معرفی
Dr. William Mack Durham is a Senior Lecturer in Biological Physics at the University of Sheffield's Department of Physics and Astronomy, part of the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. He leads the Microbial Physics and Ecology Group, which investigates microbial behavior using interdisciplinary approaches including microfluidics, molecular biology, evolutionary game theory, and computational modeling.
Education:
• BSc in Civil Engineering (Clemson University, 2004)
• SM in Civil and Environmental Engineering (MIT, 2006)
• PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering (MIT, 2012)
Research Focus: Durham's work centers on three primary areas: biofilm dynamics in bacterial infections, competition strategies of soil microorganisms in porous environments, and fluid-phytoplankton interactions in marine ecosystems. His group combines experimental techniques (e.g., microfluidics, massively parallel cell tracking) with theoretical frameworks to understand how microorganisms navigate, compete, and adapt in complex environments.
Publication Trends: His recent articles demonstrate a strong focus on bacterial navigation mechanisms (chemotaxis), collective behavior in confined spaces, and turbulence-phytoplankton interactions. Methodologically, they emphasize high-resolution imaging techniques and biophysical modeling across microbial systems.
Awards & Honors:
• BBSRC New Investigator Award (2018-2021)
• Human Frontier Science Program Long-Term Fellowship (2012-2016)
• Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award in Fluid Dynamics
• Raymond L Lindeman Award
Research Team & Grants: Leads a group with two postdoctoral researchers (Dr. Jamie Wheeler, Dr. Oliver Meacock) and four PhD students. Secured £517K from BBSRC for biofilm navigation research and holds additional grants from EPSRC. Serves as Head of Undergraduate Admissions and coordinates industry placements for physics students.
