PhD in Intelligent Matter and Synthetic Cells at Walther Lab, Mainz

Project Overview

This research focuses on developing next-generation intelligent materials and synthetic cells that can perform computation, adaptation, learning, movement, or simple decision-making processes. Two PhD projects are offered: one involves engineering DNA-based synthetic cells with enzymatic reaction circuits demonstrating emergent behaviors such as flow, propulsion, and learning-like features such as habituation and sensitisation. The other project explores novel polymer mechanochemistry by designing chemo-mechanical hydrogels that integrate geometry, mechanics, and chemical reaction networks to create materials that process information and dynamically respond to their environment.

What You Will Do

Students will conduct experimental science in systems chemistry, synthetic cells, hydrogels, DNA nanoscience, polymer materials, active matter, and mechanochemistry. They will work within a highly international, interdisciplinary team at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, with potential affiliation to the Max Planck Graduate Center spanning the MPI for Polymer Research and JGU Mainz. Research activities include designing and synthesizing complex materials, characterizing emergent behaviors, and exploring the interaction between chemical reaction networks and material mechanics.

Expected Outcomes

The projects aim to create synthetic cells and materials that exhibit life-like, adaptive, and intelligent molecular and material system behaviors. Expected outcomes include active synthetic cells capable of enzymatic feedback and adaptive responses as well as hydrogel-based materials that autonomously process environmental information and adjust their properties accordingly.

Why This Matters

Advances in intelligent matter hold promise for revolutionary applications in smart materials, bioengineering, responsive systems, and soft robotics. Understanding how to program materials and synthetic cells to compute and adapt could lead to breakthroughs in creating autonomous, life-like technologies that enhance human and environmental well-being.