Dr Maryam Parvizi

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Mathematics, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

My research focuses on the development of mathematical and computational models for complex systems in biology, biophysics, and engineering, with particular emphasis on the numerical analysis of partial differential equations, scientific computing, uncertainty quantification, and machine learning.

My current research explores the development of mathematical models incorporating phase transition models to investigate the connection between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dynamics, cytoskeletal remodelling, and cell-scale morphology and polarity during epithelial cell migration.

Another emerging direction of my research concerns the development and numerical solution of mathematical models describing biofilm-induced cellular damage.

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases:

Collaborative and supportive research environment
Progressive development towards independent research
Structured and well-organised supervision

Provision of Training

I provide structured training tailored to each student’s background and research needs, starting with close supervision and regular meetings to discuss progress and findings. As students develop greater independence, supervision gradually shifts towards research discussions and strategic guidance, with opportunities for additional support from a co-supervisor where appropriate.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I monitor students’ progress through regular meetings and agreed research milestones, ensuring that objectives remain realistic and achievable. As students gain experience, I encourage them to take increasing responsibility for planning and managing their research, while maintaining regular discussions to review progress, address challenges, and provide guidance where needed.

Communication

I mainly communicate through Microsoft Teams and email, with regular meetings to discuss research progress. Students are welcome to contact me whenever they need help or advice, and I will do my best to reply as soon as I can. I prefer at least one face-to-face meeting each month; other meetings can be online or in person, depending on our schedules. I work from my office almost every day, so we can usually arrange in-person meetings easily.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per fortnight. These meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response 1 or 2 days per week.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings) I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Mechanistic Modelling of Biofilm-Induced Host-Cell Damage

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Mechanistic Modelling of Biofilm-Induced Host-Cell Damage

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Ekene Anakor

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Systems Biology)

Project Outline

Biofilm-associated infections can cause persistent damage to surrounding tissues, but the mechanisms linking biofilm development to host-cell injury remain poorly quantified. Biofilm growth, nutrient availability, bacterial toxins, oxidative stress, and inflammatory signalling evolve together and may contribute differently to DNA damage, repair failure, and cell death. Experiments can measure many of these responses, but they cannot easily determine which mechanisms are dominant or how they interact across space and time. This project will therefore develop a mechanistic mathematical framework that integrates experimental observations, identifies the processes driving host-cell damage, and quantifies the uncertainty in those conclusions.

The PhD will pursue four integrated aims:

Mechanistic modelling: develop a mathematical model linking biofilm growth and structure with nutrient transport, bacterial toxins, reactive oxygen species, inflammatory signalling, DNA damage, repair and host-cell viability.
Computational simulation: develop efficient numerical methods to simulate how these interacting processes evolve across space and time, including changing biofilm structure and local biochemical gradients.
Parameter inference and mechanism identification: use experimental data to estimate hidden biological parameters, quantify uncertainty, and determine which mechanisms are supported by the observations.
Prediction and experimental guidance: use the calibrated model to identify informative measurements and sampling conditions, distinguish competing damage pathways, and predict responses to selected therapeutic interventions. These predictions will be tested using independent experiments.

The project will deliver an experimentally validated framework for explaining how biofilms generate host-cell injury and for identifying which biological mechanisms should be targeted to reduce damage while maintaining effective bacterial control.

Co-supervisor on a project with Dr Ekene Anakor.