Vittoria Sposini is currently completing her Ph.D. at Potsdam University, Germany. She started her University education in her home country, Italy, at the University of Perugia, where she obtained her BSc in 2014. Her MSc work was mainly based at the University of Bologna, with a three-month stage at BCAM--Basque Center for Applied Mathematics in Bilbao (Spain). She then moved to Germany for her Doctoral work in the group of Prof. Ralf Metzler, one of the worldwide leaders in non-equilibrium statistical physics and, in particular, in (anomalous) stochastic processes. Her tight link with the group in BCAM brought to the establishment of a joint-PhD programme between the University of Potsdam and the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao. At the moment, Vittoria is about to defend her Ph.D.
Vittoria's expertise lies in mathematical modelling and statistical analysis of thermal and active motion in disordered systems, with applications to biological and soft matter. Applications to soft matter physics lie indeed at the heart of her project PSDynaMix "The Physics of Slow Dynamics in soft-hard Mixtures" which was awarded a REWIRE Fellowship, a Marie Curie COFUND Action at the University of Vienna.
The wide knowledge of soft matter and glassy dynamics of the host group at the University of Vienna headed by Prof. Christos Likos will play an essential role in the project. At the same time, Vittoria will bring to the group her skills on fractional dynamics and stochastic processes, starting a new study on systems which are already in the main focus of the group, yet by using new mathematical and analytical tools. Thus, under the mentorship of Prof. Likos, the main goal of Vittoria's work is to investigate the theory of glass transition from a different and new perspective, focusing on the particular system of star-polymer/hard spheres mixtures. The activities of the hosting group and of the whole soft matter section of the Faculty will profit from Vittoria's presence and they will be enriched by her unique scientific expertise on the mathematical modeling of anomalous diffusive processes. We are eagerly looking forward to welcoming Vittoria in Vienna!
