Liesbeth Janssen

Research group website: tps.phys.tue.nl/janssen. Liesbeth’s research describes materials that are far from thermodynamic equilibrium, ranging from non-crystalline polymers and colloidal glasses to living cell models. The Non-Equilibrium Soft Matter group studies the structural, dynamical, and mechanical properties of such materials using a combination of statistical-mechanical theory, analytical modeling, and computer simulations. This research provides new insights into the relation between the microscopic structure and the emergent dynamics of soft and living matter, and may lead to, for example, smart materials that are capable of adapting to their surroundings. There are three key research areas: glass formation, which looks at amorphous non-crystalline solids, covering a wide range of substances, from gels to granular materials. The second area is active materials, which are composed of particles that can convert energy into autonomous motion. This requires development of new statistical physics. Potential applications range from bio-sensing to targeted drug delivery. The third area, bio-inspired and living materials, combines elements of the previous two. Studying the physical principles underlying responsive behavior in living systems may result in design and control of bio-inspired and smart materials.

Non-Equilibrium Soft Matter research is fascinating as it allows us to discover completely new areas of physics that represent a departure from classical statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. Applications range from creating self-healing plastics to cancer research to revolutionizing computer memory storage.”