Complex Fluids Soft Solids
What we do
We describe processes at the nano and micron scales that arise in complex fluids & soft solids. This work is usually driven by as yet unexplained experimental results whose fundamental origin we clarify by developing mathematical and computational models; we also invent new physical effects not yet met in experiment.
Current directions are in active matter for materials, the life sciences and energy, including ion electrokinetics and unconventional effects in viscous liquids.
For more action and less talk, visit my research page or my publications page chronologically or by subject.
Academic Experience
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL USA, Research Associate Materials Science & Engineering, Contractor and member of the Executive Committee for the Center for Computation & Theory of Soft Materials (working with Monica Olvera de la Cruz)
Imperial College London, London UK, Research Associate in Complex and Multiscale Systems
University of Washington, Seattle WA USA, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Condensed Matter Physics (working with Anton V. Andreev and Boris Z. Spivak)
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL USA, Golovin Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics (working with Stephen H. Davis)
Career break 2016-2021
Visits
Michigan State University, East Lansing MI USA, Mechanical Engineering (Visiting Thomas J. Pence)
Northwestern University, Applied Mathematics & Engineering Sciences, Evanston IL USA, (Visiting Stephen H. Davis)
University of Washington, Physics, Seattle WA USA, (Visiting Anton V. Andreev and Boris Z. Spivak)
Education
Ph.D (Dec 16, 2011): Applied Mathematics University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA . Thesis description. Advisor. Robert E. O'Malley, Jr.
Part III Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics University of Cambridge, Cambridge UK
Selected Publications
'Hydrodynamics of thermally-driven chiral suspensions' Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 977: A8, (2023) E.Kirkinis, A.V.Andreev & M. Olvera de la Cruz
'Taylor columns and inertial-like waves in a three-dimensional odd viscous liquid' Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 973: A30 , (2023) E.Kirkinis & M. Olvera de la Cruz
"Thermocapillary Migrating Odd Viscous Droplets" Physical Review Letters 131, 198201 (2023) A. Aggarwal, E. Kirkinis, & M. Olvera de la Cruz. Cartoons.
Selected Preprints
'Wobbling and Migrating Ferrofluid Droplets' Communications Physics - Nature, A. Aggarwal, S-Y. Chen, E. Kirkinis, M. Khan, B. Fan, Michelle Driscoll & Monica Olvera de la Cruz arXiv:2406.08289
'Universal behavior in traveling wave electroosmosis'. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, A. Shrestha, E.Kirkinis & M. Olvera de la Cruz arXiv:2401.15426 (for a description and a cartoon see here)
'Evanescent and inertial-like waves in rigidly-rotating odd viscous liquids' Journal of Fluid Mechanics, E.Kirkinis & M. Olvera de la Cruz arXiv:2307.00415. See some new results determining wall and body modes precessing in the rotating frame of reference here.
Center for Computation & Theory of Soft Materials McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science, Northwestern University Technological Institute 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208 USA Email: lastname@northwestern.edu
Throttle-induced stability of roller motion in anisotropic environments
Header Image: Chicago skyline taken from Promontory Point, Lakefront Trail, Chicago, IL 60615, United States of America. Photograph by Eleftherios Kirkinis.