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Professor Federico Frascoli

Department Chair, Mathematics

Biography


I am interested in systems out of equilibrium, in a variety of (apparently) different contexts. From cellular motility to nano-confined fluids, from immune-cancer dynamics to brain oscillations, I am fascinated by the patterns and strategies that Nature creates far from equilibrium. Questions that arise in these situations embrace a number of different areas of applied mathematics and mathematical physics, ranging from statistical mechanics, non equilibrium thermodynamics and classical molecular dynamics to dynamical systems, bifurcation theory, PDEs, ODEs and agent-based modeling techniques.


Qualifications:

Laurea in Theoretical Physics (U. Parma, Italy), 2001
PhD in Mathematical Physics (SUT), 2007


Previous and current appointments:

Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Neuroscience (Brain Sciences Institute, Melbourne), 2007-2011
Postdoctoral Researcher in Mathematical Biology (Dept. of Mathematics, Uni of Melbourne), 2011-2013

Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, (SUT) 2013-2015
Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, (SUT) 2016-2018
Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics, (SUT) 2019-2022
Professor in Applied Mathematics, (SUT) 2023-ongoing

Chair of the Dept of Mathematics, (SUT) June 2020-ongoing

Research interests

Dynamical systems; Mathematical biology; Statistical Mechanics

PhD candidate and honours supervision

Higher degrees by research

Accredited to supervise Masters & Doctoral students as Principal Supervisor.

PhD topics and outlines

Anamolous transport, diffusion, motiliity, clustering : Diffusion and transport in biology is fascinating, as it can show different behaviours for different evolutionary reasons. Animals, cells, nutrients and chemical signals all have different ways of organising, interacting and moving in various context. Nonetheless, sometimes surprisingly similar and almost universal features appear. Why does this happen? 

Collective properties of biological cells: Cell migration is a fundamental phenomenon throughout all the stages of animal life. Cells may move as individuals, in several distinct ways, or may move collectively as chains, clusters or sheets. A variety of complex mechanisms govern these motions in contexts as different as embryonic morphogenesis, teratology, tissue growth, wound healing and cancer development.

Mathematical Immunology at large: Our group models many aspects related to immunology in vivo and in vitro, including (but not limited to): leukocytes proliferation, differentiation and death, motility and antigen search strategies, checkpoint blockades, virotherapy and any other immunogenic therapeutics against cancer, models of tumour microenvironement, heterogeneity in tumour growth, autoimmune and in-host diseases.

Honours

Available to supervise honours students.

Honours topics and outlines

Mathematical Biology: A large numbers of projects for Masters or Honours students are available, in mathematical modelling of biologically inspired processes. Examples include: cellular motility, cancer development, infectious diseases, the immune response, transport and diffusion in biological media

Fields of Research

  • Dynamical Systems In Applications - 490105

Awards

  • 2018, Swinburne, Research Impact Award, Swinburne University of Technology
  • 2010, Swinburne, Early Career Researcher scheme, Swinburne University of Technology
  • 2008, National, COSNET overseas travel grant, COSNET - Complex open systems research network
  • 2008, Swinburne, Best Doctoral Thesis in the Faculty, Swinburne University of Technology

Publications

Also published as: Frascoli, Federico; Frascoli, F.
This publication listing is provided by Swinburne Research Bank. If you are the owner of this profile, you can update your publications using our online form.

Recent research grants awarded

  • 2023: INT - 1190 Mathematical Modelling of Collective Behaviour Over Multiple Length Scales *; Defence Science Technology Group
  • 2023: Unpacking the immune system with applied mathematics *; ARC Discovery Projects Scheme
  • 2022: Understanding latent fate programming in T cells. *; Ideas Grants
  • 2020: Improving the effectiveness of oncolytic virotherapy *; Politecnico di Torino, Italy
  • 2019: Optimisation of nanoscale devices for biological and medical applications *; Politecnico di Torino, Italy
  • 2019: Understanding the mechanisms of fate determination during T cell development: a mathematical model *; Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute Intern Program
  • 2018: Dynamical systems theory to model viral infection dynamics *; ARC Discovery Projects Scheme
  • 2017: Mathematical and statistical methods for modelling invivo pathogen dynamics *; ARC Discovery Projects Scheme
  • 2016: 2016 Visiting Fellowships Scheme - Lamberto Rondoni *; Visiting Fellowships Scheme

* Chief Investigator