Transport in passive systems such as molecular liquids is controlled by temperature. In contrast, active systems such as bacterial colonies present a new control parameter in the form of a non-thermal energy. This energy, used by active particles to drive their motion, is accompanied by a variety of particle features, including different shapes and interactions. It is unclear how this scenario conditions transport and phase transitions in these systems. The overall aim of this project is to characterise this transport for a collection of models of active systems using molecular dynamics simulations and experimental techniques. This investigation is conceived to provide a foundation, based on canonical models and specially designed experiments, for exploring complex biological environments.
This project introduces many original aspects such as the use of a novel mixed methodology, including coarse grained models, a repertoire of statistical tools, and the use of experimental techniques so far employed in passive systems. This mixing of different techniques and disciplines favours an innovative transfer of knowledge between physicists and biologists. The project also promotes some of the aspirations of the MSCA: the engagement of the general public through a pedagogical dissemination and the establishment of interdisciplinary interchanges.
This project is included in an emergent field of fundamental research resulting from combining different disciplines such as statistical physics and microbiology. These hybrid collaborations have shown great impact, reaching different expert audiences and bringing new perspectives to problems that were tackled from a single perspective. Thus, this project has created a networking initiative, involving different departments at the University of Granada, collaborations with companies, and connections with other international institutions. With this project we have also considered some of the challenges promoted by the United Nations: the development of resilient and diversified human structures to foster innovation.
As overall objectives, this project considered the study of transport in real systems and computational models with: isotropic interactions, non-isotropic interactions, and polarity. Despite the original objectives of this project (in particular those concerning experiments) have strongly suffered from the situation created by the COVID-19, this action has concluded with significant results: i) all the computational models were developed; ii) despite the lockdown arriving to Spain at the end of the first third of the action, I obtained promising experimental results; iii) I published a research paper as leading scientist in Physical Review X (the journal with the second highest impact factor, 15.762 publishing research in all areas of physics), and have three papers in preparation; iv) I developed a network of collaborations of different kind: local, international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral; v) I communicated my results in international conferences, and in internal and external seminars; vi) I disseminated my expertise by: teaching courses at an undergraduate level, considering the gender dimension through activities with secondary schools, and being present in the media.
