Daniel Coca

Professor Daniel Coca is an Honorary Professor of Nonlinear and Complex Systems in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Sheffield, specializing in mathematical and computational methods for complex dynamical systems across physics, engineering, life sciences, and finance.

Education:

• MEng
• PhD

Research Interests: His work focuses on nonlinear and complex dynamical systems with applications in stem cell population dynamics, crystal growth, brain activity, solar wind-magnetosphere interaction, and financial markets. He develops advanced techniques in bioimaging (diffuse optical tomography, protein identification) and reconfigurable computing (FPGA hardware acceleration for proteomics and control algorithms), while advancing nonlinear control theory for PDEs and predictive systems.

Publications: Recent work (2016-2020) demonstrates expertise in inverse problems for dynamical systems (Frobenius-Perron operator solutions), spiking neural network modeling (liquid state machines, sensory circuit identification), and interdisciplinary applications including urban air quality monitoring, stem cell characterization, and fly vision neuroscience. His publications span high-impact journals in computational neuroscience, environmental engineering, and nonlinear dynamics.

Grants: Professor Coca has secured substantial funding from EPSRC, BBSRC, and MRC, including £2.1M for the Urban Flows Observatories, £530k for Digital Fly Brain, and multiple FPGA proteomics projects. His £4M+ apportioned grant portfolio covers digital built Britain, stem cell dynamics, and neuroimaging systems.