Title: Applying the soft materials paradigm to Biology
In this talk I will introduce and discuss a new class of microscopically driven materials that have been termed active materials. Drawing lessons from both biology and in vitro experimental systems, I will discuss theoretical challenges and different approaches that have proved fruitful so far. In particular, I will discuss the physics of active brownian particles and active nematics.
Biography:
Aparna Baskaran is an Assistant Professor in the School of Physics at Brandeis University. She obtained her Ph.D from the University of Florida working on the hydrodynamics of granular fluids. As a postdoctoral scholar at Syracuse University, she made important contributions to the emerging field of active matter. Her group's current interests include understanding emergent behavior in driven and inherently out of equilibrium soft matter systems. Honors include an NSF CAREER award in 2012.
Every Friday 10:45-11:45 a.m., COB 267 (except as noted). Tea and cookies will be served from 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. Questions regarding the seminar series should be directed to Prof. Bin Liu
