Prof G. Gompper, Dr J. Elgeti
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
We are looking for a PhD student to join our research group on the dynamics of microswimmers. Locomotion of microorganisms is an essential aspects of life. Search for food, orientation toward light, spreading of off-spring, and the formation of colonies are only possible due to locomotion. Swimming at the microscope occurs at low Reynolds numbers, where fluid friction and viscosity dominates over inertia. Here, evolution achieved propulsion mechanisms, which overcome and even exploit drag. Prominent propulsion mechanisms are rotating helical flagella, exploited by many bacteria, and snake-like or whip-like motion of eukaryotic flagella, utilized by sperm and algae. The dynamics of microswimmers comprises many facets, which are all required to achieve locomotion. In the institute, we have long-standing experience with the physics of locomotion of biological and synthetic microswimmers, and the collective behavior of their assemblies.
The PhD project will be conducted at Forschungszentrum Jülich that offers a highly interdisciplinary environment. Successful candidates are encouraged to also join our International Helmholtz Research School "IHRS BioSoft" (www.ihrs-biosoft.de).
Your Job:
With the help of computer simulations and analytical modelling, you will characterise swimming of sperm cells. Our in-house developed simulation code allows you to systematically study the propulsion mechanism for swimming of single cells with and without confinement. In order to investigate collective behaviour of many sperm cells you may employ more generic models, such as self-propelled semiflexible filaments.
Our offer:
We are a young and dynamic research group with excellent computational equipment embedded in the international research environment of the Forschungszentrum Jülich. We offer a PhD position for three years, including salary and all social benefits. You will be employed by the Forschungszentrum Jülich, but obtain your PhD degree from the University Cologne.
Please submit your enquiries and application (including letter of motivation, CV and examination results as pdf files) to
Jens Elgeti ([Email Address Removed])
or
Gerhard Gompper ([Email Address Removed])
Forschungszentrum Jülich
Theoretical Soft Matter and Biophysics
52425 Jülich
Germany
Funding Notes
The ideal candidate should have a Master degree in Physics. Experience with computer programming is essential. Knowledge of hydrodynamics, statistical physics, and microswimmers in particular is not required but would be a plus. Good communication skills in English are necessary. The applicant should have a cooperative and structured working style.
We aim to employ more women in this area and therefore particularly welcome female applications. We also welcome applications from disabled persons.
References
Elgeti, Winkler and Gompper, Rep. Prog. Phys. 78, 056601 (2015):
Physics of microswimmers - single particle motion and collective behavior: a review.