Michael J. Shelley

Michael Shelley is a world leader in the mathematical modeling and analysis of physical and biological systems. He originated the small-scale decomposition, now widely used for simulating surface-tension mediated interfaces. More generally, his methods have allowed for the study of fundamental pattern and singularity formation problems with resolutions previously impossible. He has made fundamental contributions to complex fluids: identifying new microstructural flow instabilities and understanding the effect of fluid viscoelasticity upon pattern formation, microorganismal locomotion, and fluid mixing. He laid the theoretical foundations of motile bio-suspensions through his simulations of many-body interactions, and by deriving and analyzing first-principles kinetic models. He has performed some of the first theoretical investigations of the role of fluid dynamics inside of biological cells.