The physics of the cell surface: from molecular rules to cell-scale behavior

The Physics Department at King's College London is hiring a PhD student to join the group of Dr Ivan Palaia. The PhD student will work at the interface between physics and biology, focusing on non-equilibrium phenomena and collective behaviour at the cell surface. This PhD uses computational physics to study the actin cortex as out-of-equilibrium matter, seeking the molecular rules that drive robust organisation at the cell scale. The project will use coarse-grained computational models rooted in soft-matter and statistical physics to understand how actin networks can remain dynamic yet at steady state, and to investigate active shape change in cells. The research aims to identify which simple molecular ingredients are necessary to generate large-scale organisation and which patterns of activity provide the most robust strategies for growing structures under thermal and active noise. Throughout the project, close interaction with established experimental collaborators will ensure realism and motivate further experimental and theoretical exploration.