Driscoll Lab
@driscollphysics.bsky.social
The Driscoll lab is an experimental physics lab at Northwestern University; our research lies at the junction between soft-matter physics and fluid dynamics.
New preprint! arxiv.org/abs/2511.00234 In collaboration with Ryker Fish & Brennan Sprinkle, Akalanka found patterning that emerges in strongly confined microroller suspensions. Surprisingly, the mechanism for the pattern formation is the recirculating flow created by (very) far away boundaries.
November 6, 2025 at 11:53 PM
New preprint! arxiv.org/abs/2511.00234 In collaboration with Ryker Fish & Brennan Sprinkle, Akalanka found patterning that emerges in strongly confined microroller suspensions. Surprisingly, the mechanism for the pattern formation is the recirculating flow created by (very) far away boundaries.
PSA: Ghostscript is magic and you should be using it! Using ps2pdf makes your file much smaller (say to fit grant rules), seemingly with no loss of quality. (I do not know how the magic works, but have been told it removes unnecessary Adobe overhead.) web.mit.edu/ghostscript/...
ps2pdf: PostScript-to-PDF converter
web.mit.edu
November 5, 2025 at 10:38 PM
PSA: Ghostscript is magic and you should be using it! Using ps2pdf makes your file much smaller (say to fit grant rules), seemingly with no loss of quality. (I do not know how the magic works, but have been told it removes unnecessary Adobe overhead.) web.mit.edu/ghostscript/...
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
Curious about the latest advancements in soft matter physics by young researchers? Join our Students’ Virtual Conference, on November 6th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET! We have a great lineup of 20 speakers covering a wide range of topics. Register via the QR code or via tinyurl.com/DSOFTConfere...
November 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Curious about the latest advancements in soft matter physics by young researchers? Join our Students’ Virtual Conference, on November 6th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET! We have a great lineup of 20 speakers covering a wide range of topics. Register via the QR code or via tinyurl.com/DSOFTConfere...
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
We are happy to announce the DSOFT Students’ Virtual Conference, on November 6, 2025 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET! We have a great lineup of 20 speakers covering a diverse range of topics in soft matter physics. Register via the link or QR code to participate! tinyurl.com/DSOFTConfere...
October 24, 2025 at 10:34 PM
We are happy to announce the DSOFT Students’ Virtual Conference, on November 6, 2025 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET! We have a great lineup of 20 speakers covering a diverse range of topics in soft matter physics. Register via the link or QR code to participate! tinyurl.com/DSOFTConfere...
The Society of Rheology meeting in Santa Fe has been amazing. Awesome talks and excellent sunsets!
October 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The Society of Rheology meeting in Santa Fe has been amazing. Awesome talks and excellent sunsets!
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
There's still time to submit an abstract for the 2026 #APSGlobalPhysicsSummit @apsphysics.bsky.social. By Thurs, 10/23: summit.aps.org
Trevor Jones and I invite submissions to the @apsdsoft.bsky.social focus session on Crafted Matter. Excited for invited talks from Lining Yao & @ttc.bsky.social !
Trevor Jones and I invite submissions to the @apsdsoft.bsky.social focus session on Crafted Matter. Excited for invited talks from Lining Yao & @ttc.bsky.social !
2026 APS Global Physics Summit
Join 14,000+ physicists at the 2026 APS Global Physics Summit in Denver and online to share research, explore science, and connect globally.
summit.aps.org
October 21, 2025 at 8:12 PM
There's still time to submit an abstract for the 2026 #APSGlobalPhysicsSummit @apsphysics.bsky.social. By Thurs, 10/23: summit.aps.org
Trevor Jones and I invite submissions to the @apsdsoft.bsky.social focus session on Crafted Matter. Excited for invited talks from Lining Yao & @ttc.bsky.social !
Trevor Jones and I invite submissions to the @apsdsoft.bsky.social focus session on Crafted Matter. Excited for invited talks from Lining Yao & @ttc.bsky.social !
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
📢📢Rally for Dr. Tom Alter and #FreeSpeech TODAY 11am! Details below! 👇
⭐️Rally for fired Texas State history professor Dr. Tom Alter and for #FreeSpeech this Thursday, September 25th, 11am at the Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos. ✊
September 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM
📢📢Rally for Dr. Tom Alter and #FreeSpeech TODAY 11am! Details below! 👇
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
Still a few more days left to apply for this PhD position at @pcc-wur.bsky.social
We have an open PhD position at @pcc-wur.bsky.social on self-assembly dynamics at fluid-fluid interfaces. Please see here for further details and application link:
www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/p...
PhD position in Evaporation-driven self-assembly at fluid-fluid interfaces
www.wur.nl
September 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Still a few more days left to apply for this PhD position at @pcc-wur.bsky.social
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
Join our panel discussion "Applying for PhD positions in soft matter physics" on October 9th at 12 pm ET! Learn about how to find a program/advisor, get good recommendation letters, and craft a compelling application for graduate school. apsphysics.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
September 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Join our panel discussion "Applying for PhD positions in soft matter physics" on October 9th at 12 pm ET! Learn about how to find a program/advisor, get good recommendation letters, and craft a compelling application for graduate school. apsphysics.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
DSOFT invites students and recent graduates to participate in our Students’ Virtual Conference, on November 6th (10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET). The conference aims to discuss the latest advancements in soft matter physics by students. If you wish to present your work, please find details in the post below!
August 29, 2025 at 9:08 AM
DSOFT invites students and recent graduates to participate in our Students’ Virtual Conference, on November 6th (10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET). The conference aims to discuss the latest advancements in soft matter physics by students. If you wish to present your work, please find details in the post below!
Amazing!
🌬️ 𝘒𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘥’𝘈𝘳𝘪𝘢: 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴. Our installation, Kirigami d’Aria, is on view as part of the biennial architecture exhibition Time Space Existence organized by the European Cultural Centre.
July 19, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Amazing!
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
As part of his magnificent M.Sc thesis at
@pcc-wur.bsky.social , Christoph shows how to harness viscoelasticity to control spontaneous self-emulsification of multicomponent droplets. More in the open access article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@pcc-wur.bsky.social , Christoph shows how to harness viscoelasticity to control spontaneous self-emulsification of multicomponent droplets. More in the open access article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
July 16, 2025 at 3:48 PM
As part of his magnificent M.Sc thesis at
@pcc-wur.bsky.social , Christoph shows how to harness viscoelasticity to control spontaneous self-emulsification of multicomponent droplets. More in the open access article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@pcc-wur.bsky.social , Christoph shows how to harness viscoelasticity to control spontaneous self-emulsification of multicomponent droplets. More in the open access article: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
Just like Northwestern
Email from Brown admin: government stopped payment on existing NIH grants as of April 3; in three months since, the gov't has cumulatively withheld $45 million in NIH grant reimbursements.
Whatever injunctions, court orders, etc. may exist, no resumption of payments... and no explanation either.
Whatever injunctions, court orders, etc. may exist, no resumption of payments... and no explanation either.
July 1, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Just like Northwestern
Great opportunity to work on cool science in Germany!
Fully funded postdoc & PhD positions available in experimental DNA biomaterials & soft matter physics! @unimainz.bsky.social
More info & apply here (by July 11th) ⬇️
www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12840165
#Postdoc #PhD #Biophysics #SoftMatter #Biomaterials #JobOpportunity
More info & apply here (by July 11th) ⬇️
www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12840165
#Postdoc #PhD #Biophysics #SoftMatter #Biomaterials #JobOpportunity
Fully-funded Postdoc or PhD student positions - experimental DNA biomaterials/soft matter physics - Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz (DE) job with Wilken Lab, Johannes Gutenberg University | 12840165
Two fully-funded postdoctoral or PhD student positions in experimental mesoscale bioinspired materials, DNA nanoscience, and/or soft matter physics...
www.nature.com
June 21, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Great opportunity to work on cool science in Germany!
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
"The freedom to speak becomes meaningless when disconnected from the possibility of being heard." A powerful statement from @alondra.bsky.social on her decision to resign from the National Science Board & the LoC Scholars Council -- read the whole thing time.com/7285045/resi...
May 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
"The freedom to speak becomes meaningless when disconnected from the possibility of being heard." A powerful statement from @alondra.bsky.social on her decision to resign from the National Science Board & the LoC Scholars Council -- read the whole thing time.com/7285045/resi...
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
Last few spots for this exciting summer school are still open!
The next edition of the Han-sur-Lesse summerschool on Soft Matter and Biological Physics is now finalised, with lectures on 6 exciting topics! Join us this summer in the Belgian Ardennes for 5 days of science and socialising. Seats are limited, so hurry! #softmatter #biophysics
hslwinterschool.com
hslwinterschool.com
Han sur Lesse
Winterschool
hslwinterschool.com
May 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Last few spots for this exciting summer school are still open!
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
New op-ed in @nature.com: The Trump administration's assault on freedoms and the rule of law is an existential threat to US science. We urge scientists to speak out in defense of freedoms, not just funding. With Andrea Liu @upenn.edu and Sidney Nagel of UChicago! www.nature.com/articles/d41...
US researchers must stand up to protect freedoms, not just funding
Curtailment of freedoms and disregard for the rule of law in the United States is destroying the ability of science to serve the nation’s, and the world’s, interests. Researchers can take action.
www.nature.com
May 13, 2025 at 10:41 AM
New op-ed in @nature.com: The Trump administration's assault on freedoms and the rule of law is an existential threat to US science. We urge scientists to speak out in defense of freedoms, not just funding. With Andrea Liu @upenn.edu and Sidney Nagel of UChicago! www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Best quote ever from my favorite physicist (and my PhD advisor): “What kind of physicist are you? Weird.”
The physicist Sidney Nagel delights in solving mysteries of the universe that are hiding in plain sight. @walkingthedot.bsky.social reports: www.quantamagazine.org/finding-beau...
Finding Beauty and Truth in Mundane Occurrences | Quanta Magazine
The physicist Sidney Nagel delights in solving mysteries of the universe that are hiding in plain sight.
www.quantamagazine.org
May 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Best quote ever from my favorite physicist (and my PhD advisor): “What kind of physicist are you? Weird.”
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
Gearing up for our upcoming exhibition in the European Cultural Centre’s architecture biennale, Time Space Existence 2025!
Kirigami d’Aria explores how structures based on kirigami (“cut paper”) can be used in architectural settings, adaptively tailoring airflow and shading in public spaces.
Kirigami d’Aria explores how structures based on kirigami (“cut paper”) can be used in architectural settings, adaptively tailoring airflow and shading in public spaces.
March 24, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Gearing up for our upcoming exhibition in the European Cultural Centre’s architecture biennale, Time Space Existence 2025!
Kirigami d’Aria explores how structures based on kirigami (“cut paper”) can be used in architectural settings, adaptively tailoring airflow and shading in public spaces.
Kirigami d’Aria explores how structures based on kirigami (“cut paper”) can be used in architectural settings, adaptively tailoring airflow and shading in public spaces.
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
APSMarch attendees: eat to bed early so you can get to the 8am session on Friday: Bioinspired phase separation, wi the Lorenzo Di Michele and many other great speakers.
8am sharp in the Hilton 4th floor Palos Verdes room
summit.aps.org/events/MAR-W64
8am sharp in the Hilton 4th floor Palos Verdes room
summit.aps.org/events/MAR-W64
Bioinspired Phase Separation
8:00 am – 10:48 am, Friday March 21, Session MAR-W64, Anaheim Hilton, Palo Verdes (Level 4)
summit.aps.org
March 21, 2025 at 4:25 AM
APSMarch attendees: eat to bed early so you can get to the 8am session on Friday: Bioinspired phase separation, wi the Lorenzo Di Michele and many other great speakers.
8am sharp in the Hilton 4th floor Palos Verdes room
summit.aps.org/events/MAR-W64
8am sharp in the Hilton 4th floor Palos Verdes room
summit.aps.org/events/MAR-W64
Check out Shih-Yuan's talk tomorrow afternoon about the strange elastic properties of liquid marbles AKA why it is fun to squish liquid marbles. MAR-S61@14:06pm in Anaheim Hilton, Pacific D
March 20, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Check out Shih-Yuan's talk tomorrow afternoon about the strange elastic properties of liquid marbles AKA why it is fun to squish liquid marbles. MAR-S61@14:06pm in Anaheim Hilton, Pacific D
Start you morning off right - come see Shih-Yuan's awesome invited talk! "From Wobble-and-Slide to Rock-and-Roll... and Jump!" MAR-L03, 9:12 in the *Convention Center* Room 203A
March 19, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Start you morning off right - come see Shih-Yuan's awesome invited talk! "From Wobble-and-Slide to Rock-and-Roll... and Jump!" MAR-L03, 9:12 in the *Convention Center* Room 203A
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
APS March meeting coming up: the fun starts Sun 3/16 with Squishy Science Sunday!
March 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
APS March meeting coming up: the fun starts Sun 3/16 with Squishy Science Sunday!
Reposted by Driscoll Lab
Today is the day!! Absolutely in awe about what a bunch of grad students were able to pull off when they looked around and realized no one else was standing up.
SO MANY STAND UP FOR SCIENCE EVENTS TO CHOOSE FROM—153 and COUNTING!
To get more information on our local events and to register your own, head to www.standupforscience2025.org/local-event-information/ ☀️⬇️🌎
To get more information on our local events and to register your own, head to www.standupforscience2025.org/local-event-information/ ☀️⬇️🌎
March 7, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Today is the day!! Absolutely in awe about what a bunch of grad students were able to pull off when they looked around and realized no one else was standing up.
I know where I will be tomorrow afternoon - Chicago science friends, I hope to see you all there!!!
Join us, tomorrow (Friday)!
@standupforscience.bsky.social
📍 Federal Plaza, Chicago
🕛 March 7, 2025 | 12 PM
📋 Register: lnkd.in/gguRyePu
🔗 Learn more: standupforscience2025.org
@standupforscience.bsky.social
📍 Federal Plaza, Chicago
🕛 March 7, 2025 | 12 PM
📋 Register: lnkd.in/gguRyePu
🔗 Learn more: standupforscience2025.org
March 7, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I know where I will be tomorrow afternoon - Chicago science friends, I hope to see you all there!!!