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[ living matter lab ]

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symmetry and order in living matter

Living matter at all scales has a remarkable capacity to grow, organize, heal and move. This capacity stems from its ability to convert energy at the molecular scale to generate macroscopic organized motion and emergent structures. The lab's overarching vision is to understand how nonequilibrium forces lead to spatiotemporal organization in living matter, and in turn, how biological regulation harness this self-organizing capacity to make functional forms.

Our lab is curiosity-driven, and we are interested in deciphering how order, symmetries and dynamics emerge in living matter. To do so, we draw inspiration from physics ideas in active matter, nonlinear dynamics and out-of-equilibrium statistical mechanics. By using a variety of model systems (including marine invertebrate embryos and mammalian organoids), the lab combines quantitative imaging, creative data analysis and collaboration with theorists to study the physical basis of biological organization.

our team is recruiting

We are looking for motivated and creative undergraduate/PhD/postdocs to join our team!

In particular, the two active research directions in the lab are:

Chiral active matter, with a focus on phase transitions, the role of disorder and collective dynamics using marine invertebrate embryos (e.g. P. miniata, Platynereis) as model
Organoid morphogenesis, with a focus on morphological landscape, optogenetics, tissue mechanics and mechanochemical coupling

Our lab is primarily an experimental soft matter/biophysics lab with plenty of opportunities to collaborate with theory groups. We aim to combine experiments with creative data analysis to understand how symmetry, order and dynamics emerge in living matter.

About the department. The successful candidates will join a vibrant, energetic and collaborative research team. Our group is embedded within the Biological Physics division of UCSD Physics department with over 12 experiment/theory groups covering all major areas of biophysics, offering an unparalleled intellectual and collegial environment. UCSD is recognized as one of the top 20 research universities worldwide, and our Physics of Living Systems graduate program is ranked among the top 5 by US News and World Report.

Postdocs. Please email Tzer Han directly with CV and a short statement of interest. We welcome applicants from diverse and international background.

PhD and undergraduate students. Students already at UCSD can contact Tzer Han directly. Otherwise, you can apply to the Physics PhD program here. Deadline Dec 6, 2023.