Adjunct Associate Professor
Robyn Araujo
Faculty of Science,
School of Mathematical Sciences
Biography
Dr Araujo's overarching career goal is to demonstrate the transformative power of mathematics in developing real insight and innovative solutions to fundamental problems in the Life Sciences. She has a special interest in cancer research, particularly cancer signal transduction and anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. Collectively, she has had over sixteen years of research experience within the field of theoretical biology, which has allowed her to develop both analytical and computational approaches to the elucidation of important problems in cell biology and medicine.
Dr Araujo's recent mathematical work on cellular protein networks has changed our scientific understanding of the structure and function of cellular communication via molecular networks. Until recently, the sheer size and interconnectedness of these molecular networks has prevented us from being able to understand and predict likely network responses to pharmacological inhibition. This novel line of research is now pointing to the fundamental mathematical principles that govern how biological systems function at the molecular level, and is creating a new level of insight as to how new treatment strategies may be devised on an individualised/personalised basis.
Personal details
Positions
- Adjunct Associate Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Mathematical Sciences
Research field
Applied mathematics, Numerical and computational mathematics
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020
Qualifications
- PhD (Applied Mathematics) (Queensland University of Technology)
Professional memberships and associations
- Active Member, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
- Member, Women in Cancer Research (WICR)
- Member, Society for Mathematical Biology (SMB)
- Member, American Mathematical Society (AMS)
- Member, Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
Key Words: Cell Signalling; Biochemical Networks; Signal Transduction; Cancer; Biological Robustness and Adaptation; Mathematical Biology; Dynamical Systems; Mathematical Analysis; Groups and Symmetries.
Teaching
Linear Algebra, Introductory Abstract Algebra (with a special interest in group theory);
Real Analysis, Introductory (General) Topology, Calculus and Differential Equations (including applications of Lie Groups to the study of differential equations);
Mathematical Biology;
Recent Teaching Allocations (including Unit Coordination):
MXB105: Calculus of One and Two Variables;
MXB322: Partial Differential Equations;
MZB125: Foundations of Engineering Mathematics;
Publications
- Araujo, R. & Liotta, L. (2018). The topological requirements for robust perfect adaptation in networks of any size. Nature Communications, 9, 1–12. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/223734
- Paris, L., Magni, R., Zaidi, F., Araujo, R., Saini, N., Harpole, M., Coronel, J., Kirwan, D., Steinberg, H., Gilman, R., Petricoin, E., Nisini, R., Luchini, A. & Liotta, L. (2017). Urine lipoarabinomannan glycan in HIV-negative patients with pulmonary tuberculosis correlates with disease severity. Science Translational Medicine, 9(420), 1–11. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/115118
- Petricoin, E., Espina, V., Araujo, R., Midura, B., Yeung, C., Wan, X., Eichler, G., Johann, D., Qualman, S., Tsokos, M., Krishnan, K., Helman, L. & Liotta, L. (2007). Phosphoprotein pathway mapping: Akt/Mammalian target of rapamycin activation is negatively associated with childhood rhabdomyosarcoma survival. Cancer Research, 67(7), 3431–3440. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/73920
- Araujo, R., Liotta, L. & Petricoin, E. (2007). Proteins, drug targets and the mechanisms they control : the simple truth about complex networks. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 6(11), 871–880. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/73621
- Araujo, R. & McElwain, S. (2006). A Mixture Theory for the Genesis of Residual Stresses in Growing Tissues II: Solutions to the Biphasic Equations for a Multicell Spheroid. SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, 66(2), 447–467. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/22259
- Araujo, R. & Liotta, L. (2006). A control theoretic paradigm for cell signaling networks : a simple complexity for a sensitive robustness. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 10(1), 81–87. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/73921
- Araujo, R. & McElwain, D. (2004). A History of the Study of Solid Tumour Growth: The Contribution of Mathematical Modelling. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, 66, 1039–1091. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/10114
- Araujo, R. & McElwain, D. (2004). New Insights into Vascular Collapse and Growth Dynamics in Solid Tumors. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 228, 335–346. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/21860
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Robyn, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).