Apala Majumdar

Apala Majumdar is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. She is a leading applied mathematician whose research lies at the interface of mathematical modeling, applied analysis, and theoretical physics, with a focus on nematic liquid crystals and soft materials. She holds visiting positions at the University of Bath and the University of Oxford, and is actively engaged in international collaborations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Her educational and professional journey includes appointments at the University of Bristol, University of Oxford, and the University of Bath, where she served as Director of the Centre for Nonlinear Mechanics (2018–2019) and led a Bath-Chile-Mexico research network. She is currently Principal Investigator on multiple international projects, including initiatives funded by the Isaac Newton Institute and the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), and plays a strategic role as a member of the Global Challenges Research Funding Strategic Advisory Group in the UK.

Her research centers on four main themes: (i) analysis of continuum theories for liquid crystals; (ii) multiscale modeling linking microscopic and macroscopic descriptions; (iii) non-equilibrium phenomena such as switching dynamics; and (iv) industrial applications involving geometry- and energy-driven pattern formation. Her work is inherently interdisciplinary, involving collaborations with physicists, chemists, and industry partners like Merck Chemicals.

Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on advanced modeling of liquid crystalline phases, including Landau-de Gennes theories, smectic phase transitions, topological defects, and confinement effects in spherical and 2D geometries. These works span high-impact journals such as SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis, Soft Matter, and Physical Review E, showcasing her contributions to both theoretical depth and practical applications.

She has received numerous honors, including:

• Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2024)
• Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award (2022)
• Suffrage Science Award in Mathematics (2020)
• British Liquid Crystal Society Cyril Hilsum Medal
• Kirk Distinguished Fellowship at Isaac Newton Institute
• IOP Publishing Top Cited Paper Award for China (2024)

She is deeply committed to mentoring and community building, supervising PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, and organizing initiatives such as the Retreat for Women in Applied Mathematics. She serves on the Programme Committee of the ICMS and is actively involved in shaping research strategy for global challenges. Her research group maintains a dedicated website at https://themajumdargroup.wordpress.com/.