Job Description

Study on stochastic thermodynamics

How do the laws of thermodynamics apply to a single molecule inside a cell, or a nanoparticle suspended in a vacuum? At the microscopic scale, "heat" is no longer just a temperature—it is a violent, random force that dominates everything.

Our lab explores Stochastic Thermodynamics, the branch of physics that explains how energy, work, and information behave under intense thermal fluctuations. We are recruiting motivated undergraduate or graduate interns to join us in investigating two distinct but deeply connected frontiers: Underdamped Optical Levitation and In Vitro Kinesin Dynamics.

1. The Underdamped Frontier: Optical Levitation
In a liquid, small particles are "overdamped"—friction is so high that inertia is ignored. But what happens when we remove the environment? By using a laser to levitate a nanoparticle in a high vacuum, we enter the underdamped regime.
Here, the particle acts as a high-precision harmonic oscillator. Because the damping is near zero, the particle’s inertia) becomes visible. This allows us to test:
-  The Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem: Measuring how energy is exchanged between the particle and its sparse surroundings.
-  Information Engines: Testing if we can extract work from thermal noise (Maxwell’s Demon) in a system with memory and inertia.

2. The Biological Machine: Kinesin Dynamics
While levitated particles allow us to study fundamental physics in a "clean" vacuum, Kinesin allows us to study it in the "messy" complexity of life. Kinesins are biological molecular motors that convert chemical energy (ATP) into mechanical work by "walking" along microtubules.
We perform In Vitro experiments—reconstituting these motors outside the cell—to observe their dynamics. Using optical tweezers with sub-nanometer precision, we can:
-  Measure Stall Force: Determining the exact amount of force a single protein can exert against a load.
-  Analyze Step-by-Step Stochasticity: Every "step" a kinesin takes is a stochastic event. We use thermodynamics to understand the efficiency and "chemo-mechanical" coupling of these biological machines.

Why Join Our Lab?

As an intern, you won't just be a spectator; you will be an experimentalist. You will gain hands-on experience in:

• Precision Optics: Aligning high-power lasers and optimizing optical traps (Optical Tweezers).
• Vacuum Technology: Operating turbo-molecular pumps to reach the ultra-low pressures required for underdamped physics.
• DIY Instrumentation: Using 3D printing and microcontrollers (like the ESP32) to build custom hardware for the experiment.
• Computational Analysis: Using Python to perform spectral analysis and reconstruct the thermodynamic properties of the system from raw data.

 Who We Are Looking For

 We are seeking curious students with a background in Physics or Engineering who are:

1. Fascinated by how the "arrow of time" emerges from microscopic noise.
2. Interested in building things—whether it's an optical path or a data processing pipeline.
3. Eager to contribute to a lab that bridges nonequilibrium physics and advanced instrumentation.

Preferred Intern Educational Level

Master's, or undergraduate student

Skill sets or Qualities

Knowledge of thermal physics is required. Experimental skills such as Python and electronics may be required.