Curtin Professor awarded for distinguished research in maths

A Curtin University maths researcher whose work has been applied across various industries such as agriculture, mining and oil and gas has been awarded the 2019 JH Michell Medal by Australia and New Zealand Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ANZIAM), a division of the Australian Mathematical Society.

Professor Ryan Loxton, an ARC Future Fellow from Curtin’s School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, earned the prestigious medal, which is awarded annually to an outstanding new researcher who has undertaken distinguished research in applied or industrial mathematics within Australia or New Zealand.

Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry congratulated Professor Loxton on his latest achievement, which continues a career already rich with success, including winning the Woodside Early Career Scientist of the Year category in the 2014 Premier’s Science Awards.

“Professor Loxton has rapidly ascended the academic ranks since he completed his PhD in 2010, reaching full professor at the age of 34 as one of Curtin University’s youngest professors,” Professor Terry said.

“His research is well-known internationally and he has already co-authored over 50 papers published in numerous international journals in applied and computational mathematics.

“Professor Loxton is a fantastic role model for other young academics and we expect that the upward trajectory of his career will continue for many years to come.”

Professor Loxton is a strong advocate for industry engagement and has worked with many companies including Woodside Energy, Linkforce, and Vekta Automation.

"This award was only possible with the assistance of many outstanding collaborators, both within Curtin and beyond, including the numerous companies that have supported my research," Professor Loxton said.

“I am particularly keen to use the 2019 JH Michell Medal as a platform to further promote collaboration between mathematicians and industry in the key areas of optimisation, artificial intelligence, and robotics, which are critical to Australia’s future.”

Previously Professor Loxton’s research team was a category winner in the 2018 Curtinnovation Awards for developing a software tool using mathematical modelling and optimisation algorithms to help farmers make better operational decisions.

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