Professor Tom Montenegro-Johnson
About me
Researcher profile: I am an interdisciplinary mathematician and Deputy Director of the Centre for Applications of Mathematical and Computing Sciences (CAMaCS). My research explores the mathematics underpinning complex, interacting systems—ranging from the mathematics of soft microscale devices to human urban mobility in extreme weather conditions. My work has always involved strong collaboration with experimental scientists in Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, and more recently collaborators in behavioural science and sustainable development.
Through my role at CAMaCS, I am increasingly impact-facing, and regularly engage with industry, government, and third-sector organizations. I am particularly interested in how mathematical and computational approaches can contribute to addressing complex societal challenges.
Approach: A mixture of asymptotic analysis and numerical solution of partial differential equations, as well as agent-based modelling. More recently I have begun to research machine learning techniques to accelerate agent-based models for soft matter.
Links: Publications are on my Google Scholar and more information about "The Soft Mathematics Group" can be found on my personal website. An up to date CV can be found here.
Consultancy: Experienced and available for technical consultancy for industry, REF Impact consultancy for academia, and scientific consultancy for the entertainment industry.
Students and Postdocs: I am always keen to take on new group members, please come and have a chat with me about available opportunities. If you are applying for a fellowship, such as a Marie-Curie, and would like to be hosted, please email to discuss this plenty of time before the deadline.
Funding: I am the grateful recipient of a Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Award "Shape Transforming Active Matter", (to Dec 2026). For previous awards, see my CV.
Public Engagement: I love finding fun new ways to get maths across. I have a permanent exhibit in the Birmingham Science Museum (thinktank), have worked on installations with origami artist Coco Sato, and have worked as the scientific advisor on a movie currently in pre-production.
| Group Members and Alumni: |
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| Postdocs | Current Members: Former members: Panayiota Katsamba - now a managing coordinator at the Cyprus Institute James Andrews - now an assistant professor at the School of Mathematics, U. Birmingham Matthew Butler - now Clifford Fellow at UCL Azar Shirazi - now Research Fellow at the Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, U. Manchester Amin Rahmat - now Assistant Prof. of Chemical Engineering, U. Birmingham |
| PhD Students (current) | Xietao Wang-Lin - thesis title: "Machine-Learning Accelerated Simulation of Active Agents for Soft Matter" |
| Phd Students (completed) | Berk Altunkeyik - thesis title: "Shape-Shifting Bubble-Driven Hydrogel Microbots" Matthew Clowe - thesis title "Motility, Multicellularity, and Multiciliates" |