Post-Doc position available in Thin-film Magnetorheology
Applications are invited for one 2-year Postdoctoral Research Fellow
position at the Biocolloid and Fluid Physics group (http://biocol.ugr.es/) at the University of
Granada (Spain) to study Magnetic Liquids (Ferrofluids and Magneto-rheological Fluids) in
confined flows.

This post is part of a Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation funded project that aims
to develop novel Magnetic Liquids. The candidate will collaborate and interact widely with
members of the group, including experimentalists, theorists, and simulators working in the
project. The research will be carried out with external collaborators at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison (US), University of Almería (Spain), UNIFEI (Brasil), CSIC (Madrid,
Spain) and UNL (Argentina).

Project description:
Magneto-rheological (MR) fluids, generally prepared by dispersing solid magnetizable particles
in a liquid, are intelligent materials that have found numerous applications in mechanical
systems in the last decade. Their main characteristic is the liquid-solid, reversible and fast,
transition that they exhibit under the presence of an external magnetic field. This makes them
very good candidates for applications that require the active control of vibrations or the
transmission of torque. Current applications involve shock absorbers of sport cars, prosthetic
joints, and dampers to stabilize buildings or bridges exposed to extreme situations like
earthquakes or strong winds.

The objective of the work is to deepen our knowledge of MR-fluids mechanical behavior under
shear stresses. On the one hand, we will study their viscoelastic properties for separations
between surfaces larger than 100 microns (classical rheological study). On the other hand, we
will study their behavior under extreme confinement, in a regime closer to tribology, which is
also of practical interest and to which until now little attention has been paid. Model magnetic
fluids will be used with the purpose of testing the available theories, and of developing new
models for the prediction of their flow properties.

Qualifications:
Background / PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or a closely
related discipline. We expect highly motivated candidates with strong initiative and the ability
to multi-task. The PostDoc candidate should have a background in non-Newtonian fluid
mechanics, rheometry, computational rheology and simulation techniques. Experience in
(magneto)rheology, microrheology and/or microfluidics is strongly preferred.

For a first contact, candidates should submit a full Curriculum Vitae and Academic Records
(pdf. files, please) at the address given below.

Starting date: Approximately in May 2011. However, these positions are open until filled.
Salary: Subject to experience and qualifications.

Contact:
Juan de Vicente
Associate Professor
Biocolloid and Fluid Physics Group
Department of Applied Physics
Faculty of Sciences
University of Granada
Spain
Phone: 0034 958 240020
FAX: 0034 958 243214
http://www.ugr.es/~jvicente/
Email: jvicente@ugr.es