Active Matter

Current focus

• Active matter: We investigate behavior of biological micro/milliswimmers in complex environments and interfaces. We also develop, engineer and synthesize artificial systems that mimic naturally occurring active materials.
• Non-equilibrium systems: Active matter is just one example of non-equilibrium systems. We are interested in the transition between equilibrium and non-equilibrium self-assembly.
• Fluids and colloids in EM fields: We are interested in the ways that fluids and colloidal matter interact with electric and magnetic fields. We also develop new electromagnetic microtweezing tools for soft matter research.

Open positions

We always welcome applications from enthusiastic researchers of all levels (from students to post-docs). Contact Prof. Jaakko Timonen for details.

Research highlights

• Daniel D., Timonen J.V.I., Li R., Velling S.J., Aizenberg J.A.,
  Oleoplaning droplets on lubricated surfaces,
  Nature Physics (2017). (link)

• Timonen J.V.I., Raimondo C., Pilans D., Pillai P.P., Grzybowski B.A.,
  Trapping, Manipulation, and Crystallization of Live Cells Using Magnetofluidic Tweezers,
  Nanoscale Horizons 2, 50-54 (2017). (link)

• Timonen J.V.I., Demirörs A.F., and Grzybowski B.A., 
  Magnetofluidic Tweezing of Nonmagnetic colloids,
  Advanced Materials 28, 3453-3459 (2016). (link)

• Timonen J.V.I., Latikka M., Leibler L., Ras R.H.A., and Ikkala O., 
  Switchable Static and Dynamic Self-Assembly of Magnetic Droplets on Superhydrophobic Surfaces,
  Science 341, 253-257 (2013). (link) (press release)

• Timonen J.V.I., Latikka M., Ikkala O., Ras R.H.A., 
  Free-Decay and Resonant Methods for Investigating the Fundamental Limit of Superhydrophobicity,
  Nature Communications 4, 2398 (2013). (link) (press release)

• Timonen J.V.I., Seppälä E.T., Ikkala O., and Ras R.H.A., 
  From hot-injection synthesis to heating-up synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles: observation of kinetically controllable nucleation,
  Angewandte Chemie International Edition 50, 2080-2084 (2011). (link)

Facilities

• Wet chemistry lab equipped for nanoparticle/colloid synthesis
• Bioroom equipped for BSL1 micro-organisms
• Physical measurements lab equipped with
  -  Nikon Ti-E and Zeiss Z1 inverted microscopes
  -  Andor iXon Ultra 888 EMCCD and Zyla 4.2 sCMOS cameras
  -  Photron APX-RS high-speed camera (color, 1024x1024 @ 3000 fps)
  -  Keysight/Keithley precision measurement units and power supplies
• Other facilities at our disposal
  -  Nanomicroscopy center (electron microscopy, x-ray scattering) 
  -  Micronova (nano/microfabrication)
  -  Department of Applied Physics (general tools and equipment)