PhD Position: Control Capacity of Active Matter Using Activity Landscapes
Explore the limits of controlling active matter with light in a collaborative project between Leipzig and Tel Aviv.
Best for:Best for physics graduates with hands-on experience in optics, microfluidics, and programming (Python preferred) who are passionate about interdisciplinary research at the intersection of soft matter and control theory.
Overview
This PhD position at Universität Leipzig’s Molecular Nanophotonics Group, led by Prof. Frank Cichos, focuses on developing a quantitative framework for controlling active matter using light. The project combines experimental work with self-thermophoretic microswimmers and light-powered bristle robots, bridging stochastic thermodynamics and control theory. The researcher will design experiments, fabricate microfluidic chips, and analyze data using machine learning, while collaborating with Prof. Yael Roichman’s group at Tel Aviv University. The work aims to uncover universal limits of control in active systems, with applications ranging from microswimmer transport to energy-efficient swarm robotics. The position offers international collaboration, access to cutting-edge facilities, and opportunities for professional development in a vibrant academic environment.
What you'll do
- Design and conduct experiments with light-driven Janus microswimmers, shaping activity landscapes in real time using spatial light modulators
- Fabricate microfluidic chips and measure the energy driving particle motion
- Track and analyze hundreds of interacting particles using machine-learning methods to test fundamental thermodynamic bounds on control
- Collaborate closely with the Tel Aviv University team through monthly joint meetings and shared protocols
- Present research findings at international conferences and co-author high-impact publications
- Develop and implement experimental automation and data analysis pipelines using Python
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in Physics or Physical Chemistry with excellent academic standing
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; proficiency at a level suitable for academic research and collaboration
Instruction: English
- Solid background in soft matter, statistical physics, or non-equilibrium physics
- Hands-on experience in optics, video microscopy, particle tracking, or microfluidics
- Programming proficiency for data analysis and experiment automation (Python preferred)
- Experience with machine learning techniques (a plus)
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Open to all nationalities
- No specific age or residency restrictions mentioned
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-22 (Europe/Brussels)
Applicants must submit a cover letter (max. 1 page), CV, academic transcripts (Bachelor’s and Master’s), and contact details for at least two academic references via email to the supervisor. The application must be received by the deadline.
- Cover letter (max. 1 page)
- CV/resume
- Academic transcripts (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
- Names and contact information of at least two academic references
Contact
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