PostDoc position in Soft Matter,



Project: Dynamic arrest in glasses and traffic, a unified description


The aim of this project is to investigate universality in the dynamic arrest of glassy systems, and traffic. The project involves collaboration between the Soft Matter Group and the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the University of Amsterdam, and the Biological Soft Matter group at Amolf, Amsterdam. The Soft Matter group is working on a broad range of topics in soft matter physics including soft matter mechanics, soft glassy materials, phases and interfaces, and drops and emulsions. The group organizes bi-annual Soft Matter Meetings in the Netherlands (see www.softmatter.nl). The statistical mechanics theory group is working on solvable many body systems, soft matter, topological insulators and quantum information. The successful candidate will join both groups and take part in our ongoing national and international collaborations.


Project description

Dynamic arrest is a central phenomenon in complex systems across biology, geology, material science, transport, traffic, etc. It is an essential observation that with increasing density or interaction of the system’s constituent units, their motion slows down dramatically, and the system finally comes to a stand-still. While for many systems in nature, the dynamic arrest is beneficial as it gives rise to stability and memory (as e.g. in genetics), in other cases such as traffic and transport, this effect is rather detrimental. Exciting scale-bridging concepts have been suggested recently - inspired by tools of equilibrium phase transition to be applied to dynamic arrest phenomena. By focussing not on instantaneous configurations but on integrated particle trajectories, quantities can be defined that play the same role as an order parameter in equilibrium phase transitions.

In this project, we will apply these recent concepts to a range of systems from soft condensed matter, biology, and traffic to investigate a universal description of complex dynamic arrest. Using an efficient combination of experiments, simulations, and databases, we will address a broad range of systems, and we will explore the definition of dynamic critical exponents and dynamic universality classes, in analogy to equilibrium phase transitions. The focus of this position will be on modelling and theoretical calculations of colloidal glasses and traffic flow. The intention is to develop the theory in close contact with experiments on colloidal glasses and real-life data (measurements of traffic flow) that are currently carried out in the experimental group. The work of the postdoc will involve development, simulation and analysis of models to describe the dynamic arrest transition in these systems.On the experimental side, further experiments are planned on dynamic arrest in colloidal glasses and biological cells at the biophysics group at AMOLF.


For more information contact

Bernard Nienhuis, Science Park 904, P.O.Box 94485, 1090 GL Amsterdam, Netherlands,

Email:B.Nienhuis@UvA.nl, Web:http://staff.science.uva.nl/~nienhuis/



Requirements


Appointment

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of two years.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from € 2379,- to € 3195,- in the first year, depending on experience.