Dear all,
We’re happy to invite you to join the second PhD Course in the Graduate Program of the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems. The topic will be Discrete and Continuous Modeling, and the course is to be held from February 13-17 2012 at the TU/e campus. There will be a concluding, half-day meeting somewhere mid-March.
Mathematical, computational and numerical modeling has become an integral part of the scientific practice. The aim of the course is to provide an intensive, one week introduction to some of the most commonly used modeling strategies: Monte Carlo, Molecular Dynamics and ODE/PDE analysis. While based in physics and mathematics, these techniques have all become something of a standard in other fields of science; mastering them will not only make you a more complete researcher but may ultimately help you gain a deeper, quantitative understanding of the fundamental processes relevant to your research.
Prof.dr. Peter Hilbers, prof.dr. Mark Peletier and dr. Kees Storm will be the main lecturers of this course. Prof. Ole Mouritzen, of the University of Southern Denmark and director of MEMPHYS (the Center for Membrane Physics), will give a lecture as well. The course consists of lectures and practical work, and also includes training in the writing of research proposals.
Contents:
· Basic concepts from statistical physics of systems in equilibrium: Phase space, ergodicity, ensemble theory. Monte Carlo simulations. Practical work: Monte Carlo simulation of the 2D Ising model.
· Molecular modeling techniques and the different theories they are based on. In particular aspects of dynamics will be considered. In a specific example, the self-aggregation of molecular systems like membrane formation and the transformation of a bilayer into a vesicle will be discussed.
· Nonlinear differential equations and bifurcations: Many systems are described by differential equations, and in the more interesting cases these are nonlinear and depend on parameters. Bifurcation analysis is a way of understanding the behavior of these systems, and how that behavior depends on the parameters. We will explore the theoretical and the practical side of these ideas.
Registration & participation: Please register via icms@remove-this.tue.nl before January 15, 2012; there are 30 places available. Participation is free for TU/e PhD students, external students will be charged 150 euros (including coffee, tea, lunch). We can supply hotel recommendations upon request. It is highly recommended that all participants bring a laptop running Windows, with Matlab and Mathematica installed. We can help if you do not have access to one or more of these, but let us know well in advance.
We’re looking forward to your participation.
With kind regards,
Peter Hilbers
Mark Peletier
Kees Storm
Sagitta Peters
Sagitta Peters MSc
Business Manager
Institute for Complex Molecular Systems
TU/e, HG -1.25
PO Box 513
5600 MB Eindhoven, the Netherlands
T: +31 40 247 3910
www.icms.tue.nl
icms@remove-this.tue.nl
