2007 - 2010:
NSF Postdoctoral Scholar at Laboratory of Interfacial & Small Scale Transport at Caltech.
:: Thermocapillarity induced instability in ultrathin polymer film melts (DOI, arXiv)
:: Modulation of thermocapillary stresses to pattern nanoscale molten polymer film
Molten polymer films of hundreds of nanometer thickness self-organize in arrays of nanopillars if
confined in a traverse thermal gradient due to a temperature-dependent surface tension.
The setup is a rare example of an extreme limit of the so-scalled deformational Bénard-Marangoni
instability where gravity is completely absent. The thermal gradient across the film (and a small
air gap) is commonly maintained by two flat plates. Defining a structure along the upper plate
directly affects the temperature- and thus stress-distribution along the film interface, replicating
the upper structure in a non-contact, one-step fashion in the film. The method is promising to
cost-effectively fabricate passive optical devices such as waveguides since the structures are
generated out of a melt, guaranteering specularly smooth interfaces and low scattering losses.
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2006 - 2007:
SNF Postdoctoral Scholar at Center for Optofluidic Integration/
Optical Information Processing Group/Caltech
:: Optical applications of free surface flows such as drop, bubbles, emulsions and capillary bridges
:: Switching behavior of bistable capillary systems
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2006:
:: Optofluidic room decoration
Little project to bring the beauty of optofluidics to your living room. Light is shined through a
volume of water with a free surface on one side, which is stirred by a little pump in an arbitrary
fashion. This modifies in turn the diffraction path of the light projected to a near-by wall.
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2005 - 2006:
Member of the scientific staff at LTNT/ETH Zurich
:: Vapor formation around heated particles (DOI)
:: Microfluidics of emulsions
:: Capillary bridges (PDF)
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2001 - 2005:
PhD student / research fellow at LTNT/ETH Zurich
:: Numerical simulation of laser induced evaporation and coagulation of nanoparticle suspension
liquids (DOI)
:: Thermocapillarity induced free surface flows
:: Dynamics of wetting
:: Particle dynamics in sterically stabilized suspensions
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2002:
Self-initiated research project on the formation of fluid chains during the pouring of water out of a bucket. John Bush at MIT has some nice pictures on the same topic.
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2002:
Self-initiated research project on the film thickness of water flowing over a spherical decoration spring stone fed in the stone center
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2001:
Self-initiated research project on sound generation during flatulence
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2000:
Self-initiated research project on miniature rockets driven by pressurized water (PDF)
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1994 - 2000:
Diploma student in mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen, specialization thermal engineering
1999 - 2000:
Engineering assistant at FEV Engine Technology, Auburn Hills, U.S.A.
:: Testing of self-ignition engines fueled with either Diesel or Methanol
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1998 - 1999:
Exchange student at UC Davis
:: Temperature measurement of a heated plate impinged with an oblique airflow with thermochromic
liquid crystals (PDF)
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1997 - 1998:
Student Worker EST/RWTH Aachen
:: Numerical simulation of the combustion processes in an air-staged 100kW oil-burner (PDF)
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1996:
Self-initiated research project investigating the Magnus-effect acting on table tennis balls (more)
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1995:
Self-initiated research project investigating the thermal propulsion of a model steam boat (more)
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1992 - 1994:
Assistant activity in Porsche race teams (Chrzanowski-Klein, Roock racing)
:: Races: 24h Nürburgring, 24h Spa-Francorchamps, 24h Le Mans, 24h Daytona, 12h Sebring,
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1989 - 1993:
Assistant activity at Modena-Motorsport GmbH
:: Repairing and restoring sports cars and historic race cars
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