---

Our research work involves computer simulations of molecular materials, concentrating on liquid crystals, polymers, dendrimers, complex fluids and nanostructured soft materials.

The group is led by Prof. Mark Wilson

Click for a single page pictorial summary of our research.

---

Oct. 2009 A special themed edition of the journal Soft Matter

Sept. 2009 A special themed edition of the journal Soft Matter edited by Mark will be out shortly. The themed issue will bring together a series of outstanding papers and reviews of research in the area of Multiscale modelling of Soft Matter. Advanced articles for the issue can be accessed from the Soft Matter web site by folowing the links.

July 2009 Faraday Discussion 144 (FD144 Multiscale Modelling of Soft Matter) chaired by Mark took place in Grongingen (The Netherlands). The aim of the Discussion was to bring together modellers from liquids crystal, polymers, membranes, colloids and self-assembled systems together with those working on wasy of crossing the time and length scales required in modelling.

Feb. 2009 Faraday Discussion 144 (FD144 Multiscale Modelling of Soft Matter) chaired by Mark is now open for registration. This is an exciting conference, which we hope will bring together scientists from different areas of soft matter simulation (liquid crystals and self-assembly, membranes, colloids, polymers).

Jan. 2009 We welcome a new Ph.D. student, Khongvit (Tom) Prasitnok to the group to work on a project involving poly(ethylene oxide).

Oct. 2008 We welcome a Ph.D. new student, Valentina Erastova to the group to work on a project involving studies of diesel additives.

Feb. 2008 Mark is currently in Italy for 5 weeks for a visit to Prof. Claudio Zannoni (University of Bologna) and the Cineca Supercomputer centre. The visit is fully funded for travel and living expenses by the HPC-Europa++ programme. To apply for a visit to one of Europe's 5 supercomputer centres, please look at www.hpceuropa.org.

Oct. 2007 We welcome a new student to the group: Andrew Illott who will be working on long timescale events in molecular dynamics with links to solid state NMR.

Jun. 2007 - Pictures of Graduation 2007: Zak and Jorge graduated with Ph.D.s.

May. 2007 - We welcome a new PDRA to the group: Fatima Chami who will work on simulation studies of chromonic liquid crystals.

Apr. 2007 - A Ph.D. studentship is available to work on simulation of complex liquids. The post is available from October 2007 or before that by negotiation

Nov. 2006 - A PDRA post is now available to work on simulation studies of chromonic liquid crystals , closing date for applications is 3rd January.

Oct. 2006 - We are happy to report that Dr. David Earl, Ph.D. (student 2000-2003) has recently obtained an Assistant Professorship in Pittsburgh.

Oct. 2006 - We welcome three new researchers to the group: Juho Lintuuvori from Helsinki (new Ph.D. student), Dr. Peter Duncan from Scotland (new PDRA), Dr. Sebastian Palucha from Poland (new PDRA).

Sept 2006 - We are interested in hearing from research scientists from China, India (closing date 10 Oct), South Korea and Japan (closing date early Feb) who would be interested in applying to the Royal Society Incoming Fellowship scheme . This scheme funds collaborative visits of up to 12 months. To qualify scientists require a Ph.D. in computational chemistry and must be interested in working in one of the research themes we are currently involved in, e.g. simulation of liquid crystals or polymers or the development of Monte Carlo techniques or parallel simulation methods.

May 2006 - A three year postdoc is available to work on cubatic liquid crystal simulations.
The job advert is available on-line.
Further particulars are available on-line.

May 2006 - A one year postdoc is available to work on New molecular dynamics simulation techniques for studying slow processes.
The job advert is available on-line.
Further particulars are available on-line.

Oct. 2005 - Durham is named "University of the Year" - Durham University has secured the title of 'University of the Year' in the new Sunday Times annual guide.

Sept. 2005 - A new EPSRC grant has just been awarded to the group to fund the study of the Cubatic Liquid Crystalline Phase.

The group is currently using the University's new 270 processor computer purchased from Clustervision, financed through the SRIF II initiative. A new EU procurement to double the size of this machine has reached tender stage.

The new Photonics Institute here in Durham, contains several experimental groups across Physics, Chemistry and Engineering, plus ourselves and Dr. Stewart Clark's density functional theory group in the Department of Physics. This combined experimental and theoretical approach will be applied to new problems in the study and development of photonic materials in the areas of liquid crystals, OLEDs, PLEDs, terahertz technology and photonic crystals.

Calls for Marie Curie European Reintegration Grants are now open. These are suitable for an EU candidate from the UK who has just completed a Marie Curie fellowship and would like to return to the UK. Those candiates interested in applying to join the group should contact mark.wilson@durham.ac.uk

---