Welcome from Professor Gary Froyland
School of Mathematics & Statistics
UNSW, Sydney
My research spans two areas: dynamical systems and optimization.
My dynamical systems research focusses on the interplay of probability and geometry in nonlinear and chaotic dynamical systems, and uses tools from ergodic theory, functional analysis, and differential geometry. In addition to fundamental mathematical research in dynamical systems, I have applied my research methods to analyse the ocean, opens in a new window, the atmosphere, and granular flows, using models and observational data. This SIAM News article, opens in a new window sketches some my applied dynamics research, and this Einstein Foundation article, opens in a new window is pitched at the general public.
My optimization research is focussed on decision making in large and complicated systems, sometimes in the presence of uncertain information. My research concerns new modelling approaches in mathematical programming, integer programming, and stochastic programming. These new approaches have been applied to strategic planning of open pit mines, scheduling of maritime crane fleets, and robust scheduling of aircraft and flight crews under uncertain disruption. Current work includes optimising lung cancer radiotherapy treatment.
Current Members
Postdoctoral Fellows
PhD Students
Honours Students
Former Members at UNSW (2006-)
Research Fellows
- Dr Michelle Dunbar (2015-2020) Cancer Australia and NHMRC Projects (with P. Bannon, J. Booth, F. Hegi-Johnson, R. O'Brien, C-C. Shieh, J-J. Sonke, and S. Vinod) (now Lecturer at UNSW Sydney, opens in a new window)
- Konstantinos Sakellariou (2017-2018) ARC Discovery Project (with O. Junge and A. Quas) (now Researcher at Nodes and Links, opens in a new window)
- Davor Dragičević (2015-2017) ARC Discovery Project (with O. Junge and A. Quas) (now A/Prof. at University of Rijeka, opens in a new window)
- Cecilia González-Tokman, (2012-2015) ARC Discovery Project (with M. Dellnitz and A. Quas) (now Associate Professor at University of Queensland, opens in a new window)
- Andy Hammerlindl, (2012-2015) ARC Discovery Project (with G. Gottwald) (now Senior Lecturer at Monash University, opens in a new window)
- Naratip Santitissadeekorn, (2008-2011) ARC Centre of Excellence MASCOS (now Senior Lecturer at the University of Surrey, opens in a new window)
- Simon Lloyd, (2007-2010) ARC Discovery Project (with M. Dellnitz and A. Treguier) (now Lecturer at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, opens in a new window)
- Irina Dumitrescu, (2006-2009) ARC Linkage Project (with N. Boland) (now Research Scientist at IBM Research & Development, opens in a new window)
PhD students
- Michael C. Denes PhD 2023, UNSW.
Thesis: Transport and mixing by persistent and materially coherent ocean structures. (now Postdoctoral Researcher at Utrecht, opens in a new window) - Christopher P. Rock PhD 2022, UNSW.
Thesis: Extracting features from eigenfunctions: higher Cheeger constants and sparse eigenbasis approximation. (now Research Analyst at UNSW, opens in a new window) - Harry Crimmins PhD 2021, UNSW.
Thesis: Statistical stability for deterministic and random dynamical systems. (now Quantitative Researcher · Susquehanna International Group, opens in a new window) - Fadi Antown PhD 2020, UNSW.
Thesis: Linear response in dynamical systems: Optimisation and finite-time coherent sets. (now Decision Scientist at Retail Insight, opens in a new window) - Eric Kwok PhD 2018, UNSW.
Thesis: Dynamic isoperimetry on graphs and weighted Riemannian manifolds. (now Project Analyst at UNSW, opens in a new window). - Thomas Watson PhD 2016, UNSW.
Thesis: On Aspects of Numerical Ergodic Theory: Stability of Ulam's Method, Computing Oseledets Subspaces, and Optimal Mixing. (now Data Scientist, Kinesis, opens in a new window) - Mehrdad Heidari, PhD 2015, UNSW.
Thesis: Quantification of Geological Uncertainty and Mine Planning Risk using Metric Spaces. (now Principal Data Scientist, InfoReady Information Management Consulting, opens in a new window) - Robyn Stuart, PhD 2014, UNSW.
Thesis: Metastable sets in open dynamical systems and substochastic Markov chains. (now Senior research scientist, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, opens in a new window) - Stephen Maher, PhD 2014, UNSW.
Thesis: The Application of Recoverable Robustness to Airline Planning Problems. (now an Senior Lecturer at University of Exeter, opens in a new window) - Amirah Rahman, PhD 2013, UNSW.
Thesis: Freight train scheduling on a single line network. (now Senior Lecturer at the Science University Malaysia, opens in a new window) - Michelle Dunbar, PhD 2012, UNSW.
Thesis: Minimising Propagated Delay in an Integrated Aircraft Routing and Crew Pairing Framework. (now Lecturer, UNSW, opens in a new window) - Ognjen Stancevic, PhD 2011, UNSW.
Thesis: Escape and Metastability in Deterministic and Random Dynamical Systems. (now Executive Manager, Enterprise Risk Analytics and Visualisation, Commonwealth Bank, opens in a new window, Sydney) - Dalia Terhesiu, PhD 2009, UNSW.
Thesis: On the approximation of finite and infinite equilibrium states and some aspects of Young towers with non-integrable return function. (now Assistant Professor at the University of Leiden, opens in a new window) - Therese Keane, PhD 2009, UNSW (with J. Franklin).
Thesis: Combat Modelling with Partial Differential Equations. (now Senior Special Operations Science and Technology Advisor, DSTO, Sydney, opens in a new window
Honours students
- Satvik Yadav, (Hons 2022), UNSW
- Ruiwen Zhong, (Hons 2022), UNSW
- Jack Hills (Hons 2022), UNSW Engineering with Prof. Tracie Barber
- Raymond Cheng, Hons 2020, UNSW
- Kevin Tian, Hons 2020, UNSW
- Christos Kollias, Hons 2019, UNSW
- Ben Madafiglio, Hons 2018, UNSW
- Chris Bladwell, Hons 2018, UNSW (now PhD student at UNSW)
- Harry Crimmins, Hons 2017, UNSW (now PhD student at UNSW)
- Daniel Picone, Hons 2017, UNSW (now Economist, Frontier Economics, opens in a new window)
- Chris Rock, Hons 2017, UNSW (now PhD student at UNSW)
- Fadi Antown, Hons 2015, UNSW (now PhD student at UNSW)
- James Ross, Hons 2015, UNSW (now Research Data Scientist at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, opens in a new window)
- Jeremy Nugent, Hons 2014, UNSW (now PhD student at UNSW)
- Alec Gilbert, Hons 2013, UNSW (now postdoc at University of Heidelberg)
- Georgia Tsambos, Hons 2013, UNSW (now PhD student at UMelb)
- Andrew Ardill, Hons 2010, UNSW (now Business Intelligence Manager at TravelCard Real-Time Travel Insurance, opens in a new window)
- Ognjen Stancevic, Hons 2007, UNSW (now Executive Manager, Enterprise Risk Analytics and Visualisation, Commonwealth Bank, opens in a new window, Sydney)
- Ambros Gleixner, Hons 2006, UNSW (currently Head of research group Mathematical Optimization Methods at Zuse Institute Berlin, opens in a new window)
- Gina Choutis, Hons 2006, UNSW (currently Marketing Insights Analyst at IAG (Insurance Australia Group), opens in a new window)