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Ian Wallman.
The funding will create a range of postgraduate and postdoctoral opportunities over the next three years for mathematicians at the University’s Mathematical Institute. The firm’s commitment will enable the institute to recruit and nurture the very best researchers from across the globe, contributing to a thriving environment for mathematical discovery in Oxford while also strengthening the UK and wider European research ecosystem.
Pure mathematics seeks to understand the fundamental logic and beauty of mathematical ideas for their own sake. While its focus is on abstract concepts, many discoveries in pure mathematics have gone on to form the foundation of breakthroughs in technology, physics, computer science and data security.
XTX Markets’ support will enable early career mathematicians to explore profound ideas across subjects including algebra, combinatorics and topology, where there is a wealth of ability but limited funding for postgraduate and postdoctoral research. The ripple effects of this investment will extend far beyond Oxford, benefiting the wider mathematical community for years to come.
Professor Jon Chapman, Head of the Mathematical Institute, said: ‘Oxford Mathematics is a global leader in pure mathematics. The discipline depends on a continuous flow of talented minds – doctoral students who will become the next generation of academics, and early career researchers who carry the field forward through their fresh ideas and discoveries.
‘Securing funding for these stages is vital: it sustains the pipeline of curiosity and pioneering thought on which the future of mathematical research depends. Our excellence means we attract exceptional international talent; through this generous gift from XTX Markets we are now able to support these academics at this pivotal point in their careers, helping to secure not only the future of Oxford Mathematics but the continued vitality of pure mathematics itself.’
Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: ‘At Oxford, we believe that supporting the brightest minds early in their careers is one of the most powerful ways to advance human knowledge. We are grateful to XTX Markets for their championing of pure mathematics and for helping us to give even more outstanding young researchers the chance to develop their ideas, make new discoveries and shape the future of the field.’
This commitment builds on XTX Markets’ ongoing support for the University of Oxford. The firm is the founding donor of the Martingale Foundation’s postgraduate scholarship programme, which provides financial support for the University’s master’s and PhD scholarships in pure maths. Through a grant from its Academic Sanctuaries Fund, XTX Markets has also helped students displaced by the war in Ukraine to take up graduate study at the University.