PhD project: Active-Nematic/Polymeric Composites
Project description
The origins of life are thought to involve carbon-based macromolecules subjected to far-from-equilibrium conditions. Today, their descendent intracellular biopolymers are exposed to countless active processes, due to living cells transmuting internally stored energy into the work of life. Yet, while living systems are governed by this activity, polymer physics is dominated by a tendency to adopt maximum-entropy configurations. Your project will seek to understand this fundamental competition between physics (entropic forces) and biology (active forces).
You will explore the effect of different polymeric structures and ask how different structures can interact with the surrounding fluid to produce active flows and self-propulsion. By introducing internal degrees of freedom, non-linear coupling between solute shape and active flows are expected to emerge from novel numerical simulations. Group members work in a collaborative and intradisciplinary environment, and become familiar with cutting-edge modelling techniques over the course of their research.
Project supervisor
- Dr. Tyler Shendruk (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisor welcomes informal enquiries about this project.
Find out more about this research area
The links below summarise our research in the area(s) relevant to this project:
- Find out more about Physics of Living Matter.
- Find out more about Computational Materials Physics.
- Find out more about Statistical Physics and Complexity.
- Find out more about the Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems.
What next?
- Find out how to apply for our PhD degrees.
- Find out about fees and funding and studentship opportunities.
- View and complete the application form (on the main University website).
- Find out how to contact us for more information.
More PhD projects
- Browse other Physics of Living Matter projects.
- Browse other Computational Materials Physics projects.
- Browse other Statistical Physics and Complexity projects.
- Browse other Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems projects.
- Browse all PhD research opportunities in the School of Physics & Astronomy.
- Browse PhD research opportunities elsewhere in the University of Edinburgh.