Physics & Astronomy Assistant Professor Manasa Kandula: UMASS "Understanding fundamental physics through Colloid experiments"

A fundamental challenge in materials physics is to understand the microscopic
underpinnings of various physical phenomena. In this regard, in the first part of my talk,
I will discuss how colloidal suspensions have emerged as an ideal system to probe
generic condensed matter phenomena in real-time and space. In the second half, I will
discuss our research using binary colloidal suspensions, to unravel the mysteries of
glass transition and deformation. I will conclude by discussing our ongoing efforts to
develop experimental active colloidal system to investigate non-equilibrium active
matter physics.