To: 14/05/2019 11:00
Soft colloids enable the exploration of states with densities exceeding that of random close packing, but it remains unclear whether softness controls the dynamics under these dense conditions. Experimental studies have reported conflicting results, and numerical studies have so far focused primarily on simple models that allow particles to overlap, but neglect particle deformations. This makes the concept of softness in simulations and experiments difficult to compare. Here, we propose a model system consisting of polymer rings with internal elasticity. At high packing fractions, the system displays compressed exponential decay of the intermediate scattering functions and super-diffusive behaviour of the mean-squared displacements. These features are explained in terms of the complex interplay between particle deformations and dynamic heterogeneities, which gives rise to persistent motion of ballistic particles. We also observe a striking variation of the relaxation times with increasing particle softness, clearly demonstrating the crucial role of deformation in the dynamics of realistic soft colloids.
To: 08/05/2019 17:00
Polymer membranes are employed in several critical sustainability applications involving the separation of gas mixtures based on size differences. In spite of their widespread use, important performance challenges remain outstanding - the need to dramatically affect the transport of a desired mixture component and improving mechanical resilience relative to the current state-of-the-art. Here, we develop novel membranes based on polymer-grafted nanoparticles (GNPs) which possess controllable, spatially inhomogeneous gas transport behavior. We show that smaller gases are transported more uniformly than larger solutes in the polymer layer of pure GNPs; these larger gases preferentially move through the interstices between the NPs. Free chains added to these GNPs preferentially segregate into these interstices where they selectively hinder large solute motion and thus yield dramatic performance improvements for several industrially relevant gas pairs. The magnitude of these effects are controlled by grafting parameters and the length of the free chains. Our ability to create and tune spatial inhomogeneities in GNPs, apparently through judicious manipulation of chain entropy, is thus a new, apparently general, physics-based paradigm to design membranes with unprecedented performance even using common polymers.
Collaborators: Connor Bilchak, Yucheng Huang, Daniele Parisi, Zaid Abbas, Werner Egger, Ferruccio Doghieri, Matteo Minelli, Marcel Dickmann, Brian Benicewicz, Jacques Jestin, Michael Rubinstein, Dimitris Vlassopoulos, Ludwik Leibler, Christopher Durning
Position Description
Ανάπτυξη ολοκληρωμένης μεθοδολογίας εφαρμογών τεχνικών λέιζερ για τη μελέτη αρχαιολογικών, ιστορικών, μουσειακών αντικειμένων ή μνημείων
Required Qualifications
- Πτυχίο στις Φυσικές Επιστήμες (Φυσική, Χημεία, Επιστήμη Υλικών), Επιστήμες Μηχανικού, Επιστήμη Συντήρησης
- Μεταπτυχιακό Δίπλωμα Ειδίκευσης (MSc) από Ανώτατο Εκπαιδευτικό Ίδρυμα της ημεδαπής ή αλλοδαπής συναφές με το αντικείμενο της θέσης
- Εμπειρία στη διαγνωστική μελέτη ή συντήρηση αρχαιολογικών, ιστορικών, μουσειακών αντικειμένων ή/και μνημείων
- Επιστημονικές Δημοσιεύσεις και παρουσιάσεις σε συνέδρια
- Άριστη γνώση Αγγλικής γλώσσας
Application Procedure
Στο φάκελο υποβολής της πρότασης θα πρέπει να εμπεριέχονται τα ακόλουθα:
- Αίτηση (Form Greek στην αριστερή στήλη) με αναφορά στον κωδικό της θέσης
- Αναλυτικό Βιογραφικό Σημείωμα
- Ευκρινή φωτοαντίγραφα τίτλων σπουδών
- Πρόσφατη βεβαίωση σπουδών υποψήφιου διδάκτορα
Appointment Duration
6 μήνεςPosition Description
Designing and analysis of metamaterials with extreme parameters, including near zero permittivity structures, high permeability structures, zero impedance structures and extreme sub-wavelength designs.
Related Project
NANOPOLY -Required Qualifications
- PhD in Physics (20%)
- Extensive experience (more than 20 years) in the theoretical study of metamaterials and other photonic materials (60%)
Desirable Qualifications
- Extensive (more than 20 years) work experience in Universities or Centers outside Greece (10%)
- Extensive work experience on EU research projects (10%)
Application Procedure
In order to be considered, the application must include:
- Completed application Form (Download link to the left)
- Brief CV
- Scanned copies of academic titles
- Reference letters (if required)
- All required forms and documents as layed out in each Job opening description
Please send your application and all documents to: hr@iesl.forth.gr and cc the Scientific supervisor marked in the left column
Appointment Duration
6 monthsFunding

Position Description
Ανάπτυξη και μελέτη αιωρημάτων/μελανιών με χρήση νανουλικών με τεχνικές εκτύπωσης. Μελέτη των φυσικοχημικών ιδιοτήτων των εκτυπωμένων υλικών
Required Qualifications
- Πτυχίο Φυσικής
- Αποδεδειγμένη εμπειρία σε ανάπτυξη ηλεκτροδίων
- Αποδεδειγμένη εμπειρία σε σύνθεση και χαρακτηρισμό υλικών κατάλληλα για τον σχηματισμό αιωρημάτων/ μελανιών
- Αποδεδειγμένη εμπειρία σε τεχνικές δομικού και μορφολογικού χαρακτηρισμού υλικών
Desirable Qualifications
- Εμπειρία σε τεχνικές εκτύπωσης
- Εμπειρία σε ηλεκτροχημικές μετρήσεις
Application Procedure
Στο φάκελο υποβολής της πρότασης θα πρέπει να εμπεριέχονται τα ακόλουθα:
- Αίτηση (Form Greek στην αριστερή στήλη) με αναφορά στον κωδικό της θέσης και στο όνομα του προγράμματος
- Αναλυτικό Βιογραφικό Σημείωμα
- Ευκρινή φωτοαντίγραφα τίτλων σπουδών
- Πρόσφατη βεβαίωση σπουδών
Appointment Duration
4 μήνεςPosition Description
Postdoctoral position in studies of magnetic fields of galaxies using (a) numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the global evolution of Milky-way--sized galaxies and (b) simulated observations.
Required Qualifications
- Scientific publications relevant to the topic in international peer-reviewed journals (20%)
- Experience with different MHD and cosmological codes (20%)
- Experience with non-ideal MHD simulations of interstellar clouds and star formation (20%)
- Experience with global simulations of Milky-Way--sized galaxies with magnetic fields (40%)
Application Procedure
In order to be considered, the application must include:
- Completed application Form (Download link to the left)
- Brief CV
- Scanned copies of academic titles
- Reference letters (if required)
- All required forms and documents as layed out in each Job opening description
Please send your application and all documents to: hr@iesl.forth.gr and cc the Scientific supervisor marked in the left column