Dr Alex Tam

Lecturer: Mathematical Sciences UniSA STEM

email Alex.Tam@unisa.edu.au

Alternative contact

Available for media comment

About me

Applied Mathematics
Mathematical Biology
Biofilms
Cell Biophysics
Partial Differential Equation Models

I am an applied mathematician interested in biological and fluid mechanics problems, especially those involving partial differential equations. Much of my research involves understanding the mechanics of biological cells. This ranges from modelling how protein networks in individual cells generate the forces required for movement and division, to macroscopic modelling of complex colonies.

UniSA STEM

Harnessing connections across science, technology, engineering and mathematics, UniSA STEM creates innovative solutions and groundbreaking developments across teaching, learning and research.

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Research

Research focus

Biological Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Applied Mathematics
Physical Sciences
Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Research

Outputs

Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus

Open access indicates that an output is open access.

Highlights

Year	Output
2022	Tam, AK & Simpson, MJ 2022, 'The effect of geometry on survival and extinction in a moving-boundary problem motivated by the Fisher-KPP equation', Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, vol. 438, article no. 133305, pp. 1-8.
2022	Tam, AK, Harding, B, Green, JEF, Balasuriya, S & Binder, BJ 2022, 'Thin-film lubrication model for biofilm expansion under strong adhesion', Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, vol. 105, no. 1, article no. 014408, pp. 014408-1-014408-15. Open access
2021	Tam, AK, Mogilner, A & Oelz, DB 2021, 'Protein friction and filament bending facilitate contraction of disordered actomyosin networks', Biophysical Journal, vol. 120, no. 18, pp. 4029-4040. Open access 1 1
2019	Tam, A, Edward, JEF, Balasuriya, S, Tek, EL, Gardner, JM, Sundstrom, JF, Jiranek, V & Binder, BJ 2019, 'A thin-film extensional flow model for biofilm expansion by sliding motility', Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, vol. 475, no. 2229, pp. 1-21. Open access 4 4
2018	Tam, A, Green, JEF, Balasuriya, S, Tek, EL, Gardner, JM, Sundstrom, JF, Jiranek, V & Binder, BJ 2018, 'Nutrient-limited growth with non-linear cell diffusion as a mechanism for floral pattern formation in yeast biofilms', Journal of Theoretical Biology, vol. 448, pp. 122-141. Open access 8

Journal Articles

Year	Output
2022	Tam, AK & Simpson, MJ 2022, 'The effect of geometry on survival and extinction in a moving-boundary problem motivated by the Fisher-KPP equation', Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, vol. 438, article no. 133305, pp. 1-8.
2022	Tam, AK, Harding, B, Green, JEF, Balasuriya, S & Binder, BJ 2022, 'Thin-film lubrication model for biofilm expansion under strong adhesion', Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, vol. 105, no. 1, article no. 014408, pp. 014408-1-014408-15. Open access
2022	Tam, AK, Mogilner, A & Oelz, DB 2022, 'F-actin bending facilitates net actomyosin contraction By inhibiting expansion with plus-end-located myosin motors', Journal of Mathematical Biology, vol. 85, no. 1, article no. 4, pp. 1-35.
2021	Tam, AK, Mogilner, A & Oelz, DB 2021, 'Protein friction and filament bending facilitate contraction of disordered actomyosin networks', Biophysical Journal, vol. 120, no. 18, pp. 4029-4040. Open access 1 1
2019	Tam, A, Edward, JEF, Balasuriya, S, Tek, EL, Gardner, JM, Sundstrom, JF, Jiranek, V & Binder, BJ 2019, 'A thin-film extensional flow model for biofilm expansion by sliding motility', Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, vol. 475, no. 2229, pp. 1-21. Open access 4 4
2018	Tam, A, Green, JEF, Balasuriya, S, Tek, EL, Gardner, JM, Sundstrom, JF, Jiranek, V & Binder, BJ 2018, 'Nutrient-limited growth with non-linear cell diffusion as a mechanism for floral pattern formation in yeast biofilms', Journal of Theoretical Biology, vol. 448, pp. 122-141. Open access 8
2018	Tronnolone, H, Tam, A, Szenczi, Z, Green, J, Balasuriya, S, Tek, EL, Gardner, JM, Sundstrom, JF, Jiranek, V, Oliver, SG & Binder, BJ 2018, 'Diffusion-limited growth of microbial colonies', Scientific Reports, vol. 8, article no. 5992, pp. 1-11. Open access 17
2015	Tam, A, Yu, Z, Kelso, RM & Binder, BJ 2015, 'Predicting channel bed topography in hydraulic falls', Physics of Fluids, vol. 27, no. 11, article no. 112106. 6

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Organisation	Country
New York University	UNITED STATES
Queensland University of Technology	AUSTRALIA
University of Adelaide	AUSTRALIA
University of Cambridge	UNITED KINGDOM
University of Queensland	AUSTRALIA
Victoria University of Wellington	NEW ZEALAND

External engagement & recognition

Engagement/recognition	Year
Member Australian Mathematical Society	2022
Member National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)	2022
Member Australian Mathematical Society	2021
Member National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)	2021
Member Australian Mathematical Society	2020
Member National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)	2020
Member Australian Mathematical Society	2019
Member European Society for Mathematical and Theoretical Biology	2019
Member National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)	2019
Member Australian Mathematical Society	2018
Member European Society for Mathematical and Theoretical Biology	2018
Member Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics	2018
Member Australian Mathematical Society	2017
Member Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics	2017
Member Australian Mathematical Society	2016
Member Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics	2016
Member Australian Mathematical Society	2015
Member Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences	2015
Member Engineers Australia	2015

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Dr Alex Tam

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UniSA STEM

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