Mathematicians became a protected species when Charles Clarke, the former education secretary, called mathematics a subject of national strategic importance.

Now, after a steady trickle of departmental and course closures, there is good news. This week's Times Higher carries advertisements for ten positions in expanding departments.

Birmingham University's department, which was rated 5 in the last research assessment exercise, is looking for four lecturers and, according to its website, a professor of pure mathematics.

Although the university wants to drop statistics, which gained only a 4 in the RAE, Robert Curtis, the acting head of school, is hoping to also advertise for three lecturers in applicable mathematics, a branch that includes statistics.

51³Ô¹Ï

"It is not groundbreaking research, but it is very important," Professor Curtis said. "(But) the RAE seems to give vice-chancellors the excuse for closing down perfectly viable groups."

Southampton University's school is on the hunt for a lecturer in mathematics education, two pure and two applied lecturers and, via its website, a chair of pure maths.

51³Ô¹Ï

James Vickers, professor of applied mathematics, said student recruitment was strong and the university saw maths as strategically critical for other research.

Sheffield University is advertising for a pure mathematics research associate.