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Contact Information

Address:
University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder
Department of Physics, 390 UCB
Gamow Tower, F-521 (office), G-335 and G-322 (Labs)
2000 ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Ave
Boulder, CO 80309-0390

  (303) 492-7277 (office); (303) 492-6530 (lab)
  (303) 492-2998
    Ivan (dot) Smalyukh (at) colorado (dot) edu

  
  Group Website

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Boulder is forty miles from the International Airport in Denver and also has a local airport. To get to Boulder, it is best to fly into Denver International Airport (DIA), which is located approximately 45 minutes away from Boulder. In order to get to Boulder from DIA, take the RTD AB bus, which costs $10.00 (pay exact amount on the bus) and leaves from the WEST side of DIA, level 5, island 5, once an hour, roughly 15 or 20 mins after the hour. Inquire at the RTD booth for precise times. For more details check at the RTD booth or see or . RTD buses run many routes so it is important that you take the AB route. Another mode of transportation between DIA and Boulder is the Supershuttle (phone: 303-227-0000 or web ), which provides door-to-door service and also leaves DIA every hour.

Boulder has a very extensive bus system. If you would like to visit a location beyond the vicinity of campus, visit for bus route information.

Boulder and ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder

Boulder is a beautiful town which has been named by Forbes the , the , the , and is consistently among the for artists, scientists, students, sports, green-living, for running, for fitness, etc.

Boulder enjoys a mild climate, with approximately 300 sunny days per year and some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the United States. The elevation of Boulder is approximately one mile above sea level. There are innumerable opportunities for outdoor recreation in Boulder and 12-13 thousand foot peaks less than 20 miles away from Boulder. There are also many cultural activities in Boulder, with cafes and bookstores at every corner of its streets. University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder has a beautiful campus, at a height of 5400 feet, located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The weather during August is usually very pleasant, with a low humidity; the average high temperature is in the 80's (Fahrenheit) while the average low temperature is in the 50's. Boulder and its surroundings offer a large spectrum of first rate outdoor recreational activities, which include hiking, mountain biking, running, rock and ice climbing, white water rafting, fishing, bird watching, outdoor concerts, and numerous local microbreweries. Chautauqua Park, an area right in front of the Flat Irons mountains (the logo appearing in most photos of Boulder), south-west of campus, is a must-visit park with a huge selection of trailheads, best heading to Green and Bear mountains. Another attraction, closer to campus is the Creek path, (just north, down hill of Duane Physics building), which runs along the Boulder Creek from the foothills, several miles west of town, to the prairie, several miles east. Pearl Street Walking Mall, located downtown Boulder, approximately 0.5 mile north of campus is also a must place to visit and to hang out in the evenings. The Rocky Mountain National Park is approximately 50 miles north-west of Boulder. You can find more detailed information about Boulder such as maps, weather, recreation in .

Job/Research Opportunities

1) is available in the Smalyukh Research Group, Department of Physics, MSE and RASEI, University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder. This is an opening with a research focus on topological aspects of physical behavior in soft and magnetic materials with emergent new properties.

The position is initially for one year starting from September 1, 2020 or later, but can be potentially extended for about three additional years. In addition, our Research laboratory can host Feodor Lynen Research Fellows in this research area and encourages applications by scientists interested in a collaborative research while staying in our laboratory. For more information, please visit Become the host of a Feodor Lynen Research Fellow and Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship.

The planned research projects will be spanning soft condensed matter and magnetic solid-state systems, including studies of colloids, liquid crystals, chiral magnets, topological defects and solitons, and out-of-equilibrium behavior of topologically protected field configurations in condensed matter systems. Prior research experiences in one or more of the following research directions will be considered valuable: (1) Liquid crystals; (2) Colloids; (3) Nanoparticle synthesis and surface functionalization; (4) active matter systems; (5) molecular and colloidal self-assembly; (6) magnetic materials; (7) skyrmions and knotted fields. Multiple collaborations with other postdocs and PhD students in the group are expected. The research can involve both experiments and numerical modeling, and preferably a combination of both.

2) A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the Smalyukh Research Group, Department of Physics, MSE and RASEI, University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder. This is an opening with a research focus on self-assembly of mesostructured composite materials with emergent new properties and physical behavior.  The planned research projects will be spanning soft condensed matter and biological systems, including studies of colloids, liquid crystals, topological defects and solitons, bacterial biofilms, active matter and out-of-equilibrium behavior of soft matter systems. Prior research experiences in one or more of the following research directions will be considered valuable: (1) Liquid crystals; (2) Colloids; (3) Nanoparticle synthesis and surface functionalization; (4) active matter systems; (5) molecular and colloidal self-assembly; (6) quantum dots, photon-upconverting and plasmonic nanoparticles and nanocomposites; (7) aerogels and related materials. Multiple collaborations with other postdocs and PhD students in the group are expected. The position is initially for one year starting from September 1, 2020 but can be potentially extended for about three additional years.  See details of the job posting and apply at . In addition, our Research laboratory can host Feodor Lynen Research Fellows in this research area and encourages applications by scientists interested in a collaborative research while staying in our laboratory. For more information, please visit and .

3) A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Smalyukh Research Group, Department of Physics, MSE and RASEI, University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder.This opening is for a Post-Doctoral Researcher position with a research focus on the development of nanophononic metamaterials for record-breaking thermoelectric device performance. Prior research experiences in one or more of the following research directions will be considered valuable: (1) Research in modeling and measuring microscale heat transport and properties of thermoelectric devices; (2) Nanofabrication of silicon using electron beam lithography and multiple etching techniques; (3) Experimental studies involving aerogel fabrication and packaging; (4) Technology transfer. The position is initially for one year starting from March 1, 2019 but can be potentially extended for up to three additional years. Because a significant fraction of the work will be carried out using facilities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U. S. government, candidates will be required to pass security screening for access to those facilities as part of a final offer of employment. See details of the job posting and apply at .

4) A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the , Department of Physics, MSE and RASEI, University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder.  This opening is for a postdoctoral researcher position with a research focus on the development of super-resolution optical imaging techniques for the experimental studies of soft condensed matter and biological systems. Prior research experiences in one or more of the following research directions will be considered valuable: (1) development and use of super-resolution imaging techniques such as STED, PALM and STORM; (2) Nonlinear optics and imaging techniques like CARS, transient absorption microscopy and SRS imaging; (3) Pump-probe techniques; (4) Experimental study of liquid crystals, colloids, bacterial biofilms and other soft matter and biological systems using optical techniques. The position is initially for one year starting from October 01, 2018 (or later within 2018), but can be extended for up to three additional years. The candidates are required to have PhD in physics or related fields. The candidates must be self-motivated and responsible, as well as have significant prior research accomplishments, such as first-author publications. For the initial consideration, the interested candidates should submit a single pdf-file containing cover letter, CV and names and contact information of 3 or more references. The review of application will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. See details of the job posting and apply at . Our Research laboratory can host Feodor Lynen Research Fellows and encourages applications by German scientists interested in a collaborative research while visiting our laboratory. For more information, please visit and .

5) Smalyukh Research Group has an opening for a postdoctoral research associate position in applied physics research on cellulose nanocrystal based aerogels. The research associate will work collaboratively with a team of postdocs and PhD students to optimize fabrication of cellulose nanorods and characterize their liquid crystalline self-assembly, as well as to develop and optimize procedures for converting the self-assembled liquid crystals into ordered hydrogels and aerogels. The postdoc will also characterize optical properties of these aerogel materials. The cellulose nanocrystals will be produced with the help of Acetobacter xylinum bacteria as well as using several other approaches. The anticipated technological applications of the transparent cellulose-based aerogels include thermally insulating transparent films for retrofitting windows and other uses. The position is initially for one year starting from October 01, 2018 (or later within 2018), but can be extended for up to three additional years.  Experimental research experiences in colloidal science, microbiology, liquid crystals, aerogels, smart windows, as well as combinations or all of these research areas is preferred. See job posting and apply at . Our Research laboratory can host Feodor Lynen Research Fellows and encourages applications by German scientists interested in a collaborative research while visiting our laboratory. For more information, please visit and .

6) Smalyukh Research Group has research opportunities for two graduate research assistants who are PhD students enrolled in ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Physics, MSE or ECEE graduate programs. Multiple undergraduate research assistant positions are available. The students will do research projects at the interface of liquid crystal materials science, nanoscience and optics/photonics. To apply, contact Professor Smalyukh by email.

7) Our Research laboratory can host Feodor Lynen Research Fellows and encourages applications by German scientists interested in a collaborative research while visiting our laboratory. For more information, please visit and .