Our group studies collective behavior of dynamic reaction systems with an emphasis on dynamic complexity and spatiotemporal patterns arising from interactions among rhythmic processes. Electrochemical reactions including metal dissolution and electrocatalytic reactions are studied both as model systems and as important applications. We use individually addressable arrays of electrodes to investigate phenomena such synchronization, desyncronization, dynamical differentiation and clustering of oscillating reactions.

An application in electrochemistry being investigated is the role of interaction of local metastable pitting events on the sudden onset of pitting corrosion.

Coupled rhythmic processes are also being studied in complex biological systems. We are investigating the mechanism of how individual cellular units interact to produce complex collective behavior. One study is directed toward understanding the role of synchronization involved in neurological diseases such as epilepsy.

We investigate the use of nonlinear feedback, constructed with the help of experiment-based models, to design complex dynamic structure and tune emergent collective behavior in systems composed of many discrete elements.

We actively collaborate with research groups in Materials Science, Biology, and Neurology at the Medical School as well as with groups at other universities and laboratories in the United States and overseas.

Selected Publications

Kiss, István Z., Mark Quigg, Shi-Hyung Chun, Hiroshi Kori, and John L. Hudson, "Characterization of synchronization in interacting groups of oscillators: application to seizures," Biophysical Journal 94, 1121-1130 (2008).

Kiss, I.Z., C. Rusin, H. Kori, J.L. Hudson, "Engineering Complex Dynamical Structures: Sequential Patterns and Desynchronization," Science 316, 1886 (2007).

Punckt, C., M. Bölscher, H.H. Rotermund, A.S. Mikhailov, L. Organ, N. Budiansky, J. R. Scully, J. L. Hudson, "Sudden Onset of Pitting Corrosion on Stainless Steel as a Critical Phenomenon," Science 305, 1133-1136 (2004).

Kiss, I.Z., J.L. Hudson, "Emerging Chemical Complexity: Spontaneous and Engineered Structures," AIChE J. 49, 2234-41 (2003).

Kiss, I.Z., Y.M. Zhai, J.L. Hudson, "Emerging coherence in a population of chemical oscillators," Science 296, 1676-1678 (2002).