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Thomas Woolley

Dr Thomas Woolley

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Media commentator
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Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Thomas Woolley

Overview

Research Group

Applied Mathematics.

Research Interests

Mathematical biology, Morphogenesis, Reaction-diffusion theory, Cellular motion, Stochastic dynamics, Neurobiology, Oncology.

Publication

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Articles

Book sections

Conferences

Monographs

Research

My research focuses on understanding emergent properties and producing rigorous limits, which allow us to scale between discrete elements and continuous systems. Specifically, my doctoral research considered the link between continuous reaction-diffusion equations and their agent-based analogues.

More recently, I have been working on newly discovered cellular protrusions, which are able to affect a variety of cellular phenomena, such as motion and division. In collaboration with the University of Reading I am researching muscle stem cells that navigate towards regions of muscular damage resulting in muscle healing and regeneration. In particular, I am deriving analytical links between the spatio-temporal discrete protrusions of an individual cell and the continuous population distribution and movement of the stem cells. Critically, we have been able to use this model to algebraically couple traits in the observable cellular motion to unobservable structural features of the cell membrane.

Biography

Dr Thomas Woolley studied mathematics at University of Oxford between 2004-2017. Through his education he ended up specializing in mathematical biology, where his doctorate focused on understanding the pattern formation behind fish spots and zebra stripes. Alongside this research he now investigates mathematical models of stem cell movement. The hope is that by understanding how stem cells move we can influence them and, thus, speed up the healing process.

When not doing mathematics he is a keen participant in mathematical outreach workshops and has given a variety of popular maths lectures nationally and internationally. He has previously worked for the BBC, illustrated Marcus du Sautoy’s book and worked on the popular maths show “Dara O’Briains school of hard sums”. Most recently he was the Fellow of Modern Mathematics at the London Science Museum and is helped redesign their mathematics gallery.

Supervisions

I am currently available to supervise postgraduate research students in the field of Mathematical Biology.

Current supervision

Neha Bansal

Neha Bansal

Research Student/Graduate Tutor

Timothy Ostler

Timothy Ostler

Joshua Moore

Joshua Moore

Past projects

Doctoral students

  • Neha Bansal
  • Tabitha Lewis
  • Emily Lewis

Previous doctoral students

  • Tim Ostler
  • Josh Moore
  • Lucy Henley
  • Michael Adamer
  • Citlali Solis-Salas

Current research assistants

  • Dr Yidan Xue

Previous research assistants

  • Dr Pahala Gedara Jayathilake
  • Dr Alex Southgate
  • Dr Noemi Picco

Previous Masters students

  • Layla Sadeghi Namaghi
  • Jonas Manabu Okawara

News articles

Neha Bansal, Dr Katerina Kaouri and Dr Thomas E. Woolley’s newly published study could inform public health policy decisions.

Researchers from the School of Mathematics propose new approach that more accurately predicts the evolution of epidemics

30 April 2026

Neha Bansal, Dr Katerina Kaouri and Dr Thomas E. Woolley’s newly published study could inform public health policy decisions.

Cardiff University is one of 20 organisations behind Mathŵyl Cymru, which will be running a week-long programme of events for learners in Wales

Launch of national Maths Week Wales hopes to encourage learners to rethink their relationship with subject

12 November 2025

Cardiff University is one of 20 organisations behind Mathŵyl Cymru, which will be running a week-long programme of events for learners in Wales

Dr Thomas Woolley was awarded a poster prize for his mathematical research on tracking bat movements to identify their roost locations.

Mathematician Dr Thomas Woolley wins poster prize at international biology conference

06 August 2025

Dr Thomas Woolley was awarded a poster prize for his mathematical research on tracking bat movements to identify their roost locations.

Mathematicians from Cardiff University have been prominently featured in the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences' campaign, 'Maths Can Take You Anywhere'.

Cardiff University Mathematicians highlighted in special feature by the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences

19 February 2025

Mathematicians from Cardiff University have been prominently featured in the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences' campaign, 'Maths Can Take You Anywhere'.

Joshua Moore graduates with a PhD in Mathematics as part of the Class of 2024

“Seeing maths as a powerful toolbox” key to PhD student’s success

19 July 2024

Joshua Moore graduates with a PhD in Mathematics as part of the Class of 2024

Problem solving, teamwork and tenacity key to beating STEM outreach challenge

Alan Turing inspired escape room shows “maths is more than just numbers”

03 July 2024

Problem solving, teamwork and tenacity key to beating STEM outreach challenge

Algorithm helps ecologists and conversationists find roosts to support bat populations and their habitats

Finding bat roosts no longer like searching for “a needle in a haystack”

24 April 2024

Algorithm helps ecologists and conversationists find roosts to support bat populations and their habitats

First-of-its-kind study in bats could help conservation efforts for species at “significant risk” of population decline

Researchers show how bats get back home to roost

15 January 2024

First-of-its-kind study in bats could help conservation efforts for species at “significant risk” of population decline

Tim Ostler will compete in STEM for BRITAIN competition as part of British Science Week

Doctoral student to present research to MPs in Westminster

20 February 2023

Tim Ostler will compete in STEM for BRITAIN competition as part of British Science Week

Scientists gain understanding of mechanisms that determine growth patterns of tiny hairy cells within the ear

Zebrafish discovery throws new light on human hearing disorders

23 October 2019

Scientists gain understanding of mechanisms that determine growth patterns of tiny hairy cells within the ear

New study reveals human brains may require fewer initial cells to grow compared to monkeys and mice

Less is more when it comes to developing bigger brains

04 May 2018

New study reveals human brains may require fewer initial cells to grow compared to monkeys and mice

Cardiff University mathematician discovers key aspect underlining distinctive patterns of the zebrafish

How do zebrafish develop their stripes?

28 September 2017

Cardiff University mathematician discovers key aspect underlining distinctive patterns of the zebrafish