Professor Whitaker's recent research involves problems in math biology such as the growth of tumors. He develops models which simulate the recruitment and growth of vascular networks for the tumor, providing oxygen and nutrients and allowing it to grow. He also works on the models for the nephron the basic functional unit of the kidney. These models simulate the processing of sodium in the kidney. Professor Whitaker also works in fluid mechanics. He has worked on multiphase flow in a Hele-Shaw cell. He also looks at models for two-dimensional turbulence using methods in statistical mechanics.