PhD Position – Swimming in Complex Environments

PhD Position – Swimming in Complex Environments

The Institute for Advanced Simulation - Theoretical Physics of Living Matter (IAS-2) is one of the world-leading groups in the field of computer simulations of active, soft and living matter systems, such as cells, bacteria, tissues, and active synthetic colloids. Our aim is to provide deep understanding of the emergent structures, self-assembly, and dynamics on the basis of physical principles. All these systems are ubiquitous in nature and in everyday practical applications and are characterized to be far from thermal equilibrium, such that the governing physical principles have to be reconsidered.

We combine modeling, high performance computing, and analytical theories tailored to the specific characteristics of each system. Please find more information about our group at

Strong confinement in highly disordered and intricate environments is essential for understanding the behavior of a broad class of systems with intrinsic motility. Porous materials – such as cell cytoplasm, mucus, tissues, gels or soil – serve as a natural propagation media of most microorganisms, including bacteria, sperm, and, more recently, synthetic swimmers. The interplay between the properties of individual swimmers and the complexity of the associated hydrodynamic flows gives rise to a wide range of collective behaviors that remain poorly understood.

Addressing this complexity requires the development and application of high-performance hydrodynamic simulation methods, which this project aims to advance.

In this project, you will work with an existing high-performance code to perform hydrodynamic simulations of swimmers in complex confinements, and also help to further develop it. In particular, you will investigate how the tortuosity of the confinement affects the effective behavior depending on the hydrodynamic properties of the swimmers. Other subjects of interest will be the reaction of the systems to different external stimuli, or to consider various effective interactions between swimmers that closely map different experimental frameworks.

In particular, your tasks will be:

• Familiarize yourself with the relevant literature in the field, with the code and its further development.
• Characterize the dynamics of single particles as a function of the swimming mechanism, the tortuosity of the media and the applied external flow.
• Investigate the behavior of dense systems with hydrodynamic interactions and with other quorum sensing mechanisms.
• Present your research at group meetings, national and international conferences.
• Preparing scientific publications and project reports.

• Master’s degree in physics, soft matter, applied mathematics, chemistry, or a related field.
• Experience and strong interest in programing, modeling, and computer simulations.
• Knowledge in statistical mechanics, active and living matter.
• High degree of independence and commitment.
• Very good command of written and spoken English (at least B2 level according to CEFR), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level.
• Good communication skills, ability to work in a research team.

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:

• Team & Environment: You will work in an experienced and friendly international research team of theorists and experimentalists with a strong background in biophysics and active matter and an international and interdisciplinary focus – at one of the largest research institutions in Europe.
• Research & Infrastructure: You will participate in a world-leading international research environment with cutting‑edge computational facilities including the on‑site top European supercomputers.
• Networking & Exchange: You will participate in international conferences and project meetings and actively build your scientific network.
• Supervision & Support: We will accompany your doctoral studies with continuous, expert guidance from your academic supervisor.
• Knowledge & Development: Your professional development is important to us – we support…