Thomas Hillen, University of Alberta

Research

existence and uniqueness nonlocal boundary conditions nonlocal partial differential equations qualitative analysis scaling limits spatial pattern formation spatial species distributions species extinctions

Latest papers

Mean First Passage Times of Higher-Dimensional Velocity Jump Processes.
Physical review letters · 2026 · senior author
Calcium signalling in glioblastoma networks of different topologies and possible treatments.
Mathematical biosciences · 2026 · senior author
Qualitative optimization of oncolytic virotherapy and immune therapy combination treatments.
Mathematical biosciences and engineering : MBE · 2026 · senior author

All 39 publications

Latest funding

Nonlocal partial differential equations in mathematical biology
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$104,000
Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences
NSERC · 2022 · Co-investigator
$3,461,244
Energy metabolism modelling with sensitivity to activity thermogenesis tracking data
NSERC · 2017 · Principal investigator
$24,780

All 8 grants and awards

39 publications.

01

Mean First Passage Times of Higher-Dimensional Velocity Jump Processes.

D'Orsogna MR, Lindsay AE, Hillen T

Physical review letters2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1103/9hhg-2ddm PMID: 42412457

02

Calcium signalling in glioblastoma networks of different topologies and possible treatments.

Shyntar A, Hillen T

Mathematical biosciences2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2026.109638 PMID: 41654173

03

Qualitative optimization of oncolytic virotherapy and immune therapy combination treatments.

Mohammadnejad N, Hillen T

Mathematical biosciences and engineering : MBE2026Senior author

DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2026016 PMID: 41611302

04

The work of Pierre Magal on differential equations, functional analysis and mathematical biology.

Demongeot J, Hillen T, Ruan S, Webb G

Journal of mathematical biology2025

DOI: 10.1007/s00285-025-02273-2 PMID: 41108463

05

Go-or-grow models in biology: a monster on a leash.

Thiessen R, Conte M, Stepien TL, Hillen T

Journal of mathematical biology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1007/s00285-025-02243-8 PMID: 41099842

06

50 Years Journal of Mathematical Biology.

Hillen T, Marciniak-Czochra A

Journal of mathematical biology2025First author

DOI: 10.1007/s00285-025-02259-0 PMID: 41051519

07

Mathematical modelling of reoviruses in cancer cell cultures.

Baabdulla AA, Cristi F, Shmulevitz M, Hillen T

PloS one2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318078 PMID: 40294035

08

How the tulip breaking virus creates striped tulips.

Wong AA, Carrero G, Hillen T

Communications biology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-07507-z PMID: 39870833

09

Mathematical modeling of microtube-driven regrowth of gliomas after local resection.

Shyntar A, Hillen T

Mathematical biosciences and engineering : MBE2025Senior author

DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2025003 PMID: 39949162

10

Oscillations in a Spatial Oncolytic Virus Model.

Baabdulla AA, Hillen T

Bulletin of mathematical biology2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1007/s11538-024-01322-z PMID: 38896363

Nonlocal partial differential equations in mathematical biology

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Hillen, Thomas

Keywords: nonlocal partial differential equations; existence and uniqueness; qualitative analysis; scaling limits; nonlocal boundary conditions; spatial species distributions; species extinctions; spatial pattern formation; species invasions

$104,000

Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences

Co-investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Institutes Support Grants

Principal investigators: Yilmaz, Ozgur OY

Keywords: applied mathematics; collaborative research groups; highly qualified personnel; international collaboration; probability; pure mathematics; research network; statistics

$3,461,244

Energy metabolism modelling with sensitivity to activity thermogenesis tracking data

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Hillen, Thomas

$24,780

Nonlocal and Anisotropic Partial Differential Equations in Mathematical Biology

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Hillen, Thomas

$258,000

PIMS: Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences

Co-investigatorNSERC2014Thematic Resources Support in Mathematics and Statistics

Principal investigators: Colliander, James

$9,459,122

Mathematical Modelling of Spatial Spread in Anisotropic Landscapes

Principal investigatorNSERC2012Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Hillen, Thomas

$150,000

Modeling the dynamics of cancer cells and tumour tissue

Principal investigatorNSERC2007Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Hillen, Thomas

$140,000

Transport models for chemosensitive movement including internal dynamics

Principal investigatorNSERC2002Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Hillen, Thomas

$100,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Department of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences
Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Other

Co-authors at University of Alberta, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Gerda de Vries

Department of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences

4 shared papers, latest 2018

Maya Shmulevitz

Medical Microbiology and Immunology

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Gustavo Carrero

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Jay Newby

Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Christoph Frei

Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2020

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: existence and uniqueness Dear Professor Hillen, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Mean First Passage Times of Higher-Dimensional Velocity Jump Processes." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Nonlocal partial differential equations in mathematical biology" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]