Development of population-level algorithms for modelling genomic variation and its impact on cellular function in animals and plants. The purpose of this project is to develop mathematical and computational tools which will enable researchers to model high-throughput biological data at the population level. These models will be used to uncover the effect that genetic variation has on the physiology of the cell and the organism.
Developing mathematical models and statistical methods to understand the dynamics of infectious diseases: stochasticity, structure and inference. Infectious diseases remain a major contributor to mortality and illness worldwide. The potential for future severe pandemics also continues to present a substantial threat to our health and well-being. Mathematics and statistics are increasingly becoming part of the arsenal used by governments to combat the invasion and spread of infectious diseases. I ....Developing mathematical models and statistical methods to understand the dynamics of infectious diseases: stochasticity, structure and inference. Infectious diseases remain a major contributor to mortality and illness worldwide. The potential for future severe pandemics also continues to present a substantial threat to our health and well-being. Mathematics and statistics are increasingly becoming part of the arsenal used by governments to combat the invasion and spread of infectious diseases. In such work, three themes have emerged as having the potential to revolutionise the modelling of infectious diseases: stochasticity, structure (both age and spatial), and inference. This project will develop state-of-the-art techniques, at the interface of these themes, of critical importance to understanding the dynamics of infectious diseases.Read moreRead less
Phase transitions in stochastic systems. This project aims to understand models of physical and biological phenomena in the presence of uncertainty/randomness. Such models often exhibit phase transitions if a variable defining the model is modified. For example, a population explosion can occur if the average number of offspring per individual is larger than one, while macroscopic defects can occur in a material if the density of microscopic defects is larger than some threshold. This research c ....Phase transitions in stochastic systems. This project aims to understand models of physical and biological phenomena in the presence of uncertainty/randomness. Such models often exhibit phase transitions if a variable defining the model is modified. For example, a population explosion can occur if the average number of offspring per individual is larger than one, while macroscopic defects can occur in a material if the density of microscopic defects is larger than some threshold. This research could lead to strategies for directing physical and biological systems towards preferred states or phases, and better prediction of adverse events such as fracturing of Antarctic sea ice.Read moreRead less
A mathematical analysis of the influence of small scale inhomogeneities on the evolution of the universe. A fundamental unresolved problem in modern cosmology is to quantify the influence of small-scale inhomogeneities on the evolution of the universe. This project will develop the mathematical techniques required to resolve this question. In addition, these techniques will have important applications to the analysis of astronomical data.
Solvability and universality in stochastic processes. Exactly solvable stochastic processes are an important area of mathematical research, with cross-disciplinary links to quantum physics, quantum algebras and probability theory. These processes can be used to model a variety of real-world phenomena such as crystal growth and polymers in random media. This project aims to significantly expand our knowledge of exactly solvable stochastic processes by extending them to new algebraic frameworks. A ....Solvability and universality in stochastic processes. Exactly solvable stochastic processes are an important area of mathematical research, with cross-disciplinary links to quantum physics, quantum algebras and probability theory. These processes can be used to model a variety of real-world phenomena such as crystal growth and polymers in random media. This project aims to significantly expand our knowledge of exactly solvable stochastic processes by extending them to new algebraic frameworks. Among the outcomes of the project, we expect to identify new probabilistic structures which go beyond the famous Gaussian universality class. These theoretical developments allow better prediction of randomly growing interfaces, which encompass a range of phenomena from tumour growth to forest fires.Read moreRead less
Epidemics in large populations: long-term and near-critical behaviour. The project aims to prove qualitative and quantitative results concerning aspects of the long-term behaviour of near-critical epidemics, including the probability and duration of a large outbreak, and the total number of people infected. This project is a theoretical study of stochastic models of epidemics in large populations. The project will focus on emerging epidemics, where the average number of contacts, infection and r ....Epidemics in large populations: long-term and near-critical behaviour. The project aims to prove qualitative and quantitative results concerning aspects of the long-term behaviour of near-critical epidemics, including the probability and duration of a large outbreak, and the total number of people infected. This project is a theoretical study of stochastic models of epidemics in large populations. The project will focus on emerging epidemics, where the average number of contacts, infection and recovery rates are such that the basic reproduction number of the disease is near the critical value 1. The project will plan to both analyse particular epidemic models and develop new methodologies applicable in broader contexts. The mathematical predictions will be tested through simulations and comparison to real-world data. The significant outcome of the project should be the advancement in mathematical understanding of infectious disease spread, eventually leading to improved epidemic surveillance and control, and resulting in more effective protection of public health, improved quality of life, and obvious economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Representation theory of diagram algebras and logarithmic conformal field theory. Generalized models of polymers and percolation are notoriously difficult to handle mathematically, but can be described and solved using diagram algebras and logarithmic conformal field theory. Potential applications include polymer-like materials, filtering of drinking water, spatial spread of epidemics and bushfires, and tertiary recovery of oil.
Design, analysis and application of Monte Carlo methods in statistical mechanics. Statistical mechanics is a general framework for studying complex systems and Monte Carlo methods are an important computational tool in such studies. This project will develop new, vastly more efficient, Monte Carlo methods for problems in statistical mechanics, and will apply these methods to real-world problems such as urban traffic flow.
Representation theory in exactly solvable systems. This project aims to develop the representation theory of Lie and generalised Lie algebras related to exactly solvable models. The project will exploit several innovative ideas on the structure of quadratic algebras, Casimir invariants, differential operator realisations, roots systems, characters and indecomposable representations. This will give fundamental mathematical insight and allow the construction of new, exactly solvable models. This w ....Representation theory in exactly solvable systems. This project aims to develop the representation theory of Lie and generalised Lie algebras related to exactly solvable models. The project will exploit several innovative ideas on the structure of quadratic algebras, Casimir invariants, differential operator realisations, roots systems, characters and indecomposable representations. This will give fundamental mathematical insight and allow the construction of new, exactly solvable models. This will have an impact on theoretical physics as exactly solvable models play a central role in our understanding of a plethora of physical phenomena.Read moreRead less
Computational studies of soft matter. Soft matter systems such as colloidal suspensions and polymers are ubiquitous in nature, and industrially important. For colloidal systems, specifically hard spheres, this project will utilise new algorithms to attack long standing questions about the nature of the virial series. For self-avoiding walks and related models of polymers, research studies have recently developed radically improved Monte Carlo simulation algorithms. These algorithms will enable t ....Computational studies of soft matter. Soft matter systems such as colloidal suspensions and polymers are ubiquitous in nature, and industrially important. For colloidal systems, specifically hard spheres, this project will utilise new algorithms to attack long standing questions about the nature of the virial series. For self-avoiding walks and related models of polymers, research studies have recently developed radically improved Monte Carlo simulation algorithms. These algorithms will enable this project to simulate polymers which may be as long as DNA, and to calculate physical properties with unprecedented precision. The software developed for studying polymers will be released as an open source software library which will revolutionise the field of polymer simulation.Read moreRead less