INTERACTIONS · NBIA INTERACTIONS POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAMME

NBIA INTERACTIONS POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAMME

INTERACTIONS is an EU-COFUND program of scientific excellence rooted in the tradition of internationalization and informal interactions that have characterized the Niels Bohr Institute since its inception one hundred years ago. By teaming up with five partner institutions in Europe we have ensured the possibility of extended visits to what we consider the closest scientific partner institutions in Europe. This opportunity for fellows is provided in order to ensure that highest-level expertise and scientific partnership is available at all time for the INTERACTIONS fellows. The overarching subject matter is fundamental research in physics and all related areas. The extension to all related areas is taken literally and it is also part of the interdisciplinary heritage of the Niels Bohr Institute. Several of our INTERACTIONS fellows work, for example, on issues very close to life sciences in what has been dubbed Active Matter. This describes the constantly on-going non-equilibrium processes of living organisms in terms of physical laws rather than genetic code. It illustrates how boundaries between different disciplines can form exciting interfaces where new ideas evolve in unexpected ways. Likewise, one INTERACTIONS fellows has worked on a membrane so tiny that quantum mechanical laws need to be taken into account, again with potential applications to physical membranes in living systems. As another example, INTERACTIONS fellows from theoretical particle physics today work on predictions of gravitational wave signals from the merging of two black holes, illustrating how the formalism of quantum field theory can lead to entirely new approaches towards solving Einstein's general theory of relativity. Ensuring the scientific environment that facilitates these creative ways of thinking through informal interactions with peers working in totally different research areas is one of the primary goals of the INTERACTIONS COFUND program. The conclusions of the action can be summarized as follows: We managed to gather together some of the most brilliant scientists in the physical scientists of their generation. They have worked with mentors at the Niels Bohr Institute taking them from front-line research in quantum optics, through computational astrophysics, observational astrophysics, theoretical particle physics, gravitational wave physics, astroparticle physics, condensed matter physics, to the physics of living systems. During this journey, the researchers have performed in outstanding ways, been invited speakers at international conferences, published numerous scientific papers in prestigious journals, and at the same time educated themselves to take on more senior roles in society. Many have continued in academia, others have obtained positions at high rank in finance, in industry, and one has launched a career as science writer for the public. For the EU (and for the Scandinavian area) this has been an impressive way to secure talent within its boundaries.

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