Philip Maini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Maini
FRS FMedSci
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Philip Maini in 2015
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Philip Kumar Maini
16 October 1959 |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford (BA, PhD) |
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| Thesis | On mechanochemical models for morphogenetic pattern (1985) |
| Doctoral advisor | James D. Murray |
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Philip Kumar Maini is a famous Northern Irish mathematician. He was born on October 16, 1959, in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland. Since 1998, he has been a professor at the University of Oxford. He leads the Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology there. This center is part of the Mathematical Institute at Oxford.
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About Philip Maini's Life
Philip Maini's parents, Panna Lal Maini and Satya Wati Bhandari, were from Punjab, India. His father, Panna Lal, moved to Northern Ireland in 1954. He traveled by ship to London before settling there. Philip's mother, Satya Wati, and his older brother, Arvind, joined them in Northern Ireland in 1957.
Philip Maini's Education
Philip Maini went to Rainey Endowed School in County Londonderry. Later, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), in 1982. In 1985, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree. His DPhil research focused on how living things form patterns, like how an embryo develops. His supervisor for this work was James D. Murray.
Philip Maini's Career and Research
After finishing his DPhil, Philip Maini worked as a researcher at Oxford. He also spent time as a professor at the University of Utah in the United States. In 1990, he returned to Oxford. He became a university lecturer in mathematical biology.
In 1998, he became the director of the Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology. This center uses mathematics to understand biology. In 2005, he became a full professor of Mathematical Biology at Oxford.
What Does Mathematical Biology Mean?
Professor Maini's work involves using math to understand how living things work. He creates mathematical models. These models are like computer simulations or equations. They help explain things like:
- How tumours (growths) develop in the body.
- How wound healing happens.
- How patterns form in an embryo as it grows.
His research helps scientists understand these biological processes better. It can even help find new ways to treat diseases. He has guided many students, with 53 people earning their PhDs under his supervision.
From 2002 to 2015, Professor Maini was the main editor for a science magazine called the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology. He also gave an important talk at a big meeting for mathematicians in 2010.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Philip Maini has received many important awards for his work.
Fellow of the Royal Society
In 2015, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. When he was elected, the Royal Society said his work was important because:
- He used math and computers to model biological processes.
- His work helped us understand how patterns form in living things.
- He also developed models for wound healing and how tumours grow.
- His research has helped improve cancer therapy.
Other Awards and Fellowships
Professor Maini has been a member of important groups like the Society for Mathematical Biology. He is also a Fellow of several other respected organizations. These include the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). He is also a corresponding member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences.
In 2017, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (United Kingdom). The next year, he was elected a Foreign Fellow by the Indian National Science Academy. In 2021, he became a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences. He also became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
He won the Bellman Prize in 1997 for a paper he co-wrote. He also received the Naylor Prize from the London Mathematical Society.
In 2024, he was given the Sylvester Medal by the Royal Society. This award recognized his important work in mathematical biology. It specifically highlighted his efforts in using math to model medical problems and systems.
