PhD Position - Numerical simulation of bijel formation, stability and rheology

Your Job:

This computational doctoral project focuses on a theoretical understanding of emulsions stabilized by colloidal particles. Mesoscale simulation methods combining a lattice Boltzmann solver for the involved fluids and a Discrete Element solver for the suspended colloidal particles shall be developed and applied on state-of-the-art supercomputers. These simulations will be combined with systematic coarse-graining in order to resolve the dynamics and stability of bijels on all relevant timescales. We aim to understand how these emulsions form and which physical effects influence their stability and rheology. With the overall goal of using particle-stabilized emulsions as biopesticides, the candidate shall perform simulations of nutrient transport and the growth of bacteria in numerically optimized emulsion systems. The outcome of your work will be combined with the results of your peers in the doctoral network to improve the performance of bio-pesticide formulations.

• Develop and apply state-of-the-art hybrid simulation methods for particle-stabilized emulsions based on the Lattice Boltzmann and Discrete Element methods.
• Perform large-scale simulations of bijel formation and investigate their rheological properties and stability.
• Closely collaborate with experimental and theoretical partners in the consortium.
• Analyze and interpret your results and publish them in international peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.

Your Profile:

• Masters degree, finished within the last three years, in physics, chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strong interest in soft matter, statistical physics and physical chemistry.
• Experience in scientific programming and interest in high-performance computing.
• Spoken and written proficiency in English.
• Being communicative, enjoying to work in a team and to travel.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to work independently.
• According to the mobility regulations of Marie-Sklodowska-Curie actions, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than 12 months during the last three years.

Our Offer:

Being part of the Marie-Sklodowska-Curie doctoral network BIOMAC-BP, you will benefit from:

• Work in an interdisciplinary and international team of 14 peers and their supervisors.
• Interdisciplinary scientific training in all fields relevant to the network’s scope.
• Continuous scientific cross-disciplinary supervision by two scientific supervisors.
• A broad variety of transferable skills training.
• A four to six weeks secondment to an industrial BIOMAC-BP partner.
• Excellent scientific networking opportunities.
• Attendance at national and international conferences and workshops.

Additionally, Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg / Forschungszentrum Jülich offers to all its PhD students:

• A vibrant international work environment in the vicinity of the south campus of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and with a lively connection to the research campus of Forschungszentrum Jülich.
• Exceptional research infrastructure.
• Flexible working hours.
• Extensive company health management.
• Ideal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly corporate policy.
• Comprehensive training courses and individual opportunities for personal and professional further development.
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service.

The position is for a fixed term of 3 years. Pay will be in accordance with the rules of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021-2022, 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2021-2022/wp-2-msca-actions_horizon-2021-2022_en.pdf) and German tax and social security regulations.

Place of employment: Erlangen.

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation/identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.