Müller, Marcus, Prof. Dr.

• 1995: Dr. rer. nat. (Physics) Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz
• 1995, 1998: TRACS visitor EPCC, Edinburgh (collaboration with M. Cates)
• 1995-1996: Postdoc (with M. Schick, University of Washington, Seattle)
• 1997-1999: Postdoc (with K. Binder, Mainz)
• 1999: Habilitation for Theoretical Physics, Mainz
• 1999-2001: Hochschulassistent (C1), Mainz
• 2001-2004: Hochschuldozent (C2), Mainz
• 2002-2004: Heisenberg Fellow of the DFG
• 2004-2005: Associate Professor for Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• since 2005: Lichtenberg-Professor Volkswagenstiftung, Georg-August University, Göttingen
  
• since 2008: Professor (W3), Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Göttingen

Major Research Interests
Using computer simulation and numerical self-consistent field theory, we study the statistical physics of soft matter with special focus on polymer physics, interfacial and wetting phenomena, and biologically motivated problems. We are interested in collective phenomena (e.g., pore formation and fusion of lipid membranes, phase separation in mixed polymer brushes, self-assembly of block copolymers, dewetting and motion of droplets on surfaces), in which many molecules participate. Both, equilibrium properties as well as the kinetics of structure formation or motion driven by external fields are investigated. Employing coarse-grained models that only incorporate the essential, relevant interactions we are able to systematically investigate collective phenomena on time scales of microseconds and length scales of 10-100nm. Another focus of our research is the development of models and computational techniques to speed up the simulation and to accurately calculate free energies and locate phase boundaries).

Figure 1: Transition state of the fusion process between two tense apposed bilayer membranes.

Figure 2: Bicontinuous morphology of a lamellar-forming diblock copolymer on a patterned substrate.