Postdoctoral Scholar on "Particle dynamics at the liquid interface"

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST; see www.oist.jp) is a dynamic new graduate university of science and technology in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The university is located on 85 hectares of protected forestland overlooking beautiful shoreline and coral reefs. The campus is striking architecturally, and the facilities are outstanding (OIST campus video tour). There are no academic departments, which facilitates multidisciplinary research. Outstanding resources and equipment are provided and managed to encourage easy access and collaboration. English is the official language of the University, and the university research community is fully international, with more than 50 countries represented. OIST is rapidly gaining recognition in the worldwide academic community as a model for excellence in education and research.

Position Summary

The Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics Unit seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar to pursue research on "Particle dynamics at the liquid interface". The physics of liquid interfaces as has an illustrious history with early contributions from luminaries such as Franklin, Young, Laplace, Rayleigh, Langmuir etc. The physics of interfaces, especially in the presence of particles and surfactants, is of interest to multiple disciplines including chemical, biochemical and petroleum engineering, biology and biotechnology, and soft matter physics.

The researcher in the advertised position will investigate through theoretical and computational techniques, the dynamics of solid particles on a liquid interface, ranging from single particles on micron scale lengths and millisecond times to statistical ensemble of particles over centimeters in length and minutes in time scales. The specific project seeks to go beyond the equilibrium statics of surface tension and focus on the myriad dynamics occurring far from equilibrium. Another postdoctoral scholar will conduct the experiments which will inform theory, and in turn, seek theoretical guidance to improve upon the experiments.