Dr Katarzyna Kowal

  • Senior Lecturer (Mathematics)

Biography

  • 2024-date: Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, University of Glasgow
  • 2021-2024: Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, University of Glasgow
  • 2018-2021: Research Fellow in Applied Mathematics, Trinity College & DAMTP, University of Cambridge, UK
  • 2016-2018: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
  • 2013-2016: Ph.D., Applied Mathematics, University of Cambridge, UK
  • 2012-2013: M.Math. (Part III Maths), University of Cambridge, UK
  • 2009-2012: B.A. Mathematics, University of Cambridge, UK

Research interests

I am an applied mathematician who uses mathematical modelling, computations and laboratory experiments to understand a broad range of industrial, biological, environmental and geophysical processes.

Research groups

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2025 | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2013
Number of items: 17.

2025

Yang, H. and Kowal, K. N. (2025) Non-porous viscous fingering of a thin film of fluid spreading over a lubricated substrate. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, (Accepted for Publication)

2024

Yang, H., Mottram, N. J. and Kowal, K. N. (2024) Dynamics of a thin film of fluid spreading over a lubricated substrate. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1001, A47. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2024.1082)

Yan, Z. and Kowal, K. N. (2024) A controllable sliding law for thin-film flows over slippery fluid-saturated substrates: theory and experiments. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 982, A14. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2024.127)

2022

Leung, L. T. and Kowal, K. N. (2022) Lubricated viscous gravity currents of power-law fluids. Part 1. Self-similar flow regimes. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 940, A26. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2022.214)

Leung, L. T. and Kowal, K. N. (2022) Lubricated viscous gravity currents of power-law fluids. Part 2. Stability analysis. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 940, A27. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2022.263)

2021

Kowal, K. N. (2021) Viscous banding instabilities: non-porous viscous fingering. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 926, A4. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2021.660)

2020

Kowal, K. N. and Worster, M. G. (2020) The formation of grounding zone wedges: theory and experiments. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 898, A12. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2020.393)

2019

Kowal, K. N. , Davis, S. H. and Voorhees, P. W. (2019) Surface deformations in dynamic thermocapillary convection under partial slip. Physical Review E, 100(2), 022802. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.100.022802)

Kowal, K. N. and Worster, M. G. (2019) Stability of lubricated viscous gravity currents. Part 1. Internal and frontal analyses and stabilisation by horizontal shear. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 871, pp. 970-1006. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2019.321)

Kowal, K. N. and Worster, M. G. (2019) Stability of lubricated viscous gravity currents. Part 2. Global analysis and stabilisation by buoyancy forces. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 871, pp. 1007-1027. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2019.322)

Kowal, K. N. and Davis, S. H. (2019) Strong shear-flow modulation of instabilities in rapid directional solidification. Acta Materialia, 164, pp. 464-472. (doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2018.10.054)

2018

Kowal, K. N. , Davis, S. H. and Voorhees, P. W. (2018) Thermocapillary instabilities in a horizontal liquid layer under partial basal slip. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 855, pp. 839-859. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2018.684)

2017

Kowal, K. N. , Davis, S. H. and Voorhees, P. W. (2017) Instabilities in rapid directional solidification under weak flow. Physical Review E, 96(6), 062802. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.96.062802)

Kowal, K. N. , Altieri, A. L. and Davis, S. H. (2017) Strongly nonlinear theory of rapid solidification near absolute stability. Physical Review E, 96(4), 042801. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.96.042801)

2016

Kowal, K. N. , Pegler, S. S. and Worster, M. G. (2016) Dynamics of laterally confined marine ice sheets. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 790, R2. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2016.37)

2015

Kowal, K. N. and Worster, M. G. (2015) Lubricated viscous gravity currents. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 766, pp. 626-655. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2015.30)

2013

Pegler, S. S., Kowal, K. N. , Hasenclever, L. Q. and Worster, M. G. (2013) Lateral controls on grounding-line dynamics. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 722, R1. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2013.140)

This list was generated on Sat May 24 10:47:50 2025 BST.
Jump to: Articles
Number of items: 17.

Articles

Yang, H. and Kowal, K. N. (2025) Non-porous viscous fingering of a thin film of fluid spreading over a lubricated substrate. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, (Accepted for Publication)

Yang, H., Mottram, N. J. and Kowal, K. N. (2024) Dynamics of a thin film of fluid spreading over a lubricated substrate. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1001, A47. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2024.1082)

Yan, Z. and Kowal, K. N. (2024) A controllable sliding law for thin-film flows over slippery fluid-saturated substrates: theory and experiments. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 982, A14. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2024.127)

Leung, L. T. and Kowal, K. N. (2022) Lubricated viscous gravity currents of power-law fluids. Part 1. Self-similar flow regimes. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 940, A26. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2022.214)

Leung, L. T. and Kowal, K. N. (2022) Lubricated viscous gravity currents of power-law fluids. Part 2. Stability analysis. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 940, A27. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2022.263)

Kowal, K. N. (2021) Viscous banding instabilities: non-porous viscous fingering. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 926, A4. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2021.660)

Kowal, K. N. and Worster, M. G. (2020) The formation of grounding zone wedges: theory and experiments. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 898, A12. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2020.393)

Kowal, K. N. , Davis, S. H. and Voorhees, P. W. (2019) Surface deformations in dynamic thermocapillary convection under partial slip. Physical Review E, 100(2), 022802. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.100.022802)

Kowal, K. N. and Worster, M. G. (2019) Stability of lubricated viscous gravity currents. Part 1. Internal and frontal analyses and stabilisation by horizontal shear. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 871, pp. 970-1006. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2019.321)

Kowal, K. N. and Worster, M. G. (2019) Stability of lubricated viscous gravity currents. Part 2. Global analysis and stabilisation by buoyancy forces. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 871, pp. 1007-1027. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2019.322)

Kowal, K. N. and Davis, S. H. (2019) Strong shear-flow modulation of instabilities in rapid directional solidification. Acta Materialia, 164, pp. 464-472. (doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2018.10.054)

Kowal, K. N. , Davis, S. H. and Voorhees, P. W. (2018) Thermocapillary instabilities in a horizontal liquid layer under partial basal slip. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 855, pp. 839-859. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2018.684)

Kowal, K. N. , Davis, S. H. and Voorhees, P. W. (2017) Instabilities in rapid directional solidification under weak flow. Physical Review E, 96(6), 062802. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.96.062802)

Kowal, K. N. , Altieri, A. L. and Davis, S. H. (2017) Strongly nonlinear theory of rapid solidification near absolute stability. Physical Review E, 96(4), 042801. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.96.042801)

Kowal, K. N. , Pegler, S. S. and Worster, M. G. (2016) Dynamics of laterally confined marine ice sheets. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 790, R2. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2016.37)

Kowal, K. N. and Worster, M. G. (2015) Lubricated viscous gravity currents. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 766, pp. 626-655. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2015.30)

Pegler, S. S., Kowal, K. N. , Hasenclever, L. Q. and Worster, M. G. (2013) Lateral controls on grounding-line dynamics. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 722, R1. (doi: 10.1017/jfm.2013.140)

This list was generated on Sat May 24 10:47:50 2025 BST.

Grants

  • Royal Society Research Grant RG/R1/241306
  • EPSRC NIA EP/Y021959/1
  • Innovate UK AKT #1308
  • COSE Rewards for Excellence
  • L'Oreal-UNESCO FWIS

Supervision

Current PhD Students

  • Haolin Yang
  • Joseph Ijuptil Kwajighu
  • Tanisha Kumari
  • Hessah Almaaz
  • Zubaydah Alotaibi

Current Postdocs

  • Dr Hannah-May D'Ambrosio

Prospective PhD Students

I am currently looking for PhD students.

Possible PhD projects involve mathematical modelling and analysis (theoretical/computational) of various geophysical, industrial or environmental phenomena, including, for example:

  • Ice sheet dynamics (the fluid mechanics of ice sheets, subglacial processes, including basal lubrication, ice-ocean interactions, ice sheet stability)
  • Viscous fingering instabilities
  • The fluid mechanics of additive manufacturing/3D printing (thermocapillary effects, rapid solidification)
  • Fluid-structure interaction
  • Thin-film flow
  • Thermocapillary convection
  • Flows involving phase change (solidification of fluids, morphological instabilities)

Prospective applicants should contact me at katarzyna.kowal@glasgow.ac.uk to discuss possibilities.


Katarzyna Kowal

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