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Nick Ovenden holds a senior lecturer position in UCL Mathematics and is Vice-Dean for Development for the Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
As a teenager he wanted to work as an aircraft engineer and was top at his school in Chemistry but two inspiring maths teachers at school turned his attention at A-level towards mathematics. He has a very long-standing relationship with UCL, having studied both his undergraduate and PhD degree here. Before undertaking a PhD he worked as a financial mathematician for a small firm that advised housing associations.
Nick's PhD was on theoretical aerodynamics, particularly looking at the vortex dynamics and separation phenomena generated by strong suction. In 2000 while finishing his PhD, he moved to Eindhoven in the Netherlands to take up a postdoctoral position in aeroacoustics for an EU project headed by Rolls Royce. During this time he developed fast semi-analytical techniques for sound propagation to assist aeroengine design. After a brief spell at Oxford he subsequently returned to UCL in 2003, initially as a research fellow looking at modelling blood flow through abnormalities in the cerebrovasculature, before eventually becoming a lecturer in 2005.
Nick is interested in using applied mathematics to solve real problems in healthcare and industry via interdisciplinary research. Recent research projects include controlling the mechanical properties and vascularisation of engineered nerve tissue, as well as modelling the response of ultrasound microbubble contrast agents and the internal fluid flows in branching networks.
With three small children to entertain at home spare time is something of a scarce resource, but he still trys to find time to go on long walks and play the guitar. Most of all, he loves finding new activities for his kids to enjoy while they learn a lot about the world around them.
