Mauricio Barahona obtained a PhD in Theoretical Physics (Dynamical Systems and Condensed Matter) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the supervision of Steve Strogatz (Mathematics) and Mehran Kardar (Physics). His thesis dealt with the spatio-temporal dynamics of networks of Josephson junctions - superconducting electronic devices which can be described as coupled nonlinear oscillators. Concurrently, he developed algorithmic tools which, using concepts of information theory and dynamical systems, allow for the sensitive statistical detection of nonlinear dynamics in data. He then conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology. At Stanford, he worked on generic properties of array synchronization with applications to pattern detection. At Caltech, in the Department of Control and Dynamical Systems, he concentrated on rigorous bounds of model reduction techniques, and on the analysis of network dynamics using graph-theoretical concepts. He came to Imperial as a Lecturer in 2001 and became a Reader in Biomathematics in 2004. In 2011, he moved to the Department of Mathematics as Chair of Biomathematics.

Research Interests

Broadly interested in applied mathematics in biological, physical and engineering systems.

• Dynamics of networks of interconnected nonlinear systems: graph theory and dynamics 
• Theory of synchronization: Coupled oscillators in biology and engineering, flocking phenomena
• Algorithms for nonlinear signal analysis: Nonlinear detection, network reconstruction 
• Multiscale dynamics and model reduction of bio-systems:  Viral capsids, protein dynamics
• Mathematical and computational biology: metabolic and genetic networks (deterministic and stochastic); regulation and biophysical control