Project description Transport of reactive Brownian particles of complex shape in intricate geometries plays a key role in a wide range of industrial and biological systems. In some applications, such as sensors, the ambition is to get a target particle as quickly as possible to a surface. In others, such as microfluidic reactors, particle-wall interactions lead to fouling, deterioration of functionality and eventually blockage of the flow system.
In these processes, particles move in meandering trajectories due to thermal fluctuations while being transported with the flow. The interaction between particles of different kinds, and between particles and walls, can be very complex. Variations in particle shapes, sizes, and concentrations, as well as the details of the bounding geometry and the characteristics of the carrier flow, tend to give rise to particle migration.
In this project, we will use our previously developed computational framework to study migration, mixing and modulation in geometrically complex reactive Brownian systems. We will identify under what conditions one can enhance or suppress the transport of a Brownian particle towards a surface. The results will be crucial for the further development and optimization of surface-based sensing techniques, for high-level control of mixing and segregation phenomena in microfluidic devices, and for anti-fouling measures in microfluidic devices.
Major responsibilities Your major responsibilities as a PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. Your research will be supervised by several well-reputed senior researchers, offering a supportive environment for performing cutting-edge research.
The position also includes teaching or other departmental duties corresponding to 10-20 % of working hours.