Projects per year
Personal profile
Academic Background
Robert Whittaker is an applied mathematician, specialising in fluid mechanics. His research generally involves the application of continuum-mechanics modelling and asymptotic methods to problems of industrial, biological or geophysical relevance.
Website: https://robert.mathmos.net/research/
Follow this link for details of current PhD opportunities in Mathematics. But feel free to email Dr Whittaker to discuss projects outside these areas and alternative sources of funding.
Administrative Posts
- Director of Admissions for Mathematics (2021-)
- Y3/4 Teaching Coordinator for Mathematics (2019-)
- Science Faculty Academic Representative on the UEA IT Forum (2024-)
Career
- Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, University of East Anglia (2010– )
- Departmental Lecturer, University of Oxford (2009–2010)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Oxford (2007–2010 )
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Nottingham (2006–2007)
- PhD Student, University of Cambridge (2002–2006)
Key Research Interests
Robert Whittaker's research generally involves the application of continuum-mechanics modelling and asymptotic methods to problems of industrial, biological or geophysical relevance. Areas and applications in which he has a particular interest include:
- Instabilities in pipe and channel flow
- Flow in curved pipes
- Tissue engineering
- Convection in the Earth's mantle
Research Group or Lab Membership
Current PhD Students
Former Postdocs
- Thomas Ward
Former PhD Students
- Martin Walters (Oscillations in Flow Through an Elastic-Walled Tube)
- Neil Deacon (Hydroelastic stability and wave propagation in fluid-filled channels)
Areas of Expertise
General fluid mechanics; mathematical modelling of industrial and biological problems. Instabilities of flow in elastic-walled tubes (with applications to blood vessels), stability of Plateau borders in foams.
Teaching Interests
Dr Whittaker has taught a range of applied mathematics courses, including: first-year problem solving, first-year calculus, second-year differential equations, third-year waves, third-year PDEs, and fourth-year viscous fluid mechanics.
He is also Module Organiser for the 3rd and 4th year mathematics project modules, and gives a graduate course on Advanced LaTeX.
Key Responsibilities
- Director of Admissions for Maths
- Website Editor for Maths
- Y3/4 Coordinator for Maths
- Science Acaemic Representative on the UEA IT Forum
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 3 Finished
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London Mathematical Society Summer Bursary (Iain Dorrington)
London Mathematical Society (The)
17/06/13 → 2/08/13
Project: Research
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Bending boundary layers near the clamped end of a thin-walled elastic tube
Walters, M. C. & Whittaker, R. J., 6 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Optimising Buoy Design for Wave Energy Harvesting using the WITT Device
Cairns, G., Ryan, N., Alexander, J. P., Hocking, G., Metherall, B., Ockendon, H., Ockendon, J., Piette, B., Rodgers, N., Sampath, S. & Whittaker, R. J., 2 Nov 2024, Cambridge University Press, (Mathematics in Industry Reports).Research output: Working paper
Open Access -
Pulsatile flow for enhanced blood filtration in dialysis
Acila, T., Aggarwal, A., Durey, M., Fastnedge, T., Herale, A., Hicks, P., Kowal, K., Lee, W., Moore, M., Purvis, R. & Whittaker, R., 26 Feb 2024, Cambridge University Press, (Mathematics in Industry Reports).Research output: Working paper
Open Access -
Rapid amplification of cerebrospinal fluid pressure as a possible mechanism for optic nerve sheath bleeding in infants with non-accidental head injury
Stewart, P., Brook, B., Jensen, O., Spelman, T., Whittaker, R. & Zouache, M., Oct 2024, In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 65, 12, 9.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
A new solution for the deformations of an initially elliptical elastic-walled tube
Netherwood, D. J. & Whittaker, R. J., Feb 2023, In: Quarterly Journal of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics. 76, 1, p. 49–77 29 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile20 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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The Mathematics of Stopping a Self-Driving Car
Robert Whittaker (Speaker)
24 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Schools engagement
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Woking College Careers Day
Robert Whittaker (Speaker)
24 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Schools engagement
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Y12 Explore Maths at University Day
Robert Whittaker (Organiser) & George Witty (Organiser)
23 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Schools engagement
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Day of Enrichment Activities at Stoke College
Robert Whittaker (Speaker)
10 Mar 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Schools engagement
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Mathematical Modelling with Sequences & Series
Robert Whittaker (Speaker)
11 Feb 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Schools engagement