Research
We use theory and numerical methods to investigate systems out of equilibrium, be it bacteria swimming in confined spaces or a sand storm. Our goal is to discover principles of self-organization.
Active Matter
Our research in this field concentrates on microorganisms like bacteria or phytoplankton moving in an aqueous environment and exposed to confining surfaces, nutrient gradients, or mild amounts of turbulence.
Cognitive Systems
We are interested in the basic physical principles that can describe the collective behavior of agents that have means to explore their environment and respond to external stimuli. Think of bees in search of flowers, or geese flying.
Granular Matter
Sand can behave as a solid (you walk on the beach without sinking), as a liquid (flowing in an hourglass), or if sufficiently stirred as a gas (flying in a sandstorm). We are interested in the aggregative processes in the dilute phase.
Liquid Crystals
Liquid crystals are composed of rod-like or disc-like molecules that interact with each other with strong preference for certain mutual alignment. We like to put liquid crystals in narrow spaces, or make them flow, or throw colloids in their midst and study their topological defects, self-organization, and liquid properties.