Ray Goldstein studies dynamical problems in biological physics through a combination of theory and experiment. His research focuses on collective behaviour of microorganisms in the context of evolutionary transitions to multicellularity, developmental processes, and physical ecology.
He has made fundamental contributions to the study of active matter, including the mechanism of synchronisation of eukaryotic flagella, the physics of ‘bacterial turbulence’, and the fluid dynamics of cytoplasmic streaming.
Ray has also worked on problems of natural pattern formation, including developing theoretical explanations for the shapes of stalactites and icicles and the dynamics of topological transitions in fluid mechanics.
Raymond has won numerous awards in recognition of his findings, including the 2016 G.K. Batchelor Prize in Fluid Mechanics. In addition to being a Fellow of the Society, he is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and the Institute of Physics. He is also the co-recipient of the 2012 Ig Nobel Prize in Physics for calculating the balance of forces that shape and move the hair in a human ponytail.
Professional position
- Alan Turing Professor of Complex Physical Systems, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
- Advising Scientist, Unilever Research & Development Port Sunlight Laboratory, Unilever Plc
Subject groups
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Cell Biology
Developmental biology
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Mathematics
Applied mathematics and theoretical physics
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Astronomy and Physics
Biophysics, Condensed matter incl softmatter, liquids, nano-materials
