Number of awards 1
Start date and duration October 2022 3.5 years
Award: 100% tuition fees paid and annual living expenses of £15,609
Deadline: 6th February 2022
Overview Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in theoretical and computational soft condensed matter and biological physics to work with Prof. Suzanne Fielding in the Department of Physics at Durham University.
Depending on the interests of the applicant, the project could be mainly computational or could combine numerics with analytical work.
Its overall aims will be to understand the deformation and flow behaviour of so-called yield stress materials, which keep their shape like solids at low loads, yet flow like a liquid at larger loads. One possible focus could be on the dynamical process whereby a material in an initially solid-like state firsts yields and starts to flow, and in particular on the statistical physics of how initially sparse plastic events in an otherwise elastic background then spatio-temporally cooperate to result in an emergent macroscopic flow.
Besides the immediate applications of this work to soft matter physics, and potentially also to the fracture mechanics of hard materials, yielding also governs geological processes such as landslides, avalanches and lava flows. It also determines the reshaping of biological tissue under the internal stresses caused by cell division, including during embryo development or tumour growth. Depending on the interests of the candidate, the project could develop a more specific focus on any of these particular areas of research.
The work will draw on concepts of statistical physics, nonlinear dynamical systems theory, fluid dynamics, solid mechanics and related fields.
Further details about Prof. Fielding’s research group can be found here , about the department here , and about the Durham Centre for Soft Matter here .
The department is committed to promoting diversity, and we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups.
Sponsor European Research Council
Name of supervisor(s) Prof. Suzanne Fielding
Eligibility Criteria
You must have or expect a First Class honours Bachelor's degree, or at least a 2:1 Integrated Master’s degree or a Master's degree in physics, mathematics or a related subject, from a recognised university (or equivalent).
Applications are open to Home and international/EU candidates. If English is not your first language, you must have IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6 in all sub-skills).
How to apply
You must apply through the University’s applicant portal
You will need to:
- State the project soft matter and Prof. Fielding in the 'Field of Study' section.
- On the funding tab select ‘yes’ you are applying for a scholarship, select ‘Other’, write ERC/Fielding in the name of the scholarship, and select 1st October 2022 as the start date
- attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must how your interests and experience relate to the project
- attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications.
Contact
Informal enquiries are welcome and should please be directed to [email protected]
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