Dr Michael Watson

I am a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics in the School of Mathematics and Statistics. My research is in mathematical and computational modelling of biological and physical systems. I develop, solve and analyse models to explain complex phenomena that cannot be understood by experiment alone. Techniques that I use include partial differential equation models, individual-based models and pore network models.

In the context of biology, I use models to study the formation of patterns and structure in tissues and multi-cellular systems. This involves modelling processes such as cell migration, cellular signalling, tissue remodelling, cell-cell interactions and capillary-scale blood flow. My work has been applied to a range of problems in disease, development and physiology. Specific examples include:

• in vivo and in vitro wound healing;
• development of the retinal vasculature; and
• growth and formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

My other research area is pore-scale modelling of single-phase and two-phase fluid flow in porous media. This work has been used to study techniques of enhanced oil recovery from hydrocarbon reservoirs.