Professor Shabnam Beheshti
Vice-President
Professor of Mathematics, City St. George's University of London
Homepage: https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/about/people/academics/shabnam-beheshti
PhD: University of Massachusetts, 2008
Previous appointments: Visiting Fellow, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research 2008-09; Assistant Professor, Rutgers University 2009-14; Visiting Researcher, Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, Berkeley 2013; LMS Grace Chisholm Young Fellow, Queen Mary University of London 2014-15; Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London 2015-2017, Senior Lecturer, QMUL 2017-22; Reader, QMUL 2022-24; Professor and Head of Department, City University of London 2024-present.
Research interests: Geometric Analysis and PDEs in connection with Mathematical Relativity and Relativistic Hydrodynamics.
Additional information: Member of the LMS Early Career Research Committee since 2021; longstanding member of the LMS, American Mathematical Society (AMS) and Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM), and European Women in Mathematics (EWM); recipient of LMS Grants: Grace Chisholm Young Fellowship (2014), Research in Pairs (2016), Celebrating New Appointments (2018), and Undergraduate Research Bursary (2019, 2021); QMUL Maths Athena SWAN Champion (2017-18) and Maths TEF Lead (2019-21); guest panelist at European Congress of Mathematicians 2021; Senior Fellow of the HEA (2016).
Personal statement: I relocated to the UK as an early career researcher supported by the LMS Grace Chisholm Young Fellowship. A decade on, I serve as a Department Head, having engaged broadly with the LMS across the years (grants, Good Practice Schemes, ECR Committee, LTCC, scientific meetings). I feel now is the right time for me to serve the LMS in a greater capacity.
I have seen the personal and professional impact the LMS has on the careers of current and future colleagues; our activities underpin advances in research, equality & diversity, education, public engagement, and policy-making.
In the current climate, advocating for the long-term health of our profession is crucial. Yet this is also an exciting moment to be a Mathematician in the UK. Our learned bodies are forging a collective voice through the Academy of Mathematical Sciences, bringing together academics, government, research councils, professionals, the public and aspiring mathematicians at local and national levels.
I would like to ensure the LMS continues to play a key role in these discussions. This will involve (1) continuing to showcase the deep and positive role all mathematics plays in science and society, and (2) taking advantage of opportunities to maintain a healthy, diverse base of Mathematical Science researchers and educators.
As an academic who has worked across continents and contract types, I bring perspective on different mathematical communities and am well-placed to understand and work on behalf of a range of colleagues and their institutions. I am particularly invested in working to stem the number of “maths deserts” growing across the UK, as consolidated funding opportunities continue to pressure Departments.
I would be honoured to be able to serve the LMS as Vice President. If elected, I shall do so with enthusiasm for the role and dedication to advancing the Society’s mission.