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

Has expertise in:

    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.

     

Prizes 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

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

More publications

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, 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. 

Professional activities

Edinburgh Mathematical Society (External organisation)
Advisor
2019
Newcastle University (External organisation)
Advisor
2018
Newcastle University (External organisation)
Advisor
2018
Student Experience And Enhancement Services (Organisational unit)
Advisor
2018
LMS Bath-Oxford-Strathclyde Network on Anisotropic Materials
Organiser
2018
SIAM Annual Meeting and Materials Science Conference
Participant
2018

More professional activities

Projects

London Mathematical Society Durham-Oxford-Strathclyde Network on Anisotropic Materials
Majumdar, Apala (Principal Investigator) Mottram, Nigel (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2019 - 31-Jan-2020
Doctoral Training Partnership 2018-19 University of Strathclyde | Allen, Erika
McKay, Geoffrey (Principal Investigator) Mottram, Nigel (Co-investigator) Allen, Erika (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2019 - 01-Jan-2022
Doctoral Training Partnership 2018-19 University of Strathclyde | Lesniewska, Magdalena
Henrich, Oliver (Principal Investigator) Mottram, Nigel (Co-investigator) Lesniewska, Magdalena (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2018 - 01-Jan-2022
EPSRC Global Challenges Research Fund Institutional Sponsorship Award 2017 (GCRF) / R171051-104
Mottram, Nigel (Principal Investigator)
01-Jan-2017 - 31-Jan-2018
Mathematical Modelling and Analysis of Industrially-Important Flows of Liquid Crystals: Spreading and Channel Filling
Wilson, Stephen (Principal Investigator) Mottram, Nigel (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2016 - 30-Jan-2020
Industrial Case Account 2016 | Cousins, Joseph
Wilson, Stephen (Principal Investigator) Mottram, Nigel (Co-investigator) Cousins, Joseph (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2016 - 25-Jan-2021

More projects