Dr Peter Davidson
Teaching Fellow
Mathematics and Statistics
Personal statement
My research interests are in geometric methods in combinatorial group theory. I obtained my PhD from the Univeristy of Glasgow in 2008 under the supervision of Prof. Stephen J. Pride. I joined the University of Strathclyde in that year as a Teaching Assistant and I am now a Teaching Fellow. Between 2011 and 2018 I was the Manager of the University's Maths Skills Support Centre.
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an Ordinary Member of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society and sit on the Society's Education Committee. I am also the Director of Teaching for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and was previously the department's Chief Undergraduate Academic Selector and Year 1 Coordinator.
Qualifications
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (August 2019).
Publications
- The provision of mathematics and statistics support in Scottish higher education institutions (2017) : a comparative study by the Scottish mathematics support network
- Ahmed Shazia, Davidson Peter, Durkacz Kate, Macdonald Calum, Richard Morgiane, Walker Alan
- MSOR Connections Vol 16, pp. 5-19 (2018)
- https://doi.org/10.21100/msor.v16i3.798
- The word problem for Pride groups
- Davidson Peter
- Communications in Algebra Vol 42, pp. 1448-1459 (2014)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00927872.2012.731620
- Second order Dehn functions of Pride groups
- Davidson Peter
- Journal of Group Theory Vol 15, pp. 513-527 (2012)
- https://doi.org/10.1515/jgt-2012-0007
- On the asphericity of a family of relative group presentations
- Davidson PJ
- International Journal of Algebra and Computation Vol 19, pp. 159-189 (2009)
- https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218196709005007
Teaching
In 2022/23 I will be teaching:
- MM101: Introduction to Calculus
- MM114: Mathematics 2E
- MM301: Linear Algebra
Previous teaching:
- MM103: Geometry and Algebra with Applications
- MM105: Applications of Mathematics
- MM112: Mathematics 2B
- MM113: Mathematics 1E
- MM116: Mathematics 1C
- MM117: Mathematics 1D
- MM125: Mathematics Summer School
- MM202: Advanced Calculus
- MM211: Mathematics 3B
- MM213: Engineering Mathematics 3E
- MM215: Mathematics 2D
- MM217: Mathematics 2M
- MM311: Mathematics 4B
I have supervised a number of level 4 honours projects in topics such as topology, theory of automata, complex dynamics, geometry, knot theory, number theory and group theory.
Research Interests
I am interested in a number of areas in combinatorial group theory and semigroup theory:
- the word problem for finitely presented group
- Dehn functions of groups
- asphericity of relative group presentations
- groups defined by finite state automata
- inverse semigroups
I am also interested in pedagogical research in the Mathematical Sciences, particularly in areas related to Mathematics and Satistics support.
Professional Activities
- Mathematics and Statistics Teaching Away Day
- Participant
- 19/5/2025
- Accessibility in the mathematical sciences
- Speaker
- 13/8/2024
- Mathematics & Statistics Teaching Away Day
- Participant
- 22/5/2024
Contact
Dr
Peter
Davidson
Teaching Fellow
Mathematics and Statistics
Email: peter.davidson@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 3658