Project overview

The propulsion forces exerted by swimming cells makes their suspensions behave quite differently from suspensions of ordinary particles. Microswimmer suspensions are self-propelled and can exhibit hyperfluidity i.e. the suspension has a lower viscosity than the suspending medium itself.

Our goal is to develop models and techniques to connect the flow behaviour of such suspensions with microswimmer characteristics. This understanding can be exploited for novel engineering applications.

PhD projects in this research area provide training in modelling and simulations of dense suspensions and collectives of particles interacting with ordinary soft matter.

The following projects are available:

• Develop microstructure-based rheological models for active suspensions
• Apply models to experimentally characterise microscopic parameters of active suspensions from macroscopic measurements of flow behaviour