Dr. Elisa Chisari

I am interested in…

What are you working on?

I work on developing and testing models of the structure of the Universe. My group mostly focuses on understanding what phenomena across the Universe can contribute to changing the shapes of galaxies. The two main ones are gravitational lensing (predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity) and gravitational tides. Tides work in a similar way to those on Earth: differences in gravity from one side to the other of a galaxy can make it stretch in particular directions. Modelling both effects is really important if we want to extract information about the dark components of the Universe: dark energy and dark matter, which constitute 95% of the energy density of the Universe today.

What does the DRSTP mean for you?

I view DRSTP as an excellent opportunity for students to get quality high level courses on the core areas of theoretical physics. As a supervisor, I think this is a fantastic asset to my students. I think they also get the opportunity to meet fellow students from other institutions who are at a similar stage in their professional careers. This helps them feel they belong to a broader community than their own research group.

What interests do you have apart from your research?

My family, reading, dancing, and the occasional cycle through the Dutch countryside!

Prof. dr. Jan de Boer

Prof. dr. Paul van der Schoot

I am interested in…

What are you workin on?

I apply the toolbox of statistical mechanics to a wide range of problems in soft condensed matter physics. The soft matter systems I work on, include liquid crystals, colloids, polymers, droplets, transient and permenent networks of particles, gels and supramolecular assemblies such as viruses and virus-like particles. My work is mostly but not exclusively driven by experimental observation, and involves collaboration with very diverse experimental groups, involving biotechnologists, biophysicists, organic chemists, polymer engineers, structural biologists and so on. Often our more applied research, such as that on the formation of system-spanning networks of particles in polymeric materials, leads to new insights in fundamental science as well as to exciting new ideas for composite materials and sometimes even to patents!

What does the DRSTP mean for you?

DRSTP is the way to build a theoretical physics community in The Netherlands, and broaden the horizon of graduate students that typically focus attention on a very small research area. It is also very rewarding to get to know young and aspiring young theoreticians and get them interested in the more applied aspects of theoretical physics.

What interests do you have apart from your research?

I am avid swimmer, and like to listen to many different styles of music. I also enjoy reading books, fiction and non-fiction.