We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to explore soft matter systems driven far from equilibrium. These include colloids manipulated by magnetic fields, bacterial colonies, microtubule suspensions powered by ATP-driven molecular motors, and synthetic microswimmers. These systems fall under the category of active matter, where key challenges include understanding propulsion mechanisms, controlling active motion, and uncovering emergent collective behaviors in dense suspensions.
Active materials exhibit fascinating physics, where their dynamics is strongly influenced by topologically non-trivial field structures in both the active particles and the surrounding fluid. Topology offers a powerful framework to describe these structures—spanning from flow vortices to alignment singularities in bacterial colonies and liquid crystals. This PhD project will focus on how topological structures emerge, how they shape system dynamics, and how they can be harnessed for a controlled dynamical response.
During the PhD, the candidate will address several open questions, including: (i) Microswimmer propulsion and interactions in nematic fluids using topological defect dynamics, (ii) Reconfiguration dynamics in disclination networks of active turbulence, including the emergence of higher-order topological structures (e.g., knots and linked loops), and (iii) Development of an effective theory to explain the KPZ universal scaling of disclination networks.
To tackle these challenges, the candidate will employ several numerical methods, such as lattice Boltzmann and finite difference simulations for continuum models, discretized elastic rod models to study defect line dynamics, defect tracking algorithms to connect different modeling approaches, and machine learning algorithms to analyze and learn from simulations and collaborative experimental data. The results will be complemented by analytical approaches from statistical physics and by direct solutions of selected problems.
This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge topics in active matter physics while developing expertise in theoretical modeling and computational physics and collaborating with world-renowned experimental research groups. The research focus can be tailored to the candidate’s interests.
I am happy to discuss potential directions, methodological approaches, and how this project can align with your academic background and aspirations. If you have any questions about the position or research scope, feel free to reach out!