Almost all professions require some training and skills in mathematics. That is why a degree in mathematics opens doors to a wide variety of employment opportunities. Mathematicians are very versatile and their skills can be applied to many different fields. Graduate students in mathematics are well appreciated because of their abilities to understand and analyze problems. This is an important advantage in our highly technical and ever-changing workplace.

A large number of mathematics graduates choose to teach mathematics at the high school and college level after a certificate in education. There is a great demand for qualified mathematics teachers and the demand should keep on increasing with the aging of the teaching staff. Those are really stable jobs with good salaries. You have the opportunity to share your mathematical knowledge with some bright kids and to actively participate in the scientific education of the future generations and the society at large. A bachelor degree in mathematics combined with a certificate in education gives you the chance to play a significant role in the development of mathematics curriculum.

Obviously, not all mathematics graduates end up in education. People with a bachelor degree in mathematics, as well as with a master or a doctorate in mathematics, can often be seen working in private enterprises or governments. They are members of research and development teams, where they develop software for the security and coding of data, perform numerical simulations for airplane design and testing, etc.

Job opportunities are excellent for mathematics graduates.

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) has a comprehensive web site on the Careers in Mathematics.

Naturally, most of what has been said about career opportunities in mathematics holds also for students graduating with a degree in statistics. Moreover, graduates in statistics have more career opportunities in the private and public sectors.

Graduate in statistics are also involved in biological and environmental studies (for the ministries of health or the environment), in market researches (for financial institutions and manufacturers), in statistical analysis (for polling agencies, financial institutions, or Statistics Canada), etc.

Job opportunities are excellent for mathematics graduates.

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) has a comprehensive web site on the Careers in Mathematics.

Algebra, Number Theory, and Cryptography

Algebraic geometry, Arithmetic geometry, Lie theory, Representation theory, Categorification, Algebraic number theory, Iwasawa theory, cryptography, P-adic groups, Quantum groups, Cryptology, Cryptanalysis.

Professors in Algebra, Number Theory, and Cryptography

Analysis, Operator Theory, and Probability

Functional analysis, Operator algebras, Topology, Calculus of variations, Optimal control, Stochastic processes, Differential geometry, Geometric mechanics, MCMC methods, Limit theorems, Stochastic partial differential equations, Ergodic theory, Contact geometry.

Professors in Analysis, Operator Theory, and Probability

Combinatorics, Logic, and Quantum Theory

Graph theory, Category theory, Algebraic topology, Homotopy theory, Quantum information theory, Quantum computing, Post-quantum cryptography, Matroids, Foundations of mathematics, Computability, Topological quantum field theory.

Professors in Combinatorics, Logic, and Quantum Theory

Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence

Deep learning, Image registration, Topological data analysis, Statistical learning.

Professors in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence

Differential Equations, Scientific Computing, and Biomathematics

Ordinary and partial differential equations, Dynamical systems, Optimization, Modelling in life sciences, Adaptive algorithms, Geometric mechanics, Numerical methods and approximation, Computational chemistry, Stochastic optimal control, Monte Carlo simulation.

Professors in Differential Equations, Scientific Computing, and Biomathematics

Statistics and Biostatistics

Analysis of longitudinal data and growth curves, Big data analytics, Evidence synthesis methods, Multivariate methods and high-dimensional extensions, Nonparametric Bayesian statistics, Nonparametric statistics, Statistical genetics, Statistical learning, Survey sampling, Time series analysis, Derivative pricing, Financial econometrics.

Professors in Statistics and Biostatistics

There are many research groups in mathematics and statistics. Some researchers are members of more than one research group. This is not surprising since many mathematical fields are frequently necessary to solve a specific problem. Moreover, many of the seminars are joint seminars with the School of Mathematics and Statistics (Carleton University).

In 2003, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics joined two prestigious Canadian mathematical institutes: the Centre de Recherche Mathématique (CRM) de l'Université de Montréal and Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. Both are internationally recognized centers of excellence in mathematical research in Canada. Founded in 1968, the CRM promotes fundamental research in mathematics and its applications. The Fields Institute was founded in 1992. It was named after the Canadian mathematician John Charles Fields (1863-1932). The principal mission of the Fields Institute is to promote mathematical activity in Canada through collaboration with researchers in Canada and abroad.

We are very proud of these affiliations with the CRM and the Fields Institute. They bring many more workshops and conferences at the University of Ottawa, thus further enhancing the mathematical life of the Department.

The affiliation with the CRM gives the opportunity to professors from the Department to spend some time at the CRM. The CRM also sponsors some postdoctoral researchers and conferences in our Department. Moreover, with the support of the CRM, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics has created the CRM - University of Ottawa Distinguished Lecture Series. Renowned mathematicians are invited to present their most recent contributions to mathematics. The goal of this lecture series is to introduce the local mathematics community to the work done by leading mathematicians.

As a member of the Fields Institute, the Department receives funding to host summer schools, workshops and conferences, and to support in part some postdoctoral fellows.

Our association with the CRM and the Fields Institute increase the contacts with outside researchers and thus create more exciting opportunity for collaborations and enhancing the mathematical activities in the department.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics hosts between 8 to 14 postdoctoral fellows every year. They are financially supported through a variety of means, including the Fields Institute , the Centre de Recherche en Mathématiques (CRM),  the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute (CANSSI), NSERC fellowships, and the research grants of members of our department. 

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) maintains a detailed website with resources for Postdoctoral Fellows.