Samuel Johnson
// hello, world

Samuel Johnson

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Mathematical Epidemiology at the Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, University of Oxford

Stipendiary Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford
01

About

I'm a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Mathematical Epidemiology under the supervision of Prof. Robin Thompson at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford.

I am also a Stipendiary Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.

My current research interrogates when non-spatial epidemic models are sufficient to predict a major disease outbreak, and when spatial effects are dominant.

Prior to my current project, I completed my D.Phil (PhD) under the supervision of Prof. Philip Maini and Prof. Ruth Baker, where I constructed mathematical models of single and collective cell migration.

I enjoy working on many problems in mathematical biology, using a broad range of techniques from across applied mathematics, including agent-based models, partial-differential equations, applied graph theory, optimal control, and solid mechanics.

I'm always keen to talk about maths and looking for new collaborations — please reach out!

Research Interests

mathematical epidemiology spatial modelling collective cell migration agent-based models

Education

D.Phil. Mathematics
University of Oxford
(Christ Church)
MASt Applied Mathematics
University of Cambridge
(Gonville and Caius)
BSc Theoretical Physics
University of Edinburgh
02

Publications & Pre-prints

arXiv Preprint · 2026
Cell-cell adhesion cannot sustain extended follower streams in a minimal non-local model of leader-follower migration
T.J. Jewell*, S.W.S. Johnson*, R.E. Baker, P.K. Maini
* Joint first authors
arXiv Preprint · 2026
The spontaneous emergence of leaders and followers in a mathematical model of cranial neural crest cell migration
S.W.S. Johnson, R.E. Baker, P.K. Maini
Bulletin of Mathematical Biology · 2026
Optimal control in combination therapy for heterogeneous cell populations with drug synergies
S.F. Martina-Perez, S.W.S. Johnson, R.M. Crossley, J.C. Kasemeier, P.M. Kulesa, R.E. Baker
Developmental Dynamics · 2026
Mathematical modelling predicts novel mechanisms of stream confinement from Trail/Colec12/Dan in collective cranial neural crest cell migration
S.W.S. Johnson, P.M. Kulesa, R.E. Baker, P.K. Maini
arXiv Preprint · 2025
Spatial correlations in SIS processes on regular random graphs
A. Leibenzon, S.W.S. Johnson, R.E. Baker, M. Assaf
arXiv Preprint · 2025
An energy-based mathematical model of actin-driven protrusions in eukaryotic chemotaxis
S.W.S. Johnson, M. Parsons, R.E. Baker, P.K. Maini
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · 2024
Modeling the extracellular matrix in cell migration and morphogenesis: a guide for the curious biologist
R.M. Crossley*, S.W.S. Johnson*, E. Tsingos*, Z. Bell, M. Berardi, M. Botticelli, Q.J.S. Braat, J. Metzcar, M. Ruscone, Y. Yin, R. Shuttleworth
* Joint first authors
05

Awards & Honours

Poster Prize

Oxford–Japan Symposium on Cell Behaviors in Simple to Complex Environments, University of Oxford · Sep 2025

Research Travel Grant

Christ Church, University of Oxford · £2,000 · Aug 2025

Honourable Mention — Poster Prize

The Extracellular Matrix: How to Model Structural Complexity, CECAM-HQ-EPFL, Lausanne · Feb 2023

BBSRC Doctoral Studentship

£26,000 p.a. · 2021–2025

College Bursary

Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge · £1,333 · Oct 2021

Theoretical Physics Dissertation Prize — First Place

University of Edinburgh · Jun 2020

Physics & Astronomy Career Acceleration Scholarship

University of Edinburgh · £2,000 · Apr 2019

University of Edinburgh Scholarship

£7,250 p.a. · 2017–2020
03

Teaching

Stipendiary Lecturer in Applied Mathematics

Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford · 2023–Present

Teaching multiple undergraduate courses, conducting admissions interviews for prospective students, and serving as a personal tutor.

Geometry Fourier Series & PDEs Mathematical Biology Numerical Analysis

ASO Graph Theory

Balliol College, Oxford
Trinity 2023

C5.4 Networks

Mathematical Institute, Oxford
Michaelmas 2022

Math Model Building in Biomedicine

Doctoral Training Centre, Oxford
Michaelmas 2022

Essential Mathematics

Doctoral Training Centre, Oxford
Michaelmas 2022
04

Conferences

Poster Prize

Oxford–Japan Symposium on Cell Behaviors in Simple to Complex Environments

September 2025 · Poster Presentation

Presented a poster entitled “An energy-based mathematical model of actin-driven protrusions in eukaryotic chemotaxis” at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, receiving the poster prize.

Honourable Mention — Poster Prize

The Extracellular Matrix: How to Model Structure Complexity

March 2023 · Poster Presentation

Presented a poster entitled “Follow the leader: collective cell migration in the cranial neural crest”, receiving a prize of honourable mention.

05

Outreach

UNIQ Mentor

Mathematical Institute, Oxford

Running mock tutorials for prospective undergraduates, familiarising them with the Oxford system and teaching style.

AMSP Mentor

Mathematical Institute, Oxford

Leading classes for prospective undergraduates, working through selected problems with a focus on problem-solving techniques and logical reasoning.