People
Dr Carl Whitfield
Group Lead
I am a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Manchester, where I lead a research group within the Applied Mathematics group that specialises in mathematical and computational modelling in respiratory medicine.
My research centres around multi-scale modelling of flow, transport, and biomechanical phenomena in the lungs. I am interested in using patient-specific models to detect diseases earlier, optimise treatment delivery and understand disease mechanisms.
I’m always happy to hear from prospective students and potential collaborators, so if you are interested please do get in touch!
Current PhD Students
Jonathan Brady
Co-supervisor: Prof Alex Horsley
Project Title: “Realistic simulation of aerosolised drug deposition in the lungs of people with Cystic Fibrosis based on pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging”
Jonathan started his PhD in January 2024 as part of the multi-centre Cystic Fibrosis Trust Strategic Research Centre “Pulmonary Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Cystic Fibrosis” (MAGNIFY-SRC). His research is focused on developing organ-scale models of particle deposition in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Jonathan’s background is in physics, he completed his integrated Master’s in Physics at the University of Manchester in 2019, after which he worked for several years in software development before returning to academia.
Robin Curnow
Co-supervisors: Prof Stephen Fowler, Dr Ran Wang, Dr Waqar Ahmed
Project Title: “Noninvasive real-time modelling of biophysical and metabolic changes in airway disease”
Robin started his PhD in September 2023 as part of the Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Programme at the University of Manchester. His research is around using computational modelling to understand the effects of sampling methodologies and external contaminants on the identification of breath biomarkers from exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Robin’s background is in mathematics and bioinformatics, he completed a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Manchester before undertaking a Master’s in Bioinformatics and Theoretical Systems Biology at Imperial.
Former PhD Students
Dr James Shemilt
Co-supervisors: Prof Oliver Jensen, Prof Alex Horsley, Dr Alice Thompson
Thesis Title: “Theoretical Models of Mucus Plugging and Inhaled Drug Delivery in Cystic Fibrosis”
James started his PhD in September 2020 through an EPSRC Doctoral Training Programme award and focused primarily on developing mathematical models of the dynamics of viscoplastic films lining the interior of cylindrical tubes in order to understand how mucus rheology impacts on mucus plugging.
Prior to his PhD, James completed an integrated Masters in Applied Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. Since his graduation, he has returned to the University of Cambridge where he is undertaking an independent research fellowship funded by BIOREME.
UoM Collaborators
We work with a number colleagues both formally and informally. This section lists only those who currently co-supervise students/PDRAs or co-investigate research grants with us.
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Dr Waqar Ahmed
Research Fellow
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Dr Igor Chernyavsky
Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics
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Prof Stephen Fowler
Professor of Respiratory Medicine
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Prof Alex Horsley
Professor of Respiratory Medicine
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Prof Oliver Jensen
Sir Horace Lamb Professor (Applied Mathematics), University of Manchester
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Dr Ran Wang
NIHR Clinical Lecturer
External Collaborators
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Prof Bindi Brook
Professor of Mathematical Medicine and Biology, University of Nottingham
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Dr Alys Clark
Associate Professor, Auckland Bioengineering Institute
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Prof Salman Siddiqui
Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Imperial College London
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Prof Jim Wild
Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics, University of Sheffield
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POLARIS Imaging Group
University of Sheffield