About the Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences has a proud history of teaching and research in data science, mathematics, statistics and physics.
Our Department is part of the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.
Our programs – offered at La Trobe’s Melbourne and Bendigo campuses – equip graduates with the skills they need for successful careers. We teach students how to problem solve and adapt to rapid advances in technology and the sciences.
We offer majors in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics and Physics. These majors can be studied together, or in conjunction with other study areas. Students also have the opportunity to undertake Honours and postgraduate research, giving them the skills that they need to work as active members of a research group.
Our researchers collaborate with scientists in medicine, chemistry, health, psychology, engineering, and computing to form multi-disciplinary teams that advance human health and wellbeing, and develop the technologies of the future.
Our dedicated teaching staff are committed to providing our students with an excellent experience. We have demonstrated innovation and impact in pure and applied research in quantum computing, X-ray science, materials science and modelling infectious diseases.
SUPPORTIVE LEARNING
The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences has a unique, and supportive, approach to teaching that offers students greater hands-on experience and guidance from academic staff.
Our Statistics program was the first to be accredited by the Statistical Society of Australia. We are also proud to be a Joint Venture Partner of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute. Our Physics program is accredited by the Australian Institute of Physics.
Our staff have been recognised for their outstanding and innovative teaching, receiving university awards and national citations.
Our Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics and Physics programs feature small group activities in preference to large lectures. We strive for continual subject improvement based on student feedback.
We also prepare our own bespoke teaching materials for most subjects and make them freely available to students – so they can avoid having to buy expensive textbooks that are not solely related to their studies.
Our Physics program explores classical and modern physical phenomena that underpin the physical sciences and engineering. We provide students with a practical experience from first year and offer an advanced laboratory skills program in the final year, which is closely aligned to our research expertise in condensed matter physics and optical physics.
All our students are supported by the La Trobe University Maths Hub and Science Hub, dedicated services offered to those who need help in Mathematics, Statistics or Physics.
Find out more about our student experience.
PURE AND APPLIED RESEARCH
The Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences excels in both pure and applied research.
We recognise the importance of advancing data science, mathematics, statistics and physics, both nationally and internationally.
Our researchers also make a significant contribution to other discipline areas – including medical and health sciences, psychology, engineering and computing – with real world impact.
The Department has a proud history of hosting Australian Research Council-funded Discovery Outstanding Researcher Awards, Future Fellows, Australian Postdoctoral and Discovery Early Career Researcher fellowships.
Our researchers are also Chief Investigators on nationally competitive grants, including those funded by the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Research centres
Our staff make key contributions to La Trobe University’s research centres.
The Australian Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Innovation is the world’s first university innovation centre specialising in the application of artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and development of immunotherapies, vaccines and medical innovation.
The Centre for Materials and Surface Science is an interdisciplinary research centre that brings together experts across physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering from La Trobe, and local and international partners. It offers Australia’s most comprehensive suite of surface science and surface analysis equipment and is an international leader in the application of machine learning for understanding very large and complex spectroscopic datasets.