The project will be carried out in the group Flow and Dynamics of Soft Matter led by Prof. Valeria Garbin, in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Delft University of Technology. Our research spans the fields of fluid dynamics, soft matter physics and colloid & interface science, with the aim to understand the flow phenomena of complex, microstructured fluids and soft materials which form the basis of many formulated products. Combining precision experiments with particle-based simulations and analytical models, we can link the change in microstructure of a complex fluid or soft material to its macroscopic properties and to a product’s performance in applications. Our group has discovered the phenomenon of local tuning of a colloidal gel’s microstructure by ultrasound-driven bubble dynamics on which this project builds. We apply our fundamental expertise to bridge science and technology and contribute to developing sustainable products and processes, as part of the transition to a circular economy.
