The Soft Matter Physics group studies: the organization, structure, and dynamics of soft matter (complex fluids), including polymer crystallisation, entangled polymer dynamics, polymer nanocomposites, gels and networks; polymeric, surfactant, and colloid solutions that self-assemble; statistical physics of soft matter in and out of equilibrium and biological complex fluids, such as proteins, membranes and nucleic acids. Experimental facilities include NMR, rheology, mechanical testing, electrical and thermal characterisation, and light scattering. The group has roughly equal parts experiment, theory and simulation, and collaborates with colleagues in the UK, Europe and Asia. Currently the group is a member in two European Union funded networks, SOFTCOMP Network of Excellence and DYNACOP, an Initial Training Network. The group also participate in the UK Polymer IRC, in which Leeds, Durham, Bradford and Sheffield scientists collaborate on a wide spectrum of research in macromolecular science and engineering. We also have significant opportunities to work with industrial collaborators. The School of Physics and Astronomy conducts world class research in a variety of areas, including quantum information (theory and experiment); magnetism & spintronics, and superconductivity; soft condensed matter, statistical physics, and polymers and complex fluids; biophysics, bionanotechnology, nanophysics, membranes; and astrophysics. There are numerous opportunities for experimental, theoretical, computational, and observational PhD projects.