Physics Bachelor and Master Programmes

Research projects for bachelor and master students

SCMB offers research opportunities for both bachelor and master students within both the physics and chemistry departments’ educational programmes. Students participating in research within our group collaborate directly with postdocs and PhD researchers to address major, open-ended problems in soft matter and biological physics. Your work will be part of one of the current research projects in the group, depending on availability and your own interests. 

For more information on BONZ projects, feel free to contact the Debye Institute BONZ coordinator: Dr. Lisa Tran.

Email Debye BONZ Coordinator

Our research themes are:

  • Synthesis and characterization of colloidal (nano)particles
  • Investigation of (bio-)soft matter using quantitative microscopy and spectroscopy
  • Computer simulations of colloid assemblies
  • Theoretical research approaches: statistical thermodynamics or density functional theory

Examples research projects

  • Synthesis of rod-shaped colloids and their liquid crystalline behavior
  • Study the assembly of rod-like particles into liquid crystalline phases with computer simulations
  • Characterizing bio-inspired, structurally colored materials made of cellulose
  • Using microfluidics to study self-assembly under confinement
  • The assembly of rods and spheres into unusual crystal lattices in spherical confinement
  • Study of nanoparticle mobility and assembly in the liquid state by electron microscopy
  • Measurement of nanoparticle interactions using confocal microscopy
  • Using single-molecule magnetic tweezers and solution X-ray scattering to probe structure of bio-macromolecules
  • Electron microscopy study of oriented attachment of nano-crystals and cation exchange reactions in nano-crystals
  • Computer simulation of colloidal Laves phases
  • Study of collective behavior of self-propelling particles with Brownian dynamics simulation
  • Assembly of particles by capillary deformation of liquid interfaces.

PhD programme

The Soft Condensed Matter & Biophysics PhD programme is part of the PhD programme of the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science.

To Debye PhD programme