James Sparks

James Sparks is a Professor of Mathematical Physics at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Oriel College. He works at the intersection of mathematical physics, theoretical physics, and geometry, with a focus on supersymmetric field theories, supergravity, and the AdS/CFT correspondence. His research explores geometric structures in string theory, including special holonomy manifolds, Sasaki-Einstein manifolds, and generalized geometry.

• Education: MA and PhD from the University of Cambridge
• Current Role: Head of the Department of Mathematical Physics
• Contact: Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Andrew Wiles Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG

Sparks' research interests center on the interplay between quantum field theory, supergravity, and differential geometry. He investigates localization techniques in supersymmetric theories, holographic dualities, and geometric constructions relevant to string theory. His work often bridges mathematical rigor with physical insights from the AdS/CFT correspondence.

His recent publications highlight advancements in supergravity localization, black hole thermodynamics, and equivariant cohomology in AdS/CFT. Articles span topics like toric gravitational instantons, matrix models from black hole geometries, and geometric duals of extremization principles in holography. These contributions reflect his focus on connecting geometric methods to physical phenomena in high-energy theory.

In teaching, Sparks has lectured on quantum theory, electromagnetism, classical mechanics, and dynamics. He maintains an active research profile with collaborations on topics such as spinning spindles, squashed spheres, and brane tilings. His work continues to shape understanding of geometric structures in theoretical physics and their dual gravitational descriptions.