Rachel Hendrikse

Background

Before the CDT I spent four years at Lancaster University completing an MPhys in Theoretical Physics. During my degree I undertook a Physics of Fluids module, which is when I first became interested in fluid dynamics.

Research Interests

My PhD project is focused on modelling mixing and dispersion in surfactant systems. Surfactant systems are difficult to model using traditional continuum approaches, because a lot of the interesting dynamics of a surfactant solution happen on the molecular scale. In the initial stages of this project, I have been looking into different modelling techniques, including: Monte Carlo methods, Molecular Dynamics and Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD), as well as traditional CFD approaches. These techniques cover a range of length scales, each having their advantages and disadvantages for such systems.

Why I chose the CDT in Fluid Dynamics

The programme gave me the opportunity to look into many different possible research areas before making a decision on my PhD project. It also allowed me to experience things such as lab work, which I haven’t previously had much experience with, having come from a theoretical physics background.