Sarah-Sonia Balan, FHEA

Mathematics · Education · Writing

Maths & academic projects

I gravitate most towards noncommutative algebra and representation theory and everything in between. I also work in mathematics education, and my current MMath project is giving me the chance to explore arithmetic geometry.

Current · 2026–27

Supersingular elliptic curves and quaternion algebras

For my MMath project, I am beginning to explore supersingular elliptic curves and the quaternion algebras that arise from their endomorphisms.

Supervised by Martin Orr at the University of Manchester.

Research internship · Summer 2026

Quantum knot invariants built from typical representations of a Lie superalgebra

Through the AGQ CDT’s Count Me In programme, I studied typical highest-weight representations of Uh(sl(3|1)). I used induced Kac modules and the PBW theorem to construct a basis and determine its weights, before moving on to generator actions and braid-group automorphisms.

Supervised by Jenny Brown at the University of Edinburgh.

Third-year project · 2025–26

Noetherianity of noncommutative polynomial rings

I studied skew polynomial rings and formal differential operator rings through the unifying language of Ore extensions. The project focused on Noetherianity, simplicity and the behaviour of prime ideals in these noncommutative rings.

Supervised by Dr Omar León Sánchez at the University of Manchester. The project received 86% and was one of the five highest-scoring double projects in my cohort.

LMS undergraduate research bursary · Summer 2025

Facilitating effective learning in abstract algebra and proof comprehension

Supported by an undergraduate research bursary from the London Mathematical Society, my first research project explored how students learn abstract algebra and how teaching can better support the transition to proof-based mathematics. This project remains my pride and joy, and it led to further work in student partnership, conference presentations and the main case for my Fellowship in Higher Education application.

My work in this area also contributed to the co-authored article “1+1 is greater than 1: Developing Scholarship with Students as Partners” , published in MSOR Connections in 2026.

Supervised by Professor Louise Walker at the University of Manchester.

Read the project report →