Corinna Maass

Dr. Corinna Maass is a Research Group Leader leading the Active Soft Matter Group within the Department of Dynamics of Complex Fluids at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen, Germany. She has held this position since 2014, establishing herself as a leading researcher in active matter systems and self-propelled droplets.

• Institution: Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
• Department: Dynamics of Complex Fluids
• Research Group: Active Soft Matter
• Location: Göttingen, Germany

Dr. Maass completed her physics diploma at the University of Konstanz (1999-2004), followed by doctoral research on 'Dynamics of levitated granular media' at the same institution, which she completed in 2009. She then conducted postdoctoral research at New York University (2010-2013) in the Chaikin and Seeman group working on 'Self replicating DNA nanostructures,' supported by a German Academic Exchange Service fellowship.

Her research focuses on active matter systems far from equilibrium, particularly active liquid crystal emulsions consisting of uniform droplets studied in complex microfluidic geometries. These systems exhibit surprising similarities to biological analogues such as bacteria or plankton, displaying self-propulsion, navigation, and collective effects like swarming. Her work bridges fundamental physics with potential applications in microfluidics and soft robotics. The research employs experimental approaches combined with theoretical modeling to understand the emergent behaviors in these non-equilibrium systems.

Analysis of Dr. Maass's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the dynamics of active droplets and microswimmers, with increasing sophistication in controlling and understanding their behavior. Her work spans fundamental investigations of self-propulsion mechanisms, collective dynamics, and interactions with complex environments. The research shows strong interdisciplinary connections between soft matter physics, fluid dynamics, and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, with applications emerging in microfluidic technology and biomimetic systems.

Dr. Maass has successfully advised students including Strehl, A.-M. who completed a bachelor thesis on 'Self-propelling nematic droplets: role of director field elasticity' (2017) and Bantje, D. who worked on 'Interferometrie an aktiven Emulsionen' (2018). Her research is supported by the infrastructure of the Max Planck Institute, providing access to advanced microfluidics facilities and collaborative opportunities within the broader dynamics of complex fluids department.

The Active Soft Matter Group operates within state-of-the-art laboratories at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, utilizing advanced microfluidic setups, high-speed imaging systems, and precision manipulation techniques to study active droplet systems. The group collaborates extensively with other research teams both within the institute and internationally, particularly with groups specializing in theoretical modeling of active matter systems.