Research

Right from its inception, the department gave high priority to quality research and education. The research areas of our department are broadly divided in four major groups,

• Analysis,Topology,Geometry
• Algebra, Number Theory and Mathematical Logic
• Numerical Analysis and ScientificComputing, ODE, PDE, Fluid, Mechanics
• Probability, Statistics

Our faculty are leading experts in their fields, regularly publishing articles in top mathematics and statistics journals and writing research monographs. That the research contributions made by the faculty and students of the department have been noteworthy, is evident from the large number of awards and accolades the faculty members and students of the department have received.

Awards  

Seminars and Visitors

The department maintains a vibrant academic atmosphere through various academic initiatives. There is a regular stream of visitors to the department, both for long term and short term, resulting in collaborative research, interactions and seminars. There are regular academic activities such as colloquium, departmental seminar, student seminar and seminar series on specialized topics including Analysis, PDE and Algebra. In addition, a number of conferences, workshops and schools have also been organized by various faculty members of the department over the years, both at IIT Kanpur, and elsewhere.

Visiting Faculty  

Post-Doctoral Program

The department generously offers post-doctoral positions to promising Ph.D. graduates. In recent times, it has been able to attract a large number of bright Ph.D. graduates from various institutes of eminence (like TIFR, ISI, IISc, IITs) from India and abroad. The post-doctoral fellows (PDFs) are offered attractive stipend based on merit and experience. The PDFs are mentored by the faculty of the department and the research carried out by them at IIT Kanpur has resulted in publications in top rated journals. Apart from contributing to research activities of the department, the PDFs participate in undergraduate teaching and mentoring Ph.D. students of the department.

Post Doctoral Fellow  

Academic Programs

The aim of our programmes is to cultivate a fine mathematical taste, nurture mathematical interests, motivate research in mathematical sciences and train computational scientists who can work on challenging real life problems. All the programs of the department have undergone changes over the years, in order to keep pace with evolving thrust areas in mathematics and statistics across the globe. The programs are completely credit based. Following is the list of programs of the department since its inception.

• The PhD programme started in 1960.
• The two-year Master’s programme in Mathematics started in 1965.
• The two-year Master’s programme in Statistics started in July 1971.
• In the academic year 1971-72, the department started M.Sc. (Integrated) program in Mathematics.
• The M.Sc. (Integrated) program in Statistics also started in 1971-72.
• These two M.Sc. (Integrated) programs were replaced by a single five-year M.Sc.(Integrated) program in Mathematics and Scientific Computing from the academic year 1995-96.
• From 2011, the five-year M.Sc. (Integrated) program in Mathematics & Scientific Computing was discontinued, and a new four-year BS program in Mathematics & Scientific Computing was started. This BS programme is completely credit based and students have the option (subject to fulfilling certain eligibility criteria) to also earn an MS degree along with the BS degree by spending one extra year.
• BS and BS-MS programs in Statistics & Data Science were started by thedepartment from the academic year 2021-22.

Evolution of Academic Programs  

The students admitted to various undergraduate programs of the institute through JEE are provided opportunity for change of branch/discipline after completion of second, third and fourth semesters. The BS program in Mathematics & Scientific Computing is one of the most sought after choice for branch change. The MS and second major programs offered by the department are also very popular among undergraduate students of other departments. Many students of other departments take advantage of the flexibility in academic programs offered at IIT Kanpur by doing a second major and/or a dual degree in Mathematics & Scientific Computing. The BS and BS-MS program in Statistics & Data Science has also started gaining popularity in these respects among students across departments.

Placement of graduates

After graduation, most of the PhD students of the department get post-doctoral fellowships in various institutes in the country or abroad, and subsequently become faculty members in institutes of high standing such as TIFR, IITs, IIMs and IISERs. Most of the graduates from our BS and MS/MSc programmes go to reputed universities/institutes in India and abroad for pursuing PhD. Others, particularly graduates specialising in Statistics/Data Science, secure positions in reputed companies/institutions in the country and abroad. It should be mentioned here that alumni of the department have received several prestigious awards including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar prize.

Teaching

The department actively participates in teaching of undergraduate core courses. Currently the department offers two compulsory core courses (compulsory for all undergraduate students of the BS programme) and three Mathematics Science Option Courses (MSO) for undergraduate students of the institute. Due to the vast heterogeneity in intellectual levels of students registered in these courses, teaching these courses is considered to be a big challenge. For this reason, getting a good rating from students in these courses is difficult. Faculty members of the department have received the Distinguished Teacher Award, Gopal Das Bhandari Distinguished Teacher Award, Excellence in Teaching Award for their teaching. Based on student feedbacks, many faculty members of the department regularly receive commendation letters from The Chairperson, Academic Senate, for extraordinary teaching. In addition to teaching undergraduate level compulsory and MSO courses, the faculty of the department also actively participates in the teaching of courses of various academic programs offered by the department. A large number of elective courses are offered by the faculty to students in the BS, M.Sc. and PhD programs. To keep pace with the new research developments, the faculty, on a regular basis, develops new elective courses for PhD, M.Sc. and undergraduate students of the department. The courses offered are also very popular choices as elective courses for students of other departments. Apart from classroom teaching, the faculty of the department has also actively contributed by writing text books and through distance learning programmes (NPTEL and E-Learning courses).

Administrative Activities

The faculty of the department has contributed significantly in institute administration by taking up some of the key responsibilities/positions at the institute level and by actively participating in various standing committees of the academic senate and other institute level committees. They have also served as Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of JEE, GATE etc.

Students' Activities

The students of the department actively contribute to the academic vibrancy in the department by arranging various activities through an association called STAMATICS. Through this association the student body arranges regular seminars, quizzes and other academic activities. STAMATICS is also instrumental in holding various cultural events and in arranging social gatherings involving students, faculty and staff.

Stamatics