Soft Matter and Biological Physics
Source: https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/soft-matter-and-biological-physics Parent: https://www.tue.nl/en/research
Department of Applied Physics
Soft Matter and Biological Physics
Enabling a sustainable, functional and resource-efficient next generation of materials by uncovering the physical mechanisms underlying the behavior of soft and biological matter.
- Feature The Glass Phase
- Principle Investigators
- Vacancies
- Biomaterials
- News
- Active Materials
- Researchers
- Hydrogels
- Recent Publications
- Contact
Materials you can trust with your life
We study the fundamental processes that organize the assembly, the structure and the mechanical properties of biological and other soft materials. Fundamental and applied research reinforce each other: We figure out how these materials work, and use these insights to develop bio-inspired design strategies to improve and disrupt the development of man-made materials.
6 PIs within SMB address this challenge from complementary angles and backgrounds. Together, we cover the full spectrum of length and time scales, from atom to organism. We develop and use a broad range of analytic and numerical tools: statistical mechanical calculations both in and out of equilibrium, and simulations using e.g. Molecular Dynamics, Monte Carlo, Lattice Boltzmann, and energy landscape techniques.
## Book Molecular Theory of Nematic (and Other) Liquid Crystals - Author Paul van der Schoot
- Provides a simple and concise introduction to the statistical mechanics of liquid crystals
- Starts from (classical) Density Functional Theory (DFT) and continues for Onsager and Maier-Saupe theories
- Focused entirely on molecular theories of why nematic phases arise
Our PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Soft Matter and Biological Physics comprises 6 sub groups.
[Janne-Mieke Meijer
Colloidal Soft Matter
The colloidal soft matter group of Janne-Mieke Meijer focuses on complex colloids and their self-assembly to understand how building block…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/soft-matter-and-biological-physics/colloidal-soft-matter)[Alexey Lyulin
Multiscale Simulations of Polymer Dynamics
Dr. Alexey Lyulin performs Multiscale Simulations of Polymer Dynamics at the Soft Matter and Biological Physics research group](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/soft-matter-and-biological-physics/multiscale-simulations-of-polymer-dynamics)[Liesbeth Janssen
Non-Equilibrium Soft Matter
The Non-Equilibrium Soft Matter group of Liesbeth Janssen focuses on the behavior of materials that are inherently out of thermodynamic…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/soft-matter-and-biological-physics/non-equilibrium-soft-matter)[Wouter Ellenbroek
Responsive Soft Matter
The Responsive Soft Matter group of Wouter Ellenbroek is devoted to theoretical research (including computer simulations) of responsive soft…](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/soft-matter-and-biological-physics/responsive-soft-matter)[Paul van der Schoot
Self Assembly in Soft- and Biomatter](https://assets.w3.tue.nl/w/fileadmin/content/Research/3_Research_Groups/Soft%20Matter%20and%20Biological%20Physics/Self%20Assembly%20in%20Soft-%20and%20Biomatter/Rede%20Van%20der%20Schoot%20LR.pdf)
Cornelis Storm
Theoretical Biophysics
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FEATURE (READING TIME 10 MIN) THE GLASS PHASE: A PHYSICS MYSTERY
In physics the glass phase is deemed to be a special form of a solid. While the material feels hard, it lacks a regular crystalline structure. Physicists still cannot explain the transition from a liquid to this special solid form. Solving this mystery will bring numerous applications within reach. Fast-working computer chips, for example, or recyclable plastic. The glass phase can even help us better understand asthma and cancer metastasis.
Work with us!
Please check out the TU/e Vacancies page for further opportunities within our group.
Green tyres: Building better rubbers with biomaterials
In recent years a significant driver for global growth in (amorphous) polymer materials has been the innovative production and use of plastics in new application areas such as sustainable energy, automotive, rail, naval, transport, construction and infrastructure, defence and aerospace, medical and healthcare, electronics and telecommunication. Using dynamic computer simulations, our goal is to provide physical insights for predicting the morphology and thermomechanical properties of nanocomposites with bio and inorganic fillers, from their atomic-level characteristics. One example is the use of biopolymers (PLA) to create better rubbers for ‘green tyres’.
News
[May 14, 2025
Structure and dynamics of glass forming liquids
Ilian Pihlajamaa defended his PhD thesis cum laude at the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education on May 6th.
Read more](https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/14-05-2025-structure-and-dynamics-of-glass-forming-liquids) [January 28, 2025
Modelling the emergent structure in soft functional materials
René de Bruijn defended his PhD thesis at the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education on January 28.
Read more](https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/28-01-2025-modelling-the-emergent-structure-in-soft-functional-materials)
More news
[Athena Award for 'scientist with guts' Liesbeth Janssen
November 28, 2024](https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/28-11-2024-athena-award-for-scientist-with-guts-liesbeth-janssen) [Max Schelling Publishes Study on Cooling-Dependent Crystallization in Microgels in Soft Matter
August 29, 2024](https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/29-08-2024-max-schelling-publishes-study-on-cooling-dependent-crystallization-in-microgels-in-soft-matter) [Modeling smart polymer materials
May 31, 2024](https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/31-05-2024-modeling-smart-polymer-materials) [Modeling the formation and mechanics of hybrid hydrogels
April 4, 2024](https://www.tue.nl/en/news-and-events/news-overview/04-04-2024-modeling-the-formation-and-mechanics-of-hybrid-hydrogels)
Active materials: swimmers, cells, switching?
Active matter provides a new paradigm for understanding non-equilibrium behavior in living systems, as well as for designing responsive and bio-inspired materials with novel functional properties. Using coarse-grained simulations and theory, we study phenomena such as collective cell migration during wound healing, self-organization of active membrane structures, and the solidification and fluidization response of disordered active materials. Applications range from targeted drug delivery to self-healing materials and soft robotics.
Meet some of our Researchers
[Associate Professor
Liesbeth Janssen](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/liesbeth-janssen)[Associate Professor
Alexey Lyulin](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/alexey-lyulin)[Assistant Professor
Wouter Ellenbroek](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/wouter-ellenbroek)[Assistant Professor
Janne-Mieke Meijer](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/janne-mieke-meijer)[Full Professor emeritus
Thijs Michels](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/thijs-michels)[Full Professor
Paul van der Schoot](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/paul-van-der-schoot)[Assistant Professor
Felix Frey](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/felix-frey)[Dean
### Cornelis Storm](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/cornelis-storm)[Full Professor \ (Part-time)
Bernard Geurts](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/bernard-geurts)[Doctoral Candidate
Wout Laeremans](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/wout-laeremans)
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Hydrogels: from mechanical actuators to drug delivery platforms
Hydrogels are solid materials that consist of almost only water held together by a polymer network. Because these materials are relatively soft they respond strongly to changes in, e.g., temperature, acidity and concentration of salt, and hence are promising candidates for actuators and controlled drug release. We combine simulations with analytical theory to better understand the relation between structure, mechanics, thermodynamics and performance of such networks and gels.
Education
Check out all our courses
Recent Publications
Our most recent peer reviewed publications
- [### Heat transfer dynamics in graphene-coated paraffin spheres for enhanced thermal transport
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
(2026)
Kevin A. Redosado Leon,Alexey Lyulin,Bernard J. Geurts](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/1bab838f-8325-4410-adc7-12416bf5813a) - [### An Assembly-Line Mechanism for In-Vitro Encapsulation of Fragmented Cargo in Virus-Like Particles
ACS Nano
(2026)
Ayesha Amjad,Irina Tsvetkova,Lena G. Lowry,David Morgan,Roya Zandi,Paul P.A.M. van der Schoot,Bogdan Dragnea](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/77d01213-d75a-44ff-9503-c2b1770a979a) - [### Encapsulation of fragmented cargo by virus coat proteins
Journal of Chemical Physics
(2026)
Paul P.A.M. van der Schoot,Roya Zandi,Ayesha Amjad,Irina Tsvetkova,Bogdan Dragnea](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/8b381d47-31ef-4531-8ddb-1033d7306ad1) - [### Thermodynamic Stability and Kinetic Control of Capsid Morphologies in Hepatitis B Virus
Journal of Chemical Physics
(2026)
Kevin Yang,Juana Martin Gonzalez,Alireza Ramezani,Paul P.A.M. van der Schoot,Roya Zandi](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/0d1d25b9-8d16-42b1-bf4d-3fd2a48fc28d) - [### Effective thermal conductivity of graphene-coated paraffin spheres
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
(2025)
Kevin A. Redosado Leon,Alexey Lyulin,Bernard J. Geurts](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/78340981-da85-4ec0-ad73-ad3e1ca9dae1)
Contact
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Visiting address
Flux
Groene Loper 19
5612 AP Eindhoven
Netherlands
+31 (0)40 247 4288 - ### Postal address
Flux
P.O. Box 513
5600 MB Eindhoven
Netherlands - ###
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