Jörn Dunkel

Jörn Dunkel is the MathWorks Professor of Mathematics and Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he has been faculty since 2013. He holds appointments in the Department of Mathematics, with research spanning biological physics, active matter, and nonlinear dynamics. His work integrates theoretical modeling, computational approaches, and collaborative experiments to study complex systems across scales.

Education:

• Dr. rer. nat. in Physics, Universität Augsburg (2008)
• Dipl. Math & Dipl. Phys, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (2004-2005)
• Visiting Student, University of Oxford (2000-2001)

Research Focus: Dunkel's group develops mathematical frameworks for biological and soft matter systems, with emphasis on: emergent order in active materials; topological methods in biophysics; nonequilibrium statistical mechanics; and hydrodynamic theories of living systems. Recent breakthroughs include programmable active matter, topological control of biological networks, and entropy dynamics in living cells.

Publication Trends: His 15 most recent works (2021-2024) reveal strong focus on: 1) Mechanobiology of cellular structures (membranes, nuclei), 2) Collective dynamics in active matter and biofilms, 3) Topological analysis of biological organization, and 4) Machine learning approaches for complex systems modeling. These consistently bridge mathematical theory with experimental biophysics.

Awards & Honors:

• Schmidt Science Polymath Award (2023)
• Complex Systems Scholar Award, McDonnell Foundation (2016-2020)
• Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2015-2017)
• Gustav Hertz Prize, German Physical Society (2011)
• Multiple MIT-specific research and teaching awards

Research Infrastructure: Leads the Physical Mathematics Group at MIT, collaborating with experimental labs worldwide. Regular group meetings (Thursdays) and seminar series (Physical Mathematics Seminar Tuesdays) anchor interdisciplinary research in mathematical biophysics.