Mathematical Biology

Mathematical Biology

Mathematical Biology is the application of mathematical modelling to solve problems in biology and physiology. It is one of the fastest growing research areas in mathematics and is contributing significantly to our understanding of the biological world. It also produces new mathematical questions.

The Mathematical Biology Group is a member of the Centre for Mathematics Applied to the Life Sciences, established to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship in Mathematical Biology. It is a joint centre of the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, under the Synergy agreement. Our research interests are summarised here, but the list is not exhaustive and new projects are being started all the time. For more information and contact details, click on the links below.

Staff

Dr Christina A Cobbold : Reader

Population dynamics of ecological systems; spatial ecology; evolutionary ecology in changing environments

Member of other research groups: Biostatistics and Statistical Genetics
Research students: David Ewing, Cameline Orlendo

  • Personal Website
  • Publications

    • Dr Jamie Gabe : Honorary Research Fellow

    Member of other research groups: Geometry and Topology, Algebra

    • Dr Hao Gao : Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    Heart Modelling; biomechancis; MRI; fluid-structure interactions

    Research student: Debao Guan
    Supervisor: Xiaoyu Luo

  • Publications

    • Prof Nicholas A Hill : Simson Chair

    Random walk models for movement of micro-organisms and animals; spatial point processes in plant ecology

    Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
    Research students: Waqar Abassi, Jay MacKenzie, Roxanna Barry, Scott Richardson

  • Personal Website
  • Publications

    • Prof Xiaoyu Luo : Professor of Applied Mathematics

    Biomechanics; fluid-structure interactions; mathematical biology ; solid mechanics

    Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
    Research staff: Hao Gao
    Research students: Liuyang Feng, Debao Guan, Danyang Wang, Xin Zhuan, Andrew Allan, Ahmed Mostafa Abdelhady Ismaeel, Jay MacKenzie

  • Personal Website
  • Publications

    • Dr Benn Macdonald : Research Assistant

    Member of other research groups: Statistical Methodology
    Supervisor: Dirk Husmeier

    • Dr Raimondo Penta : Lecturer

    Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics

    • Dr Radostin Simitev : Reader

    Reaction-diffusion equations; Excitable systems; Mathematical models of cardiac electrical excitation

    Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
    Research students: Andrew Allan, Muhamad Bin Noor Aziz, Pete Mortensen

  • Personal Website
  • Publications

    • Dr Tamsin Spelman : Research Assistant

    My broad research interest is in using analytical and theoretical techniques to understand microscale behaviour in both biological and engineering applications. I am currently analysing the propagation of elastic jumps in the retina to understand retinal haemorrhage with the PI, Dr Peter Stewart.  My previous research has included modelling partially enclosed microbubbles and an artificial cilium.

    Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
    Supervisor: Peter Stewart

    • Dr Peter Stewart : Senior lecturer

    Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems, Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
    Research staff: Tamsin Spelman
    Research students: Roxanna Barry, Ahmed Mostafa Abdelhady Ismaeel, Danyang Wang

  • Personal Website
  • Publications


    • Postgraduates

    Waqar Abassi : MSc Student

    Supervisor: Nicholas A Hill

    • Andrew Allan : PhD Student

    Research Topic: Electro-mechanical delay in isolated rabbit hearts
    Supervisors: Radostin Simitev, Xiaoyu Luo

    • Roxanna Barry : PhD Student

    Supervisors: Peter Stewart, Nicholas A Hill

    • Muhamad Bin Noor Aziz : PhD Student

    Research Topic: Efficient asymptotic-numerical methods for cardiac electrophysiology
    Supervisor: Radostin Simitev

    • David Ewing : PhD Student

    Research Topic: Modelling the phenological effects of multiple environmental drivers on mosquito populations. What is needed for the mosquito perfect storm?
    Supervisors: Christina A Cobbold, Steven White

    • Liuyang Feng : PhD Student

    Supervisor: Xiaoyu Luo

    • Debao Guan : PhD Student

    Supervisors: Xiaoyu Luo, Hao Gao

    • Ahmed Mostafa Abdelhady Ismaeel : PhD Student

    Supervisors: Peter Stewart, Xiaoyu Luo

    • Jay MacKenzie : PhD Student

    Supervisors: Nicholas A Hill, Xiaoyu Luo

    • Pete Mortensen : PhD Student

    Supervisor: Radostin Simitev

    • Cameline Orlendo : PhD Student

    Research Topic: Mathematical modelling of species range expansion with climate- driven range shifts
    Supervisor: Christina A Cobbold

    • Ionut Paun : PhD Student

    Supervisors: Colin Torney, Dirk Husmeier

    • Scott Richardson : PhD Student

    Research Topic: 'Bioconvection and swimming micro-organisms'
    Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Fluid Dynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics
    Supervisors: Andrew Baggaley, Nicholas A Hill

    • Danyang Wang : PhD Student

    Research Topic: Flows in flexible vessels
    Supervisors: Xiaoyu Luo, Peter Stewart

    • Xin Zhuan : PhD Student

    Research Topic: Heart tissue remodelling under stress
    Member of other research groups: Continuum Mechanics - Modelling and Analysis of Material Systems
    Supervisor: Xiaoyu Luo



    • Host-parsitoid coinvasion

    Integrodifference models of host-parasitoid interactions give rise to a wide range of travelling wave dynamics

    Integrodifference models of host-parasitoid interactions give rise to a wide range of travelling wave dynamics

    Mountain pine beetle attack

    In collaboration with entomologists we are using mathematical models to give insight into mountain pine beetle adaptation to changing temperatures

    In collaboration with entomologists we are using mathematical models to give insight into mountain pine beetle adaptation to changing temperatures

    Intrinsic dynamics of a cardiac excitation model

    The electrical properties of the cardiac myocytes are described by multi-component reaction-diffusion equations

    The electrical properties of the cardiac myocytes are described by multi-component reaction-diffusion equations

    Modelling of slub biocontrol

    Models of the dynamics of agricultural pests can help optimize their biocontrol

    Models of the dynamics of agricultural pests can help optimize their biocontrol

    Bioconvection patterns

    Bioconvection patterns, as seen from above, due to hydrodynamic instabilities induced by the biased swimming motion of many negatively buoyant unicellular green algae

    Bioconvection patterns, as seen from above, due to hydrodynamic instabilities induced by the biased swimming motion of many negatively buoyant unicellular green algae

    Modelling the mitrial valve

    A human mitral valve model based on MRI, modelled with the Finite Element-Imersed Boundary method

    A human mitral valve model based on MRI, modelled with the Finite Element-Imersed Boundary method