Postdoc Positions

For Postdoc positions, please contact prof. dr. A. van Blaaderen

PhD Positions

Molecular control of directional colloidal interactions - PhD project

In this project a method will be developed to give colloidal particles a valence. Just as the valence of an atom determines the number of chemical bonds it can join in, colloids could be given surface patches that allow them to stick to each other. This would enormously increase the possibilities for self-assembly of such colloids into larger structures, which will be tunable with temperature. Assembly with and without external fields will be studied in 3D with confocal microscopy. Some experience with colloid or chemical synthesis will be helpful.
For more information or applications please contact prof. dr. A. van Blaaderen or dr. A. Imhof.

Effective interactions between nanoparticles - 2 PhD projects

Experimental project: In this project interactions between nanoparticles will be measured by making use of electron microscopy tomography. New developments in transmission electron microscopy make it possible to image nanoparticles in 3D. This makes it possible to accurately determine their radial distribution function, as has been done for larger colloids using confocal microscopy, so that the interactions between nanoparticles can be directly determined. Due to their very small size nanoparticles interact in unique ways that are not yet understood, but that are essential in understanding and predicting their  self-assembly.
For more information or applications please contact prof. dr. A. van Blaaderen or dr. A. Imhof.

Student Projects