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Research areas

Overview:

Our main interest is in the statistical mechanics of complex liquids, or "soft" condensed matter. Using a variety of theoretical concepts and tools, including density functional theory, kinetic theory, and computer simulations (Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo codes), we investigate the structure, dynamics and phase behaviour of macromolecular, colloidal, self-assembling systems, and bio-molecules, with particular emphasis on Coulombic interactions and interfacial phenomena.

Detailed exposition:

1. Colloidal dispersions
   • electric double layers and effective interactions between charge-stabilized colloids
   • structure and phase behaviour of model clay dispersions
   • depletion interactions
   • constrained Brownian Dynamics
   • coarse-grained dynamics of colloidal dispersions
2. Fluids confined to micropores
   • entropic size selectivity of narrow pores
   • coarse-grained models for dielectric discontinuities at interfaces
   • application to ion-channels through membranes
   • dielectric behaviour of confined polar fluids
3. Dilute and semi-dilute polymer solutions
   • coarse-grained representations of polymer-polymer interactions
   • phase behaviour of binary polymer solutions
   • non-adsorbing polymers at interfaces
   • polymers and colloids
4. Protein aggregation and crystallization
   • coarse-grained descriptions of effective protein interactions
   • from colloids to nanoscales
5. Fluidized granular matter
   • statistical analysis of single and collective grain motions in vibro-fluidized granular assemblies

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