Differential Geometry

Our research ranges from the general (i.e. the development of abstract frameworks to tackle the study of geometric structures) to the specific (the study of concrete geometries). In doing so, we borrow tools from Algebra, Geometric Analysis, and Homotopy Theory.

Research interests

  • Foliation Theory

  • Generalised Geometry

  • Geometry of PDEs

  • h-Principle

  • Index Theory

  • Lie Theory, including Lie algebroids and groupoids

  • Non-linear elliptic PDEs and their applications in Differential Topology

  • Poisson Geometry

  • Symplectic Geometry and Topology, Contact Topology

  • Subriemannian Geometry

Our members are part of the Dutch cluster on Geometry and Quantum Theory (GQT).

Events

  • Friday Fish seminar

    Our local seminar on Differential Geometry and Topology, which takes place weekly, on Fridays.

  • Higher Geometric Structures along the Lower Rhine

    The "Higher-Lower" is a recurring event jointly organised between the universities of Bonn, Cologne, Nijmegen and Utrecht. The next workshop will be in Cologne, 25-26 September 2025.

  • Dutch Differential Topology and Geometry seminar

    The DDT&G is a monthly seminar organised between the universities of Amsterdam, Leiden and Utrecht. It features 2-hour minicourses aimed at a broad audience of master students and researchers, and focused on exciting recent developments.

Staff Members

  • prof. dr. G.R. (Gil) Cavalcanti

    Professor
  • Interests: Differential geometry and differential topology of symplectic, complex and generalized complex manifolds as well as their applications to string theory.

  • prof. dr. M.N. (Marius) Crainic

    Professor
  • Interests: Differential Geometry - especially Poisson, but also Symplectic, Contact, generalised complex structures, Foliations, Lie groupoids (active), Lie pseudogroups, EDS and the geometry of PDEs (more recent), Noncommutative Geometry (dormant).

  • dr. H. (Heinz) Hanßmann

    Assistant Professor
  • Interests: Dynamical systems, particularly Hamiltonian systems

  • dr. A. (Alvaro) del Pino Gomez

    Assistant Professor
  • Interests: Differential Geometry and Topology, particularly h-principle and topological aspects in the study and classification of geometric structures (including symplectic, contact, Engel, foliations, and other distributions).

  • Michal Wrochna

    Associate Professor
  • Interests: microlocal analysis, partial differential equations, spectral theory and asymptotic analysis in geometric contexts, Quantum Field Theory on Lorentzian manifolds, inverse problems

  • dr. L. (Lucas) Dahinden

    Researcher
  • Interests: Mainly Hamiltonian dynamics (with a focus on topological entropy), but also sub-Riemannian geometry, and Lorentz geometry.

  • D. (Douwe) Hoekstra

    PhD Candidate
  • PhD Supervisor: Álvaro del Pino
    Interests: Differential geometry and topology. My research focuses on the h-principle, particularly convex integration.

  • S.T. (Sven) Holtrop MSc

    PhD Candidate
  • PhD Supervisor: Marius Crainic
    Interests: Lie groupoids and Hopf Algebroids. My research focuses on the geometry of Lie groupoids and the relation of Lie groupoids with Hopf Algebroids.

  • J. (Jaime) Pedregal Pastor

    PhD Candidate
  • PhD Supervisor: Gil Cavalcanti
    Interests: Differential geometry, holonomy, connections with skew-symmetric torsion, generalized geometry, Courant algebroids.

  • J. (Juri) Sampieri Bjornsson MSc

    Student Assistant
    PhD Candidate
  • PhD Supervisor: Michal Wrochna
    Interests: Differential geometry, geometric analysis, microlocal analysis, partial differential equations, mathematical physics with a focus on quantum field theory on curved spacetime.

Emeritus staff