Department of Mathematics
 Search | Help | Login | pdf version | printable version

Math @ Duke



Math HOME

.......................

Faculty

.......................

Webpage

Thomas P Witelski, Associate Professor

Thomas P Witelski
Contact Info:
Office Location:  295 Physics
Office Phone:  00-1-(919) 660-2841
Email Address: send me a message
Web Page:  http://www.math.duke.edu/~witelski

Teaching (Fall 2009):

Teaching (Spring 2010):

Office Hours:

Tuesdays 10:00am-12:30 or other times by email request
Education:

PhDCaltech1995
BS in Engineering, Summa Cum LaudeCooper Union School of Engineering1991
DiplomaStuyvesant High School, New York1987
Specialties:

Applied Math
Research Interests: Fluid Dynamics, Perturbation Methods, Asymptotic Analysis, Nonlinear Ordinary and Partial differential equations

My primary area of expertise is the solution of nonlinear ordinary and partial differential equations via perturbation methods. Using asymptotics along with a mixture of other applied mathematical techniques in analysis and scientific computing I study a broad range of applications in physical systems. Focuses of my work include problems in viscous fluid flow, industrial applications, flow in porous media, mathematical biology, and granular materials. Through my research I am working to extend the understanding of nonlinear diffusion processes in physical systems. Studying problems in a range of different fields has given me a unique opportunity to interact with a diverse set of collaborators and to transfer analytic techniques across the traditional boundaries that separate fields.

Areas of Interest:

Fluid dynamics
Partial differential equations
Asymptotics/Perturbation methods
Industrial and Applied mathematics

Current Ph.D. Students   (Former Students)

    Postdocs Mentored

    Undergraduate Researches Supervised

    • Jeremy Semko (May, 2009 - present)  
    • Lingren Zhang (July, 2006 - September, 2006)
      Thesis: The Motion of Sets of Vortices
      Undergraduate summer research 
    • Qinzheng Tian (July, 2005 - September, 2005)
      Thesis: Simulation of Newtonian fluid fluid between rotating cylinders
      Undergraduate summer research 
    Recent Publications   (More Publications)

    1. T.P. Witelski, The subtle art of blowing bubbles (News and Views: Fluid Dynamics), Nature Physics, vol. 5 (May, 2009), pp. 315-316 (doi:10.1038/nphys1265.) [=NDgyMTgzMzQS1&mt=1&rt=0]
    2. H.-J. Hwang and T.P. Witelski, Short-time Pattern formation in thin film equations, Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems A, vol. 23 no. 3 (March, 2009), pp. 867-885, ISSN 1078-0947 (doi: 10.3934/dcds.2009.23.867.) [displayArticles.jsp]
    3. M. B. Gratton and T.P. Witelski, Transient and self-similar dynamics in thin film coarsening, Physica D, vol. 238 no. 23-24 (2009), pp. 2380-2394
    4. L. B. Smolka and T. P. Witelski, On the planar extensional motion of an inertially driven liquid sheet, Physics of Fluids, vol. 21 no. 4 (2009), pp. 042101 [042101]
    5. T.P. Witelski and M. Bowen, Singular perturbation theory, Scholarpedia, vol. 4 no. 4 (2009), pp. 3951 [Singular_perturbation_theory]
    Recent Grant Support

    • CAREER Award, NSF, 2003/09.      
    Conferences Organized

    • SIAM 2009 Annual meeting, MS65/MS76 Contemporary Applications of Perturbation and Asymptotic Methods I/II, Minisymposium sessions co-organizer, July 9, 2009 - July 10, 2009  
    • MPI 2009-25th Annual Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry, Organizing Committee, June 15, 2009 - June 19, 2009  
    • Graduate Student Mathematical Modeling Camp 2009, Faculty Mentor, June 9, 2009 - June 12, 2009  
    • Euromech 490 Workshop: Dynamics and Stability of thin liquid films and slender jets, Organising Committee, September 19, 2007 - September 21, 2007  
    • Third Annual Graduate Student Mathematical Modeling Camp, Faculty Mentor, June 6, 2006 - June 9, 2006  
    • UCLA-IPAM-NSF workshop on Thin Films and Fluid Interfaces, Organizing Committee, January 30, 2006 - February 2, 2006  
    • MPI 2005-21th Annual Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry, Organizing Committee, June 13, 2005 - June 17, 2005  
    • MPI 2004-20th Annual Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry, Organizing Committee, June 21, 2004 - June 25, 2004  
    • First Annual Graduate Student Mathematical Modeling Camp, Mentor, June 15, 2004 - June 18, 2004  
    • Dynamics Days 2004, Local Organizing Committee + Webmaster, January 2004  
    • Nonlinear dynamics of thin films and fluid interfaces, Organizing Committee Member, November-December 2003  
    • MPI 2003-19th Annual Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry, Organizing Committee, June 2003  
    • MPI 2002-Eighteenth Annual Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry, Organizing Comittee, June 2002  
    • Nonlinear Differential Equations, Mechanics and Bifurcation 2002: A conference in honor of David G. Schaeffer, Member of organizing committee, 2001-02  
    • MPI 2001-Seventeenth Annual Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry, Organizing Committee, June 2001  
    • Minisymposium MS1:Instabilities and Breakdown of Asymptotic Models in Continuum Mechanics, SIAM Conference on Materials Science 2000, Co-Organizer, with Mary Pugh (U-Penn), May 2000  
    Journal editorial boards Other Activities

     

    dept@math.duke.edu
    ph: 919.660.2800
    fax: 919.660.2821

    		Mathematics Department
    Duke University, Box 90320
    Durham, NC 27708-0320
    Mathematics Home | Arts & Sciences | Duke University