Objective The overall aim of the research activities presented in this proposal is to elucidate the general principles governing the physics of many-body systems of active particles when excluded-volume interactions compete with internal driving forces. We aim to reach a general understanding of this novel class of “active materials” and give an answer to the following question: How are the structure of the liquid and solid phases, and their mechanical response to an applied deformation, affected by self-propulsion? Statistical mechanics can efficiently deal with a broad class of soft matter systems at thermal equilibrium. However, active matter evolves in a non-equilibrium manner, as it is made of elements which have their own source of motion, which demands a new conceptual framework to describe it. By combining numerical simulations and theoretical analysis of model systems, we intend to get new quantitative predictions that can be tested experimentally in suspensions of self-propelled colloids, active emulsions or dense assemblies of cells, and exploit our results to design and characterise novel materials through collaboration with experimental groups. The completion of this programme will represent a major contribution into this fast-growing field with direct applications in materials science and biophysics: the engineering of synthetic materials that mimic the behaviour of living matter is a major challenge of current science and technology. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicssoft matter physicsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringnatural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsstatistical mechanicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiophysics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA Net EU contribution € 158 121,60 Address GRAN VIA DE LES CORTS CATALANES 585 08007 Barcelona Spain See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 158 121,60