|
|
Wolfgang Losert , Associate Professor , University of Maryland Office: A.V.Williams Bldg. Room 3359, 301-405-0629 Granular flow lab : Energy Res. Bldg, Room 0300, 301-405-6368 Biophysics lab : Energy Res. Bldg, Room 0205 301-405-6759 Mail: Att: Wolfgang Losert, IREAP Bldg 223, Paint Branch Drive, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 Applied Dynamics Seminar, Biophysics Seminar Teaching: Physics 161 General Physics: Mechanics and Particle Dynamics Granular Dynamics and Optical Biophysics
Our group studies soft materials that are driven far from equilibrium - we study how granular materials start to flow, and how eukaryotic cells move. Please contact me if you are interested in working on one of the research projects. Research projects for undergraduate students are also available. Systems Biology: As part of a new interaction between the Department of Physics and IPST, and the National Cancer Institute, started in the summer of 2006, we are studying the nonlinear dynamics of several integrated biological processes. [Systems Biology Workshop March 15 11.30am-3pm, IREAP seminar room] Integrated mechanical and biochemical signals in cell motility: We study how mechanical forces and geometry contribute to the operation of signaling pathways in cell motility. We use a combination of modeling (with James Warren, NIST, and Dionisois Margetis, UMD) and optical micromanipulation tools to discover and describe the connection between mechanics and biochemistry. Experimentally we use holographic laser tweezers and a two-photon confocal microscope, and controlled fluid flow tools (bubble microfluidics, w. S. Hilgenfeld, Northwestern) to apply controlled force fields to cells or model cell components. We study how cells (Dictyostelium discoideum, with C. Parent, NIH), cytoskeletal components (Actin, with J. Urbach, Georgetown), and model membranes (with K. Helmerson, NIST) respond to realistic force fields. Granular flows close to jamming: Our work focuses on slow rearrangements of granular matter close to jamming: We have quantified what shear is needed to destroy a network of particle contacts, and how much shear is needed to build a new network (see PRL, 2004). To image the contact network directly, we have developed laser sheet scanning to visualize the 3D granular ensemble. Past research projects: Granular flows of binary mixtures: In flows of mixtures of granular matter of different size in a tumbler, materials are found to separate by size along both the axial and radial direction. Our work shed new light on velocity differences as a likely “microscopic” cause of axial banding, the separation (see Europhys. Lett, 2004). Modeling Signaling pathways: We developed models of signaling pathways of intermediate complexity (with R. Nossal, NIH, see Biophys J. 2005), and carried out stability analysis of the model. Control of crystal microstructures: We studied the response of crystal growth microstructures to perturbations. We have also successfully used perturbations for accurate control of a variety of microstructures including grain boundary structures and cellular and dendritic microstructures in dilute binary alloys and in eutectics (see Journal of Crystal Growth, ‘04 and ‘05). Research supported by NSF, NIH, Research Corporation, and NIST PDF of current CV, Publications webpage · 1998-2000: Research Associate and Visiting Assistant Professor (99-00) in nonlinear physics and fluid dynamics at the Haverford College Department of Physics with Jerry Gollub · 1995-1998: Ph.D. at the City College of New York, working with Herman Cummins on the dynamics of pattern formation in crystal growth of binary alloys. · 1995: Diplom in technical physics from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, supported by a fellowship from the German National Merit Foundation (Studienstiftung). Past Semesters Teaching
Spring 2007: Physics 171— Introductory Physics: Mechanics and Relativity Fall 2006: Principles of Physics I - Phys141 Spring 2006: PHYS174 - Physics Laboratory Introduction Fall 2005: Principles of Physics I - Phys141, Applied Dynamics Seminar Spring 2005: PHYS174 - Physics Lab Introduction
Fall 2004: Principles of Physics I - Phys141, Applied Dynamics Seminar Spring 2004: PHYS174 - Physics Laboratory Introduction, Applied Dynamics Seminar Fall 2003: Semester Research Award, Biophysics Seminar, Applied Dynamics Seminar Spring 2003: Physics715 - Nonlinear Dynamics, Biophysics Seminar, Applied Dynamics Seminar Fall 2002: PHYS174 - Physics Laboratory Introduction , Applied Dynamics Seminar Spring 2002: Physics715 - Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, Applied Dynamics Seminar Fall 2001: PHYS104 - How Things Work: Science Foundations, Applied Dynamics Seminar Spring 2001: Physics715 - Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Fall 99: Statistical physics (Physics 303a) at Haverford College. Previous Research
Send comments to wlosert@glue.umd.edu . Last updated: 12/6/2006 |