Glen Wheeler

Dr. Glen Wheeler is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong, affiliated with the School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics. He is an internationally recognized expert in geometric analysis and higher-order curvature flow of curves and hypersurfaces. His work bridges differential geometry and partial differential equations (PDE), with a focus on nonlinear higher-order geometric PDE and applications to bushfire modeling, biological membranes, and isoperimetric problems.

• Research Interests: Geometric flows (Willmore flow, surface diffusion flow, curve diffusion flow), higher-order PDE, Sobolev gradient flows, and applications to bushfire dynamics, biological systems, and geometric inequalities.
• Grants & Funding: ARC Discovery Project (CI) for higher-order curvature flows (2015-2018), Advancement and Equity Grants Scheme (AEGiS) for isoperimetry (2023), and internal grants for geometric analysis (2014-2015).
• Scientific Awards:
  • Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2010-2012)
  • 2017 Peter Schwerdtfeger Award (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)
• Teaching & Supervision: Supervises PhD topics in higher-order PDE, conformal structures, and nonlinear parabolic equations. His supervision spans projects on curvature flows, wound healing, and geometric evolution equations.

Publication Trends: Dr. Wheeler’s recent work focuses on nonlocal PDE for bushfire modeling, curve shortening flows with ambient forces, and entropy-driven geometric flows. His research explores solitons, rigidity theorems, and numerical methods for higher-order flows like Chen’s flow. Subfields include conformal geometry, free boundary problems, and applications to medical and environmental challenges.