Charles S. Peskin

Charles S. Peskin (born in June 1947) is a professor of mathematics at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University. He is a MacArthur Fellow, and a member of the National Academy of Science.

Peskin has been a leading worker in the area of mathematical biology and fluid dynamics, especially problems involving fluid-structure interactions. An especially significant contribution was his introduction of the Immersed Boundary Method to handle in a computationally tractable way the coupling between deformable immersed structures and fluid flows. This method has been applied in a variety of contexts including the study of blood flow in the heart, lift generation in insect flight, and wave propagation in the cochlea of the inner ear.

Peskin received his Ph.D. in physiology from Yeshiva University in 1972 and shortly thereafter joined the faculty of the Courant Institute. He has been a productive educator of applied mathematicians, and has advised 37 PhD students as of April 2009.

1994 Sidney Fernbach Award
“For innovative application of mathematical modeling methods to important practical research questions in blood flow and the heart that has for more than 15 years pushed forward the leading edge of computational capability and helped to develop supercomputing technology as a valuable tool for improving the quality of human life.”
Learn more about the Sidney Fernbach Award