Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Research interests Mathematical Physics, including string theory, quantum field theory, quantum gravity Noncommutative geometry and field theory, K-theory, algebraic geometry, higher structures and category theory
Biography
I was born in Montreal, Canada and completed a Joint Honours Mathematics & Physics BSc degree at McGill University in 1990. I did my MSc and PhD degrees in Theoretical Physics at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Gordon Semenoff. I then did postdoc stints at Oxford University in 1995 and the Niels Bohr Institute in 1998, before settling permanently at Heriot-Watt in 2000.
My research centres around the applications of geometrical and topological methods to problems in quantum field theory and string theory, focusing in particular on techniques drawn from K-theory, noncommutative geometry and algebraic geometry.
Roles & Responsibilities
I am currently the Associate Executive Dean of Research and Innovation in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, and the Industrial Engagement Lead for the Centre for Doctoral Training in Algebra, Geometry and Quantum Fields. I am also the External Examiner for the UG and PGT programmes in Mathematical Physics at the School of Mathematical Sciences of the University of Nottingham.
Previously I was the Co-Director for the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences from 2011-2019, and I was the Unit of Assessment Champion for Maxwell Institute in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008 as well as the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
I am an editor for the Journal of Geometry & Physics and SIGMA. I was an Editor-in-Chief for the Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics which was published by Elsevier in 2024.
From 2015-2019 I was the Chair of the COST Action MP1405 "Quantum Structure of Spacetime", coordinating research and outreach networking activities in mathematical physics among 28 European countries and 4 international partner countries.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Courant Algebroid Relations, T-Dualities and Generalised Ricci Flow
Fraja, T. C. D., Marotta, V. E. & Szabo, R. J., 4 Feb 2025.Research output: Working paper › Preprint
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics
Szabo, R. J. (Editor) & Bojowald, M. (Editor), 2025, 2 ed. Elsevier B.V. 547 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Higher form symmetries and orbifolds of two-dimensional Yang–Mills theory
Santilli, L. & Szabo, R. J., Feb 2025, In: Letters in Mathematical Physics. 115, 1, 15.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Perturbation Theory and Its Techniques
Szabo, R. J., 2025, Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics, Second Edition: Volumes 1-5. 2 ed. Elsevier B.V., Vol. 1-5. p. 217-232 16 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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T-Dualities and Courant Algebroid Relations
De Fraja, T. C., Marotta, V. E. & Szabo, R. J., Jan 2025, In: Communications in Mathematical Physics. 406, 1, 21.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Fundamental Physics UK
Szabo, R. J. (Organiser)
10 Jun 2025 → 12 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Elsevier B.V. (Publisher)
Szabo, R. J. (Editor)
2024Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial activity
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Journal of Geometry and Physics (Journal)
Szabo, R. J. (Editor)
18 Feb 2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial activity
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Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications (SIGMA) (Journal)
Szabo, R. J. (Editor)
2009 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial activity