Matthew Simpson

Professor Matthew Simpson is a leading figure in applied mathematics at the School of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He holds the position of Professor of Applied Mathematics and is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow, reflecting his sustained research excellence. His work bridges mathematical theory and biological applications, particularly in cell migration, tissue invasion, and multiscale modeling.

• BE (Environmental) Honours 1, University of Newcastle (1995–1998)
• PhD (with Distinction), Environmental Engineering, University of Western Australia (2000–2003)
• Research Fellow, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne (2003–2006)
• ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Melbourne (2006–2009)
• Lecturer (2010–2011) and Senior Lecturer (2011–2013), QUT
• Associate Professor (2013–2014), QUT
• Professor and ARC Future Fellow (2014–present), QUT

Matthew Simpson’s research focuses on mathematical and computational modeling of biological systems, particularly collective cell motion, diffusion processes, and reaction-diffusion dynamics. His interests span multiscale modeling, random walk processes, cell biology, and numerical and computational mathematics. He develops and analyzes models to understand phenomena such as wound healing, cancer progression, and tissue engineering.

His recent publications (2023–2025) demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating data-driven modeling, likelihood-based inference, and equation learning with traditional mechanistic models. These works emphasize parameter identifiability, uncertainty quantification, and prediction robustness in biological contexts. Themes include sharp-fronted wave propagation, mechanical cell interactions, tumor spheroid formation, and generalized diffusivity in food drying, showcasing the breadth and depth of his modeling expertise.

Among his key accolades are:

• J.H. Michell Medal (2012) – Awarded by ANZIAM for distinguished research by an early-career applied mathematician in Australia and New Zealand.
• ARC Future Fellowship (2013–2017) – For the project 'New data-driven mathematical models of collective cell motion' (FT130100148).

Professor Simpson has also played significant editorial and leadership roles, including:

• Executive Associate Editor, Journal of Engineering Mathematics
• Academic Editor, PLoS ONE
• Editorial Board Member, ANZIAM Journal
• Co-chair of the 2015 ANZIAM meeting

He has supervised PhD students on topics such as moving boundary problems, first-passage times, stochastic simulations, and curvature-dependent growth in biological systems. His research projects have been funded by competitive Australian grants (ARC DP and FT schemes), including studies on 3D cell migration, ghrelin’s role in cell invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer and wound healing. He is actively involved in developing computational tools for biological modeling and promoting best practices in scientific publishing.