Multi-scale modelling of particles and processes in complex fluids

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My research focuses on modelling particles and dynamic processes in complex fluids. I will concentrate on systems involving micro- and nano-scale objects, soft colloids or polymers for instance, in a complex fluid such as a liquid crystal. An important aspect of my work is the development of models and multi-scale computer simulation techniques to study these systems.****My objective over the next few years is to develop the mathematical models and tools to improve our understanding of the physics of particles and associated dynamic phenomena in complex fluids. In particular I will examine: 1) Polymers in liquid crystals; 2) Flexible spheroidal particles in a liquid crystal; and 3) Hydrodynamics of these systems and suspensions of attractive nanofibers. The short-term goal is to understand the interactions and dynamics of particles and polymers in a complex fluid and the driving forces that lead them to self-assemble into ordered or disordered phases. A direct result of this understanding will be the information necessary to use these particles as micro-rheological probes of heterogeneous complex fluid environments, such as occur in biological systems. This same information will also allow us to develop principles to guide the development of micro- and nano-fluidic devices to manipulate biopolymers and carbon nano-tubes suspended in a complex fluid. The long-term goal is to use this understanding to design and manipulate the interactions between the particles and polymers in such a way that they create novel nanostructured materials with desirable properties such as a true photonic band gap or other electro-optical properties useful in organic electronics. ******