PhD position Synthetic Active Matter: Unravelling 3D Real-Space Dynamics

Job description

The project focuses on the experimental realization and study of artificial microswimmers/microrobots that can move and interact autonomously in 3D environments, mimicking the complex dynamics of microorganisms in fluids.

Living systems such as bacteria or algae exhibit remarkable capabilities: they swim, adapt, interact, and self-organize into dynamic patterns. Understanding and replicating these life-like dynamics in synthetic systems remains a major challenge across physics, chemistry, biophysics, and materials science.

In this PhD project, you will:

§ Develop an experimental platform to study 3D self-organization of active particles.

§ Fabricate and characterize light-driven microswimmers.

§ Use advanced optical microscopy and particle tracking to analyze their motion and interactions.
Investigate emergent behaviors such as swarming, clustering, and collective navigation in confined and complex environments...