(3bd) Ultrafast Dynamics of Interfacial Soft Matter

Self-assembly at fluid interfaces is at the basis of natural and industrial processes: the interfacial assembly of amphiphiles provides the architecture of biomembranes, and is exploited in pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturing; nanoparticles can form films with tunable electromagnetic properties, and catalyze reactions at the liquid/liquid interface. In spite of their relevance for applications, the dynamic response to external flow and applied deformation of these “soft interfaces” remains largely unexplored because of the inherent challenges in accessing relevant regimes in experiment.

My research will focus on characterizing the response of soft interfaces to highly dynamic deformations and on understanding their nonlinear behavior when driven out of equilibrium. Rapid, leading order deformations of complex interfacial materials can indeed produce a wide range of nonlinearities–including shear-thinning, inhomogeneity in the microstructure, and mechanical failure. In my doctoral and postdoctoral research I have gained extensive experience in precise dynamic measurements using advanced imaging techniques (high-speed imaging, diffractive optics, X-ray scattering, microinterferometry) and micromanipulation techniques (optical tweezers, microfluidics, ultrasound), to study problems in biomedical fluid mechanics and colloidal science. Combining techniques in the forefront of optics, acoustics and interfacial science will allow me to develop a research program on the nonlinear dynamics of soft interfaces.

In my initial research, I will probe the mechanical response of novel structures presenting soft interfaces (e.g. nanoparticle capsules and membranes) using large-amplitude and fast deformations, for applications to responsive and functional materials. I will also study nonlinear phenomena arising in biomembranes subject to stress (e.g. molecular rearrangements and pore formation), which remain poorly understood despite their central role in many biomedical processes.