Research Projects and Reading Courses
Research Projects and Reading Courses
Updated: 5 November 2026
Maths Volunteers is currently not accepting new students for research projects or reading courses. This programme has been paused until further notice.
Over the past few years, Maths Volunteers has offered short research projects and reading courses in various areas of mathematics, primarily to students from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria who have had limited opportunities to gain research experience.
The aim of this initiative has been to help motivated students explore advanced mathematical topics, develop independent learning and research skills, and gain experience working under the guidance of volunteer mathematicians.
We are grateful to the mathematicians who have generously contributed their time and expertise to supervise students and support this initiative.
While some students have successfully completed their projects, sustaining the programme has also presented significant challenges. Many students initially expressed enthusiasm and interest, but some were unable to maintain regular participation or continue with the independent study and assignments required. Consequently, several projects could not progress beyond the initial stages.
Research projects and reading courses require consistent effort, independent learning, regular communication, and sustained commitment from both students and supervisors.
As Maths Volunteers is an entirely voluntary initiative, coordinating these activities requires considerable time and energy from individuals who already have their own academic, professional, and personal responsibilities.
Given our current circumstances and limited capacity, we have decided to pause this programme. We also do not wish to make commitments to students or request further commitments from volunteer supervisors unless we are confident that we can provide the necessary guidance and support.
We sincerely appreciate the interest of students who have contacted us seeking research opportunities. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate new requests at present.
Please do not send new applications, CVs, academic transcripts, or requests for research supervision or reading courses until further notice.
We may reconsider restarting this initiative in the future if circumstances allow. However, we cannot provide a timeline or guarantee that the programme will resume.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Maths Volunteers Team
The following research topics and reading courses were previously offered through Maths Volunteers.
These topics are retained here as a record of the academic areas covered by our initiative.
Please note that these topics are not currently open for applications, and supervision is not available through Maths Volunteers at this time.
A measure-theoretic study of the Central Limit Theorem and the Law of Large Numbers
Hausdorff dimension of self-similar sets
Theory of function spaces: Lᵖ spaces, Sobolev spaces, Schwartz space, and distributions
Lax–Milgram theorem and its applications to the existence of weak solutions for partial differential equations
Universality of L² and applications to Fourier series
Direct methods in the calculus of variations and their applications
Parameter estimation using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)
Modelling data from real populations
Network-based models of epidemics
Numerical solution of the one-dimensional Burgers equation
Kurtz's limit theorems: Deterministic ordinary differential equations as limits of underlying stochastic processes
Algebraic Topology: Fundamental groups and singular homology
Differential Geometry: Surfaces in ℝ³ and the Gauss–Bonnet theorem
Complex Geometry: Riemann surfaces and the Riemann–Roch theorem
Topological dynamics and symbolic dynamics
Ergodic decomposition of dynamically invariant measures
Existence of invariant measures for continuous transformations on compact spaces
Recurrence theorems, the Gauss map, and circle rotations
Birkhoff's ergodic theorems and their applications
Higher-dimensional dynamical systems and hyperbolic dynamics: hyperbolic toral automorphisms, horseshoes, and solenoids
Over the years, Maths Volunteers has facilitated research projects and reading courses in different areas of mathematics.
We are grateful to the students who engaged seriously with their work and to the volunteer supervisors who dedicated their time to providing academic guidance.
The following projects were successfully completed through the initiative:
Box and Hausdorff Dimension of Self-Similar Sets
Network-Based Models of Epidemics
Phenomenological Models of Epidemics
Parameter Estimation in ODE Models Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)
Evolutionary Dynamics on Graphs
Classification of Closed Surfaces
We extend our sincere gratitude to all the volunteer mathematicians who have contributed their knowledge, time, and effort to this initiative.
We also appreciate the students who demonstrated dedication, perseverance, and genuine enthusiasm for learning mathematics.
Although this programme is currently paused, we hope that the experiences gained through these activities have been valuable to those who participated.
Maths Volunteers remains committed to its broader mission of promoting mathematical education and helping students access academic opportunities wherever possible, within the limits of our available resources and volunteer capacity.
Maths Volunteers Team
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