PhD Position – Swimming in Complex Environments

Stellenbeschreibung:

Overview

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 a deep understanding of the emergent structures, self‑assembly and dynamics based on physical principles. All these systems are ubiquitous in nature and in everyday applications and are far from thermal equilibrium, so the governing physical principles must be reconsidered. We combine modelling, high‑performance computing and analytical theories tailored to the specific characteristics of each system. For more information about our group, visit

Your Job

Strong confinement in highly disordered and intricate environments is essential for understanding the behaviour of a broad class of intrinsically motile systems. Porous materials – such as cell cytoplasm, mucus, tissues, gels or soil – serve as a natural propagation medium for 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 behaviours 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 help further develop it. In particular, you will investigate how the tortuosity of the confinement affects the effective behaviour of the swimmers as a function of their hydrodynamic properties, and study the response of the systems to different external stimuli or effective interactions between swimmers that map various experimental frameworks.

Tasks

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

Your Profile

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

Benefits

Team & Environment – 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 – Participate in a world‑leading international research environment with cutting‑edge computational facilities including on‑site top European supercomputers.
Networking & Exchange – Attend international conferences and project meetings and actively build your scientific network.
Supervision & Support – Your doctoral studies will be accompanied by continuous, expert guidance from your academic supervisor.
Knowledge & Development – Support via training and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral candidates (JuDocS):
Annual Leave – 30 days of annual leave.
Fair Remuneration – Classified according to pay group 13 (75 %) of the TVöD‑Bund. In addition, a year‑end bonus of 75 % of a monthly salary and capital‑forming benefits. More information about the TVöD‑Bund agreement can be found on the BMI website.
Support for International Employees – International Advisory Service to facilitate integration.
Fixed‑term – The position is initially limited to 3 years.

Diversity and Inclusion

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, for example in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities is important to us. For further information on diversity and equal opportunities, visit and for specific support options,