Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
Coventry University, Coventry, England, UK
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine
Courses are held in English (100%). Also, personal communication is mainly in English, but some personal communication may also be in German.
The statistical physics of complex systems is a very broad field ranging from the study of quantum phenomena to the conformational behaviour of biomolecules which can only be successfully tackled by employing a variety of different theoretical methods. In this respect, this joint graduate college brings together the expertise in analytical theory from Nancy and the long-standing experience in sophisticated computer simulation studies from Leipzig, promising unique prospects in advanced education of PhD students via research into this important field. Additional input in computational aspects and analytical field-theory methods comes from our associated partners at Coventry University, UK, and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Lviv, Ukraine.
The current research topics include disorder effects on phase transitions (diluted ferromagnets, long-range correlated defects, spin glasses, random graphs and networks), long-range interacting systems, topological excitations, conformational statistics of macromolecules such as polymers and proteins (folding, aggregation, adsorption, confinement effects), active polymeric systems, non-equilibrium relaxation (coarsening and ageing), ice and water models, and quantum phase transitions. The emphasis of the school is on fostering close collaboration between the PhD students in Leipzig and Nancy. To this end, extended visits by the students of the two partner universities, a joint seminar programme taking place reciprocally in Leipzig and Nancy, joint supervision by scientists in Leipzig and Nancy and a final degree from both universities ("co-tutelle de thèse") are an integral part of the graduate college. In addition, visits of and "co-tutelle de thèses" with the associated Coventry University in England and the Institute for Condensed Matter Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Lviv are possible.
Binational grants, an EU Marie Curie International Network, and participation in an EU COST action provide an additional excellent background for further collaborations with internationally renowned scientists in, e.g., Armenia, Australia, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Turkey, USA. and many other countries. Additional binational support is made possible by the CNRS in France and the DAAD and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany.