School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences

Maths and computing lie at the heart of new developments in science and technology, influencing how we live. Tap into new ideas with the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences.

Overview

Future-focused and with strong industry connections, the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences provides teaching and research in computer science, data science, information technology, mathematics and statistics.

With a long tradition of online and distance teaching — and staff on Massey campuses in Auckland and Palmerston North — we cater for students around New Zealand and overseas. We are Tiriti-led, upholding te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through our practice.

Who we are

Our people make us who we are.

Professor Hans Geusgen

Professor Hans Geusgen

Head of Computer Science and Information Technology Group

Hans Guesgen received his doctorates from the Universities of Kaiserslautern and Hamburg in computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence, before immigrating from Germany to New Zealand. His research interests include smart environments, ambient intelligence, and spatio-temporal reasoning. He is a senior member of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).

Associate Professor Tammy Lynch

Associate Professor Tammy Lynch

Head of Mathematics Group

Tammy Lynch is an applied mathematician whose research interests include the mathematical modelling of enteric methane production, hydrothermal eruptions, granular flows, and cell population growth. She is a Fellow of the New Zealand Mathematical Society and Deputy Head of the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences.

Professor Mark Bebbington

Professor Mark Bebbington

Head of Statistics Group

Mark Bebbington is Professor in Geostatistics, a joint appointment with the Earth Sciences Group in the School of Agriculture and Environment. His research interests are in stochastic models, particularly the estimation of geophysical (mainly volcanic) hazard and computational methods for these. A sideline is in decision theory, both around eruption response, and in statistical quality control.

Study with us

Choose from a range of qualifications in maths, statistics and computing, such as data science or software engineering.

Explore by area of interest

Explore a selection of qualifications relating to your interests.

Study computer science & information technology

It pays to opt for a future-focused university. We offer five majors in the same degree, so you can explore all aspects of computer science and IT.

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Study mathematics & statistics

Love numbers? We do too — and we're experts in using maths and stats to solve some of the biggest problems facing our planet. Discover your study options.

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Meet our graduates

“I was introduced to computer programming in my first year at Massey, and it has captured me since then. I still use the computer programming we learned in Chris Scogings' 101 course every single day! I'm now working in one of the big hot areas in the tech world – augmented reality.”
Anton Gerdelan

Doctor of Philosophy

“I’ve really enjoyed studying statistics at Massey. I’ve been challenged in many areas, and any difficulties I faced were easily and quickly tended to.”
Rachael Whiteman

Master of Science (Statistics)

“I chose to do my PhD at Massey University because of its international reputation and ranking. Massey undertakes innovative research and I wanted a university where good researchers would surround me.”
Nurudeen Adegoke

Doctor of Philosophy

Accreditations and rankings

QS Ranking - Computer Science and Information Systems

Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 650 universities for computer science and information systems. QS is an organisation that ranks universities worldwide in various topics.

Learn more

Student testimonials

“My time at Massey was really worthwhile and I picked up a number of life skills including time management, people skills, research techniques and study skills, all of which are still useful to me in my everyday work.”
David Lasike

Bachelor of Information Sciences (Double major in Computer Science and Information Technology)

“Massey helped me to grow my ability to learn quickly and efficiently, and I use that every day at work. My studies also helped me pick up R and Python which I use every day to develop models and automate data processes.”
Marcus Koolaard

Bachelor of Science (Statistics)

“I love detail and complexity. I love pulling apart systems and the underlying logic to see what really makes them tick. I find it absolutely exciting to develop models which emulate real-world behaviours.”
Jay Ta'ala

Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)

Research

Our academic staff are highly research active, with awards for teaching and research excellence. The School also attracts high numbers of postgraduate research students to its Masters and PhD programmes.

Our researchers and research students work collaboratively across disciplines, and with experts around New Zealand and the world. This results in new knowledge and innovative insights into some of the world's most pressing issues.

Our researchers win grants and other funding from prestigious sources such as the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marsden Fund Te Pūtea Rangahau and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise for applied research.

Learn about the Marsden Fund
Learn about the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise

Consultancy

We often carry out research for partners outside Massey or collaborate with stakeholders on certain topics or as part of long-term relationships. Our consultancy draws on expertise from within the School and all round the university, offering fresh thinking.

Research projects and teams

Examples of how our people create and share new knowledge.

Scientific computing

Professor Robert McLachlan

Geometric integration, a branch of scientific computing, is a new approach to simulating the motion of large systems such as Ice Age origins or weather forecasting. Our research, in collaboration with international partners, explores:

  • all possible geometric or structural features such systems can have
  • implications for long-time dynamics
  • how to design efficient numerical integrators that preserve these geometric properties.

Mathematics in a geometric universe

Chimeras in coupled oscillator networks

Professor Carlo Laing

Oscillators coupled together may spontaneously split into synchronised and unsynchronised groups, called chimeras. Understanding chimeras' properties is a fundamental problem in the study of emergent phenomena in complex systems.

Carlo Laing works to determine the smallest networks that support such states, and to investigate their robustness to imperfections, inspiring experimentalists to look for these states in networks of chemical and mechanical oscillators.

Contact Carlo Laing

Artificial intelligence and its applications

Professor Ruili Wang

The team explores AI's uses, including big data processing for portfolio selection and modelling financial markets, and a major project to develop an intelligent conversational Q&A system. The Q&A project delves into fundamental technical challenges such as natural language processing, machine translation, and speech recognition for languages such as te reo Māori.

Contact Ruili Wang

Organised chaos

Using geometry to explain robust chaotic dynamics in switched dynamical systems. Dr David Simpson

A project to explain how switched systems, such as power converters in electrical devices, can behave chaotically in a manner that is robust to parameter fluctuations and random external influences.

This collaborative work with the University of Manchester is funded through a Marsden grant by the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Contact David Simpson

Finding orphan planets

Dr Ian Bond

Software developed by computer scientist and astrophysicist Ian Bond has led to the discovery of free-floating ‘orphan’ planets. The work was done using gravitational microlensing, which allows the study of planetary bodies that emit little or no light.

Finding 'orphan' planets

Network Inference, mining and modelling in biological complex systems.

Dr Matthieu Vignes

Studying biological organisms as complex systems through omics data sets, which measure the activity of entities that make up these systems. Such systems share some general features, such as heterogeneous data, high inherent noise, modularity of the networks, small p/large n problem.

Yet, these networks are very specific. No generic method can be applied, nor can be shown to be superior. Tasks range from inferring regulatory relationships between genes and genes products, to identifying potential targets for a drug, or explaining a phenotype of interest like the resistance to a disease. To answer these questions, we develop new statistical models and inference algorithms.

Contact Matthieu Vignes

Featured service

Massey clinics offer services for the public, as well as research or training for staff, students and professionals.

Manawatū statistics consultancy

Statistical consultancy service from the Statistics and Bioinformatics group. We provide advice to researchers at Massey University and in private organisations. We also arrange occasional short courses and workshops.

Contact the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences

We teach online and by distance, and on two Massey campuses: Auckland and Palmerston North (Manawatū).

School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences – Auckland campus

Location

Use our Auckland campus maps or find us on Google Maps.

School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences – Manawatū campus

Location

Use our Manawatū campus maps or find us on Google Maps.

Looking for a staff member? Visit our staff directory or use Expertise search.