Project title: Emergent Transitions in Non-equilibrium Dynamical Systems

Are you a highly motivated student with a strong interest in understanding the nature of emergent transitions in non-equilibrium dynamical systems? We are seeking an excellent and ambitious PhD candidate to carry out theoretical interdisciplinary research to understand emergent transitions in a broad class of non-equilibrium systems, especially active and externally driven systems.

Despite encouraging theoretical advances in non-equilibrium statistical physics, understanding emergent transitions in non-equilibrium dynamical systems remains challenging due to lack of a general statistical thermodynamic framework. Particularly, for active systems driven by local injection of energy, the dynamics and mechanisms of transitions proceeding via rare fluctuations is poorly understood. Here, we propose an interdisciplinary research project which aims at developing a general theoretical framework to address the emergence and the sensitivity of transitions between non-equilibrium steady states in driven systems. To achieve this goal, we will extend the tools of stochastic thermodynamics and large deviation theory to non-equilibrium dynamical systems. Thus, the project will involve an exciting combination of concepts and techniques from mathematics, statistical physics and theoretical chemistry.

You will be embedded in the Foundations and Applications of Emergence (FAEME) research program area within the Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena at the Faculty of Science of UvA.

You will carry out this interdisciplinary project in a collaborative setting comprised of a highly motivated team of researchers from different institutes within the Faculty of Science. Building on theoretical and computational expertise in our groups, you will develop and explore the foundations of the theory using simple model non-equilibrium systems, such as an active particle in a double-well potential, and then move towards more complex models of active polymers driven by molecular motors.

More details about application procedure can be found here.

Contacts:
Dr. Sara Jabbari Farouji (s.jabbarifarouji@uva.nl)