in addition to the tuition fee, to cover the cost of specialist equipment and laboratory facilities required for the research. Applicants should contact the primary supervisor for details of the bench fee applicable to this project.
If you are part of the UEA alumni community, you may be eligible for a tuition fee discount. The UEA Alumni 10% Tuition Fee Discount Scheme(opens in a new window) offers a 10% reduction for eligible alumni, while the and UEA 30% Final Year Undergraduate Continuation Scholarship(opens in a new window) offers a reduction of up to 30% for qualifying applicants. Visit each scholarship page for full eligibility details.
For information on doctoral funding, visit our Postgraduate Student Loans(opens in a new window) page
References
Mazorchuk, Volodymyr(opens in a new window) Lectures on algebraic categorification. QGM Master Class Series.(opens in a new window) European Mathematical Society (EMS), Zürich, 2012.