Professor Nigel Mottram

Visiting Professor

Mathematics and Statistics

Personal statement

My research interests are in the mathematical modelling of real-world systems, generally focussing on those that include the dynamics of non-Newtonian fluids. I am particularly interested in anisotropic fluids such as liquid crystals, where viscoelasticity is an important consideration, as is their behaviour under electric fields. I also have projects in the areas of medical and biological systems. Current projects also include investigations of active fluids, such as bacterium or micro-organism organisation within fluid flows, and biological flow systems.

In a wider context I am a member of the British Liquid Crystal Society, the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, and a Fellow of the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, as well as an active participant in the European Consortium for Mathematics in Industry and the UK Fluids Network.

I am interested in mathematics applied to real-world problems in a general sense and I welcome enquiries from anyone interested to understand more about mathematical modelling.

Expertise

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Area of Expertise

Research areas of expertise

Mathematical modelling of real-world systems
Fluid dynamics
Liquid crystal theory
Optical devices
Multiphyscics models
Numerical simulation of fluids, electrostatics, ions.

Prize And Awards

2017 Hilsum Medal: Recipient; 2017
Fellowship of the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications: Recipient; 2014
200 Young Scientist Award: Recipient; 2000

More prizes and awards

Qualifications

Biography

1989-1992: BA in Mathematics at the University of Oxford (Keble College).
1992-1996: PhD in the Department of Engineering Mathematics at the University of Bristol. Boundary effects in nematic liquid crystal cells, supervised by Prof. S. J. Hogan (external link)
1995-1997: Post Doctoral Research Assistant in the Department of Engineering Mathematics at the University of Bristol. Working on nematic liquid crystal theory with Prof. Hogan.
1997-1999: Post Doctoral Research Assistant in the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. Working on smectic liquid crystal theory with Dr S. J. Elston (external link).
1999-2004: Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Strathclyde.
2001-2006: EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow
2004-2007: Reader in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Strathclyde.
2007-present: Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Strathclyde.

Publications

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Publications

Young and Young-Laplace equations for a static ridge of nematic liquid crystal, and transitions between equilibrium states: Cousins Joseph R L, Duffy Brian R, Wilson Stephen K, Mottram Nigel J; Proceedings A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences Vol 478 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2021.0849
Steady state solutions in a model of a cholesteric liquid crystal sample: da Costa Fernando P, Grinfeld Michael, Mottram Nigel J, Pinto João T, Xyxanadasy Kedtysack; Afrika Matematika Vol 32, pp. 645-672 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1007/s13370-020-00851-9
Transient flow-driven distortion of a nematic liquid crystal in channel flow with dissipative weak planar anchoring: Cousins J R L, Wilson S K, Mottram N J, Wilkes D, Weegels L; Physical Review E Vol 102 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.102.062703
Electrically controlled topological micro cargo transportation: Bhadwal A S, Mottram N J, Saxena A, Sage I C, Brown C V; Soft Matter Vol 16, pp. 2961-2970 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sm01956a
Derivative-order-dependent stability and transient behaviour in a predator-prey system of fractional differential equations: Alqahtani Z M, El-Shahed M, Mottram N J; Letters in Biomathematics Vol 6, pp. 32-49 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1080/23737867.2019.1656115
Squeezing a drop of nematic liquid crystal with strong elasticity effects: Cousins J R L, Wilson S K, Mottram N J, Wilkes D, Weegels L; Physics of Fluids Vol 31 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5110878

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Research

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Research Interests

Continuum theory of anisotropic materials

Anisotropy in the natural environment: swimming/self-organised organisms, tissue growth, mixing
Order parameter changes in nematic liquid crystals: defects, field induced changes, Q tensor theory.
Theories of biaxial nematic liquid crytals
Surface effects: induced order, bistabilty in anisotropic fluids.
Disclination line motion: annihilation, formation, effects of electric field and surface interactions.
Thin films: flow in thin films of anisotropic fluids, painting and spin-coating.
Use of fractional calculus to represent memory in dynamical systems.
Physiologically-based Pharmacokinetics and dynamics
Blood flow: non-newtonian models of blood flow in microfluidic devices.
Oxygen transfer: novel medical device modelling for artificial livers.

Collaborations

I collaborate with scientists from many different disciplines and many countries around the world.
My industrial collaborations currently include GSK, Merck and Kirkstall and past collaborators include HP, Sharp, Dow Corning.