PhD position in soft matter physics, ETH Zurich scholarships fellowships

This position is part of a joint SNF-DFG research project on the Anisotropy of the Magnetoviscous Effect in Ferrofluids. It involves the Polymer Physics group at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and the Chair of Magneto-fluid dynamics at TU Dresden, Germany.

The aim of the project is to improve and complete our understanding of the dynamics of magnetic liquids and in particular the anisotropy of the magnetoviscous effect. The magnetoviscous effect (the viscosity change via an external magnetic field) provides not only the basis for many applications of ferrofluids, but is also of central importance for fundamental questions in soft matter rheology [1]. As a PhD student, you will perform nonequilibrium computer simulations and study simplified theoretical models in order to predict anisotropic and field-dependent material properties, like effective viscosities. The numerical and theoretical work will be done in close collaboration with the group of Prof. Stefan Odenbach (TU Dresden, Germany), where the corresponding experiments on well-defined ferrofluids will be performed.

[1] P. Ilg and S. Odenbach. Ferrofluid structure and rheology.
In ‘Colloidal Magnetic Fluids: Basics, Development and Applications of Ferrofluids’,
volume 763 of Lecture Notes in Physics (Springer, Berlin, 2009).
How to apply

Candidates should have a MSc-degree in physics or related, ideally with experience in statistical physics and/or computer simulations. The position is available immediately.

To apply, please send a brief letter of motivation, your curriculum vitae including detailed education and grades, and the full contact details of two academic referees to
PD Dr. Patrick Ilg,
patrick.ilg@mat.ethz.ch