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 the School of Mathematics (2021-)
- Y3/4 Teaching Coordinator for the School of Mathematics (2019-)
Biography
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
- MTH Website Editor
- MTH Y3/4 Coordinator
Network
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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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
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“Whatever Input to Torsion Transfer”: Harvesting energy from a WITT gearbox device
Butler, E., Darbar, Y., Kaklamanos, P., Lacey, A., Luckins, E., Morawiecki, P., Nguyen, N., Peroni, E., Please, C., Roberts, J., Spalding, C., Whittaker, R., Xu, H. & Zyskin, M., 2023, 167th European Study Group with Industry.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
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Effect of base-state curvature on self-excited high-frequency oscillations in flow through an elastic-walled channel
Ward, T. & Whittaker, R., 11 Nov 2019, In: Physical Review Fluids. 4, 11, 113901.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile14 Downloads (Pure) -
Stability of a twisted plateau border with line tension and bending stiffness
Whittaker, R. & Cox, S., Apr 2019, In: IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics. 84, 2, p. 385-415 31 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile15 Downloads (Pure) -
New Techniques for Composite Wing Manufacture
Barton, D., Ockedon, H., Piette, B. & Whittaker, R., 2018, 138th European Study Group with Industry.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open Access
Activities
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Advanced LaTeX
Robert Whittaker (Organiser)
10 May 2023 → 31 May 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Internal CPD provision or delivery of course
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British Applied Mathematics Colloquium 2023
Robert Whittaker (Speaker)
3 Apr 2023 → 5 Apr 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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167th European Study Group with Industry
Robert Whittaker (Participant)
18 Jul 2022 → 22 Jul 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop or seminar
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Advanced LaTeX
Robert Whittaker (Organiser)
25 May 2022 → 8 Jun 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Internal CPD provision or delivery of course
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The Mathematics of Stopping a Self-Driving Car
Robert Whittaker (Speaker)
9 Dec 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Schools engagement