Each year, MATH+ awards Hanna Neumann Fellowships to outstanding female postdoctoral researchers in recognition of their achievements in mathematics and to promote their international visibility in the MATH+ research areas. In 2026, MATH+ selected three Hanna Neumann Fellows from nominations submitted by MATH+ members.

This year’s external Hanna Neumann Fellow is Caroline Namanya (Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda). She will be hosted by Dominic Bunnett at TU Berlin during two research visits, scheduled for July and December. The other two Hanna Neumann Fellowships were awarded to MATH+ members Hanka Dal Poz Kourimská (Universität Potsdam) and Luisa Plato (Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics, WIAS).

MATH+ recently spoke with Caroline Namanya, a Ugandan postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Interviews with Hanka Dal Poz Kourimská and Luisa Plata will follow shortly.

Caroline Namanya is visiting Berlin twice—in July and December—to collaborate with her host Dominic Bunnett at TU Berlin as part of the MATH+ Hanna Neumann Fellowship. Her research lies in algebra and algebraic geometry, with a particular focus on pure braid groups, group actions, and 3-fold flops. Her work has explored the chamber structures associated with 3-fold flops. Since June 2026, she has been a lecturer at Makerere University.

In her interview with MATH+, Caroline reflects on her mathematical journey in Uganda, her exciting collaboration with Dominic Bunnett at TU Berlin, and what inspired her to pursue a career in mathematics. She also shares her perspective on women in mathematics, offers advice to young women considering the field, and discusses her commitment to giving back to her community through teaching and mentoring.

LINKS:

• Read the full interview with Caroline Namanya
• The MATH+ Hanna Neumann Fellowship