Wilding group

• Professor Nigel Wilding

  Professor of Physics

Biography

After earning a degree in Physics from Edinburgh University, I remained there to pursue a PhD on "Structural Patterns at Phase Transitions," which I completed in early 1992. Following this, I spent a year as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Heidelberg, Germany, before moving to the Institute of Physics at Mainz University, where I worked with Prof. K. Binder for three years.

In 1996, I returned to the Physics Department at Edinburgh University after being awarded a Personal Research Fellowship from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. I was appointed as a temporary lecturer at Edinburgh University in 1999 before moving in 2000 to take up a permanent lectureship in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Liverpool University.

In 2002, I joined the Department of Physics at the University of Bath as a lecturer, was promoted to Reader in 2004, and became a Professor in 2009. In 2018, I moved to the School of Physics at the University of Bristol, where I served as Professor and Head of School, holding the latter role until 2023.

Research Interests & Activities

My research interests span statistical physics, soft matter, and computational physics, with a particular focus on applying advanced simulation techniques to study the behaviours of a diverse range of complex systems. These include colloids, polymers, liquid crystals, and active matter, all of which exhibit intriguing phase behaviour and self-assembly properties. My goal is to elucidate the fundamental physical principles that govern these systems, contributing to a deeper understanding of their structural and dynamical properties.

Fluids at Interfaces and Hydrophobic Phenomena

A significant component of my current research focuses on fluids at interfaces, particularly surface phase transitions such as critical drying and their implications for hydrophobic interactions. Hydrophobicity plays a crucial role in biological and technological systems, affecting phenomena such as protein folding, self-assembly, and nanofluidic behaviour. In collaboration with R. Evans and F. Turci, I have investigated hydrophobic effects across multiple length scales, ranging from planar substrates to small solutes. Our approach combines Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics simulations and density functional theory to capture the intricate interplay between surface interactions, water structure and fluctuations, and phase transitions. This work contributes to understanding the fundamental thermodynamic and statistical mechanical underpinnings of hydrophobic effects, with implications for fields such as biophysics and materials science.

Phase Transitions in Active Matter

Another major current research interest is the study of phase transitions in active matter systems. Unlike equilibrium systems, active matter consists of self-propelled particles that consume energy to drive motion, leading to novel non-equilibrium phase behaviour. For example, in collaboration with F. Turci, I have explored wetting transitions of active Brownian particles on thin membranes. This research sheds light on non-equilibrium analogues of surface phase transitions, providing insights into collective behaviours that are distinct from their equilibrium counterparts. Understanding these transitions is potentially important for applications in synthetic biology, active materials design, and the physics of living systems.

Developing New Computational and Theoretical Approaches

A core aspect of my research is the development and application of sophisticated Monte Carlo simulation techniques often in tandem with finite-size scaling techniques for overcoming the limitations of simulation size. These methods are indispensable for studying phase transitions and critical phenomena, particularly in systems where analytical approaches are intractable. Over the years, I have contributed to several advanced computational and theoretical techniques, including:

• Lattice Switch Monte Carlo Method – A powerful technique for investigating first-order phase transitions, particularly in crystal-to-crystal transformations.
• Phase Switch Monte Carlo Method – A specialized method for accurately computing free energy differences between liquid and crystalline phases, essential for studying phase equilibria.
• Efficient Algorithms for Multi-Species Fluids – I have developed simulation approaches capable of handling systems with a large number of different particle species (polydisperse fluids), enabling the exploration of complex fluid mixtures with diverse interactions.
• Finite-Size Scaling Methods for Fluids – These theoretical methods provide a rigorous framework for analysing critical behaviour in fluids via simulation, helping to determine universality classes and scaling laws in complex systems.

By combining theoretical modelling with state-of-the-art computational techniques, my work aims to advance the understanding of fundamental processes governing soft matter and statistical physics.

Current researchers and PhD students