Micromechanical Characterization and Modeling of Soft Particles

Soft particles play an important role in foods and biological systems. For example, many essential nutrients have a low bioavailability that can be enhanced by encapsulation into particles. As another example, artificial red blood cells are being developed for use in emergency blood transfusions. In each case, the specific mechanical properties of the particles directly influence the effectiveness of the application and can have a profound impact on the bulk behavior of the system.

Students working on this project will use a combination of experimental methods and analytical theory to characterize and develop models for soft particles, both from model systems as well as particles from commercial systems. In particular, a Cantilevered-Capillary Force Apparatus will be employed to directly interrogate individual particles. Depending on the interests of the student, they are encouraged to work on developing new experimental techniques, or explore the use of advanced mathematical methods for model development.

Interested students should contact Dr. Frostad according to the instructions on his webpage (https://food.chbe.ubc.ca/opportunities/) and mention Find A PhD in their email.