Geoffrey McKay

Geoffrey McKay serves as a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Strathclyde's Faculty of Science, where he has held academic positions since 1994. Promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2004, he currently acts as Year 3 Coordinator for undergraduate degree programs and supervises final-year research projects across diverse mathematical topics.

His educational background includes a Doctor of Science (1992) and Bachelor of Science (1989), both from the University of Glasgow. The DSc focused on Nonlinear stability analyses of problems in patterned group formation and penetrative convection.

McKay's research centers on mathematical modeling of liquid crystal systems, with specific expertise in nematic and cholesteric phases. Key investigations include dynamic modeling of nematic flows, unwinding cholesterics, smectic chevron structures, and nanocylinder interactions with liquid crystals. His secondary research streams examine fluid flows in porous media and prosthetic socket design, all contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education).

Recent publications (2020-2025) reveal consistent focus on active nematic liquid crystal behaviors under external stimuli, employing continuum mechanics to analyze field-induced flow transitions and pressure-driven spontaneous flow phenomena. These works demonstrate interdisciplinary connections between soft matter physics, nonlinear dynamics, and engineering applications.

As principal investigator for EPSRC-funded doctoral training projects (2014-2021), McKay has supervised PhD candidates in medical devices and nematic phase research. He also mentors numerous undergraduate projects spanning The Mechanics of Sport, RSA Codes, Flows in Porous Media, and Chaotic Motion, emphasizing real-world relevance of mathematical techniques.

McKay actively contributes to academic community development, recently co-organizing and speaking at the 2024 event Accessibility in the mathematical sciences. His research group maintains collaborative projects with industrial partners in medical device development, particularly regarding liquid crystal applications in sensor technologies.