Alex James (mathematician)

Alex James is a British and New Zealand applied mathematician and mathematical biologist whose research involves the mathematical modelling of wildlife behaviour,^[1][2] gender disparities in academia,^[3] and the epidemiology of COVID-19.^[4][5] She is a professor in the school of mathematics and statistics at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.^[6]

Education and career

After studying mathematics at Newcastle University in England, James earned a master's degree at University College London, and completed a PhD at the University of Leeds, working there with John Brindley^[6] on combustion engineering and catalytic converters.^[7]

She became a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in 2001, and moved to the University of Canterbury in 2004.^[6]

Recognition

James was named a Fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society (NZMS) in 2015, and won the 2018 NZMS Research Award.^[6] She was on the team that won the Prime Minister's Science prize in 2020^[8] and won the University of Canterbury Research medal jointly in 2021.^[9] She was awarded the NZIAM EO Tuck medal in 2024.^[10]