The Doctoral School of Physics,
West University of Timisoara
is looking for PhD candidates in September 2021
Candidates interested to prepare a PhD thesis dedicated to
microfluidics
applications of discrete Boltzmann models
are encouraged to contact
Dr. Victor Sofonea
(Curriculum Vitae on Brainmap)
E-mail : sofonea@gmail.com
Microscale fluid flow is an active research topic with numerous applications invacuum technology, design and fabrication ofv micro- and nano-electromechanical
systems (MEMS), transport through porous media (gas and oil extraction) or
blood flow in capillary vessels. In such cases, as well as in rarefied gases or
high altitude aerodynamics, the fluid is far from equilibrium and the Knudsen
number (defined as the ratio between the mean free path of fluid particles and
the characteristic size of the flow domain) becomes non-negligible. Under these
circumstances, the well-known Navier-Stokes equations of fluid mechanics are
no longer valid and more elaborated models and computer simulation techniques
need to be developed to ensure the accurate investigation of physical phenomena
and technological processes.
The objective of this PhD Project is the investigation of specific flow problems
where the non-negligible value of the Knunden number plays an important role.
Recently developed models based on the Boltzmann equation and Gauss-Hermite
quadratures will be used for computer simulation of the flow problems. Various
types of boundary conditions will be considered (bounce back, diffuse reflection,
Maxwell and Cercignani-Lampis). A particular attention will be given to the
numerical schemes used to solve the evolution equations in the phase space.
Knowledge of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics is a prerequisite for
the PhD candidate. Basic knowledge of Unix systems and computer programming
(C or Fortran) is wishful, but not mandatory for applying. During the PhD project,
the candidate will become acquainted with numerical schemes for hyperbolic
equations, as well as with code programming on high performance parallel
computing techniques including Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). After
successful completion of the thesis, these skills are expected to help the candidate
integrate in scientific or engineering activities in both the academia and the industry.
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CURRICULUM VITAE (old version)
Name: Victor SofoneaDate and place
of birth: January 10, 1956, Deva, Romania
Institute for Complex Fluids
magneto-optical and microstructural properties
of magnetic fluids Department of Physics, West University
of Timisoara
crystal growth technology and physical properties
of crystals
Institute for Welding and Material Testing, Timisoara
physics of the welding arc and plasma physics,
Tehnometal CTC Laboratory, Timisoara
material testing and quality control
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Education
Positions
Research expertise
Professional experience
Visiting positions
Awards
Scientific publications
Research Projects
PhD:
Department of Physics, University of Bucharest, Romania (1995)
Thesis: Collective Interactions
in Magnetic Fluids
Advisor:
Professor Ioan-Iovitz Popescu,
Member of the Romanian Academy
MSc:
Department of Physics, West University
of Timisoara, Romania (1978)
Dissertation: Applications of
Nonlinear Optics
Advisor: Professor Emmerich Hegedus
Center for Fundamental and Advanced
Technical Research
Romanian Academy
Bd. Mihai Viteazul 24
RO - 300223 Timisoara
Romania
Phone/Fax:
+ 40 256 19 18 16
E-mail:
sofonea@acad-tim.tm.edu.ro
Professional
experience
Visiting
positions
1990-1997
Senior Researcher
(formerly Research Center for
Hydrodynamics, Cavitation and Magnetic Fluids)
Polytechnical University of Timisoara
1986-1990
Research Physicist
1981-1986
Researcher
data acquisition and signal processing
1979-1981
Physicist
1978-1979
Physics Teacher
25th General School,
Timisoara
(September 16 - 30, 2007 and October 9 - December 8, 2008)
Department of Physics,
Carnegie Mellon University,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(March 1 - May 31, 2004 and June 1 - September 30, 2005)
Supported by NASA Microgravity Research Division
Department of Physics,
University of Bari, Italy
(January 22, 2004 - February 20, 2004)
Institute for the Applications of Calculus "Mauro Picone" Roma,
Section of Bari, Italy
(June 1, 2003 - November 30, 2003)
Supported by the National Research Council of Italy
(NATO Outreach Programme)
Department of Physics,
Carnegie Mellon University,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(October 1, 2000 - April 30, 2001)
Supported by NASA Microgravity Research Division
Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre,
Department of Physics and Astronomy,
The University of Edinburgh, and
Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering,
Heriot - Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland
(April 17 - July 15, 2000)
Supported by the European Community "Access to
Research Infrastructures" Programme under grant no. HPRI-1999-CT-00026:
Training and Research on Advanced Computing Systems - TRACS
Department of Physics,
Carnegie Mellon University,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(November 6, 1997 - February 28, 1998)
Supported by NASA Microgravity Research Division
Laboratory for Devices and Instrumentation in Optoelectronics and Microwaves
(formerly Laboratory
for Colloid Sensors and Instrumentation),
Jean Monnet University, Saint Etienne, France
(October 1-31, 1997)
Department of Theoretical Physics, University of
Wuppertal, Germany
(June 15 - September 15, 1996)
Workshop on Parallel Processing and its Applications in
Physics, Chemistry and Material Science,
International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste,
Italy
(September 5 - 23, 1994)
Laboratory of Acoustics and Optics of Condensed
Matter, Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris, France
(January 3 - March 31, 1994)
Supported by the Commission of European Communities,
Directorate General XII (individual mobility grant)
Institute for Computer Applications, University of Stuttgart, Germany (August 1 - September 30, 1993)
Supported by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
"Aurel Vlaicu" Prize of the Romanian Academy (1999)with Dr. Klaus R. Mecke (Max Planck Institute for Metal Research, Stuttgart, Germany), for the group of papers entitled
Lattice Boltzmann Morphological Models for Complex Fluids
including:
Research Projects
- V.Sofonea, K.R.Mecke
Morphological Characterization of Spinodal Decomposition Kinetics
European Physical Journal B 8 (1999) 99-112
- K.R.Mecke, V.Sofonea
Morphology of Spinodal Decomposition
Physical Review E 56 (1997) R3761-R3764
- V.Sofonea
Two Phase Fluid Subjected to Terrestrial or Space Conditions: a Lattice Boltzmann Study
International Journal of Modern Physics C - Computers and Physics 7 (1996) 695-704
- V.Sofonea
Lattice Boltzmann Approach to Collective Particle Interactions in Magnetic Fluids
Europhysics Letters 25 (1994) 385-390
- Exploratory Research Project PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0516 (2011 - 2014)
- Joint Research Project PN-II-ID-JRP-2011-2-0060 (2013 - 2016)
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