School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
Ph: +44 (0)117 3318256; email: wuge.briscoe@bristol.ac.uk
Julia Bartenstein
Julia did an undergraduate degree at the University of Kiel in Germany before completing her Masters at the University of Otago in New Zealand. She then moved to Bristol to start her PhD as part of the Marie Curie NanoS3 network. Julia is credited for introducing columning to the group, a (rather puzzling organic chemistry) technique reminiscent of her glorious days as an synthetic chemist. She is now redefining physical chemistry by running columns on all sorts of polymersomes to Wuge's utter astonishment.
Outside uni, Julia enjoys travelling the world and relaxing in the pubs (around the world) with a pint or two (or more).
PhD Research: Lubrication by polymersomes under nanoconfinement
Polymersomes are vesicular structures made of amphiphilic polymers. They show a close resemblance with liposomes including their hydration behaviour, however, polymersomes generally have a higher stability which makes them promising materials for lubrication applications. Using SFA and also colloidal AFM, I will make direct measurements of surface forces, particularly friction, mediated by polymersomes with sizes between 100-500 nm selfassembled from a range of copolymers, some of which are provided by our Norwegian and French partners in the NanoS3 network.