## Oxford Studentship in PDE

Postgraduate CASE Studentship "Q-tensor theory and liquid crystal
displays" <https://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/node/15169>

Vacancy Reference:

BK/11/007

STUDENTSHIP: EPSRC STANDARD STUDENTSHIP + ï¿½2000 per annum enhancement +
College and University fees.

Closing date for applications: 31 March 2011

Applications are invited for a postgraduate studentship, funded by EPSRC
and Hewlett Packard Laboratories, to work on "Q-tensor theory and liquid
crystal displays" with Professor Sir John Ball FRS from the Oxford Centre
for Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations (OxPDE), part of the
Mathematical Institute, and Dr Christopher Newton from HP Labs in Bristol.
The student will be based in OxPDE
(http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/groups/oxpde/ ), but will regularly visit HP
Labs (http://www.hpl.hp.com/bristol/ ). The studentship is available for a
1 October 2011 start and is subject to standard Doctoral Training Account
rules for eligibility.

Liquid crystals form an intermediate state of matter between isotropic
liquids and crystalline solids, and as the working substance of many
electronic displays  are of immense technological importance. In the
future displays are likely to be based on novel liquid crystal effects,
such as bi- or multi-stability, in which there are two or more stable
states which are optically distinct and which can be switched between
electrically.  The project concerns the analysis of the nonlinear partial
differential equations of the Landau - de Gennes Q-tensor theory of
nematic liquid crystals, and will build on the recent work done in Oxford
on variational (and dynamic) tools for understanding the Q-tensor theory.
This understanding will be developed to include the effect of applied
electric fields, the existence and properties of stable configurations and
how these depend on surface topography. The aim is to provide a sound
theoretical underpinning that will guide the computational effort on new
kinds of displays.

The studentship is attached to the Queen's College, and accommodation will
be available in the College for one year. The studentship covers a stipend
of at least ï¿½15,590 per annum (which includes a ï¿½2,000 industrial
enhancement), and College and University fees at the EU rate. The
studentship is open to all EU citizens, but those from outside the UK are
eligible for a fees-only award.

The studentship falls outside the University's Gathered Field process.
Applications should be made online at
degree. Alternatively, applications (and references signed over the seal)
can be sent to Margaret Sloper at the Mathematical Institute using the
from the above link. Applications must arrive by the end of the day on 31
letter. References can also be sent directly to Margaret (email
graduate.studies@maths.ox.ac.uk) by the closing date. For further details
of the projects, including the application process, please see
www.maths.ox.ac.uk/notices/vacancies, or contact

Oxford University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Emma Waters

Project Manager

OxMOS - New Frontiers in the Mathematics of Solids

OxPDE - Oxford Centre for Nonlinear PDE

Mathematical Institute

1st Floor Gibson Building

Oxford

OX2 6HA

Tel: 01865-615117

Mathematical Institute

24-29 St Giles

Oxford

OX1 3LB