Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems

The Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden has moved its social media presence to BlueSky. Follow us for updates on our research on the Physics of Complex Systems!

New preprint! Migrating cell clusters have an asymmetric shape, with higher contact angle at the rear and lower at the front. We explained it by treating the tissue as an active droplet driven by asymmetric tractions! arxiv.org/abs/2610.03536

New paper! Inspired by gliding bacteria, we introduce active screws: Particles that self-propel by spinning around their propulsion axis. We show that active screws form active chiral nematics. With Debu Banerjee and @lauritzh.bsky.social @mpipks.bsky.social journals.aps.org/prresearch/a...

The Autumn call for PhD positions in the International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Dynamics and Control is now open! We offer a large variety of projects in Physics & Chemistry. The deadline is the 31th of October. All the information can be found in: www.imprs-pks.mpg.de/application/...

You are cordially invited.

New #preprint: "Nonlinear isotropic odd elasticity" arxiv.org/abs/2605.02476 More from the #PhD work of @zhaoshh.bsky.social: revealing some of the surprising nonlinear mechanical behaviour of active, "odd" solids. @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @csbdresden.bsky.social

Many thanks @prelights.bsky.social for highlighting our recent #preprint, a great collaboration with @paveltomancak.bsky.social! doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.25.714261 Experiments, theory, a mechanical instability, what more could one ask for? @mpi-cbg.de @mpipks.bsky.social @csbdresden.bsky.social

New #preprint: "Stretching and bending of (really) thick elastic plates" arxiv.org/abs/2606.01889 Yet another paper from the #PhD work of @zhaoshh.bsky.social and yet another expansion of three-dimensional elasticity for some ε≪1. @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @csbdresden.bsky.social

Our paper on a Hamiltonian description of non-reciprocal interactions is out @natphys.nature.com! With Yubo Shi, Roderich Moessner, and @marinbukov.bsky.social @mpipks.bsky.social @ub.edu @icreacommunity.bsky.social Check it out, and read more in the thread below! 👇 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

You are very welcome.

Looking for a #postdoc in biophysics, molecular/cell biology, biomedicine or bioengineering? The GSS program offers candidates with PhD degrees from German institutions the chance to join one of the @biohub.org partner universities for a 3 year fellowship. Applications are welcome until the 20/05!

A fantastic #postdoc opportunity to join us in Dresden @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de @csbdresden.bsky.social or to join @biohub.org. Apply by the 20th of May!

Our call for Postdoc Positions in Biological Physics is open! Join our exciting and stimulating environment, with a rich variety of groups to collaborate. Deadline for applications is 15th of May! Apply here: www.pks.mpg.de/biological-p...

A new call for PhD positions in the International Max Planck Research School for Quantum Dynamics and Control is open! We offer a large variety of projects in Physics & Chemistry. The deadline is the 30th of April. All the information can be found in the website: www.imprs-pks.mpg.de/application/...

The Division of Biological Physics @mpipks.bsky.social seeks a Research Group Leader in #biophysics, #softmatter physics, or related areas. (Further particulars in the ad.) Apply by the 3rd of April 2026 at pks.mpg.de/bprgl to join us in Dresden!

You have a background in math/physics/computer science/ML and are looking for an interdisciplinary postdoc fellowship in life sciences with free choice of host groups? Then join us at the CSBD as an ELBE postdoc! The application deadline is the 13 of March

New preprint! Do you like ocean waves? We found similar waves on bacterial colonies! We found that this collective behavior, known as rippling, is nothing but surface waves on an active nematic. @princeton.edu @mpipks.bsky.social @ub.edu @icreacommunity.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Delighted to announce “Hydrodynamic Approaches to Active Matter: Successes and Future Challenges”, will now take place on 6–10 October 2025 at @mpipks.bsky.social, on the occasion of John Toner’s 71st birthday. We hope you will join us. www.pks.mpg.de/haam26

Now #published @physrevlett.bsky.social: the answer to the question that Euler did not solve three hundred years ago*. @zhaoshh.bsky.social doi.org/10.1103/63py-ph5s * Possible reasons include not having access to Mathematica and predating Riemann (in the non-ecological sense).

Congratulations! Prof. Igor Herbut (Simon Fraser University) awarded the "Physik-Preis Dresden 2025“

Fully funded summer #internships in #biophysics @mpipks.bsky.social for Bachelor's and Master's students! Apply by the 30th of November 2025: www.pks.mpg.de/biophys-inte...

We welcome @fbrauns.bsky.social as a new group leader @mpipks.bsky.social and @mpi-cbg.de!

Now #published as a Letter @physreve.bsky.social: "Geometry of T1 transitions in epithelia" doi.org/10.1103/kdnb-bxdx My first single-author paper deploys a silly amount of Olympiad geometry on a fundamental biophysics problem, summarised in the attached thread! @mpipks.bsky.social @mpi-cbg.de

A new call for the ELBE Visiting faculty program is now open! No matter if you are junior or senior faculty, if you work on math/physics/computer science/ML applied to life sciences, you are welcome to submit an application to come and collaborate with the groups at CSBD! Deadline is November 30th.

Truly chuffed for our fearless food physicists @mpipks.bsky.social + collabs from AT @istaresearch.bsky.social, IT & ES who won this year’s Ig Nobel - the #NobelPrize of hearts❤️for cracking the science of perfect pasta !🍝Kudos to all for intrepidly consuming lots of cheese in the name of science!😋