We synthesize, fabricate, and study the physics of soft mesoscopic materials, also known as complex fluids. Systems that we investigate include colloids, emulsions, polymers, surfactant solutions, and non-Brownian suspensions. These are the materials that make up biological organisms: blood and other cells, genetic material (DNA), protein, etc. They are also the materials found in drug delivery systems and in consumer products such as shampoo, shaving cream, paint, pigments, and plastics. "Soft" materials yield or deform readily under external forces because they are "mesoscopic" – they are made from things that are large compared to atoms and simple molecules but generally too small to see with the naked eye. These mesoscopic components often self assemble into extraordinary structures with striking mechanical, optical, or functional properties. These web pages describe our research on soft materials as well as the teaching and outreach activities of David Pine, Professor of Physics and Director of the Center for Soft Matter Research at New York University. We welcome your comments.

Location of our lab

Getting to NYU Physics from the airports

• Taxi from JFK: This is the most convenient but one of the more expensive ways to get into town from JFK. From JFK to Manhattan, it's a flat rate of $45. If the taxi takes the midtown tunnel, you get charged an additional $4 (for the toll to use the tunnel). Tell the cab driver to take the Williamsburg bridge into Manhattan and you'll save the $4 toll. To get a cab, get in line for the yellow cabs outside the arrival terminals. Do not take an independent cab — someone who solicits you inside the airport terminal — these are more expensive. It is customary to tip taxi drivers about 10% of the fare. Tell the driver to take you to 4 Washington Place (Meyer Hall of Physics), which is on the east end of Washington Square Park in "The Village." The Physics Department offices are located on the 4th floor and the Center for Soft Matter Research is located on the 6th floor.
• Train/subway from JFK: Alternatively, you can take a train/subway into Manhattan (~60 minutes). To do this, follow the "AirTrain" signs at JFK. Take the AirTrain to the Jamaica subway station, and then take the E subway line from the Jamaica station into Manhattan. When you get off the AirTrain, buy a subway card for at least $7 (splurge and buy $10 or $20 because you'll probably use it eventually). Your subway card will be charged $5 when you leave the AirTrain station and another $2 when you catch the E (subway) train into Manhattan. Get off at the West 4th Street subway stop. This lets you off on 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) and 3rd Street or Waverly Place. Follow the map to the NYU Physics Department located in Meyer Hall at 4 Washington Place. The Physics Department offices are located on the 4th floor and the Center for Soft Matter Research is located on the 6th floor.
• Taxi from Newark Airport: This is the most convenient but one of the more expensive ways to get into town from Newark. It will cost you about $70 (maybe a bit more). To get a cab, get in line for the yellow cabs outside the arrival terminals. Do not take an independent cab — someone who solicits you inside the airport terminal — these are more expensive. It is customary to tip taxi drivers about 10% of the fare. Tell the driver to take you to 4 Washington Place (Meyer Hall of Physics), which is on the east end of Washington Square Park in "The Village." The Physics Department offices are located on the 4th floor and the Center for Soft Matter Research is located on the 6th floor.
• Train/PATH train from Newark Airport: Getting to the Physics Department is cheap and relatively easy using the PATH train. To do this, follow the "AirTrain" signs at Newark Airport. Take the AirTrain to the Amtrak station, and then take a train to Newark Penn Station, which is the first stop (and different from New York Penn Station). You can buy a train ticket (from a machine) to Newark Penn Station ($7.50) just before you go up the escalator at Newark Airport to get on the AirTrain or you can buy it at the end of your AirTrain ride. The AirTrain is free at Newark. Newark Penn Station is the first stop on the same train that goes to New York Penn Station. At Newark Penn Station, transfer to the PATH train to New York City (see Path map). You will have to buy a subway card. The fare for a one-way trip is $1.50. Take the PATH train to Journal Square (in Jersey City) and transfer from the RED line to the YELLOW line (towards 33rd St) (see Path map). Take this to 9th Street in Manhattan. Follow the map to the NYU Physics Department located in Meyer Hall at 4 Washington Place. The Physics Department offices are located on the 4th floor and the Center for Soft Matter Research is located on the 6th floor.
• Taxi/PATH train from Newark Airport: Instead of taking the AirTrain to Newark Penn Station (see Train/PATH train from Newark Airport above), take a taxi to Newark Penn Station. It costs about $15, which is more than the train, but it is much quicker (you will save 20-30 minutes). At Newark Penn Station, buy a ticket ($1.50 from a machine) and take the PATH train to Journal Square (in Jersey City). At Journal Square, transfer from the RED line to the YELLOW line (towards 33rd St) (see Path map). Take this to 9th Street in Manhattan. Follow the map to the NYU Physics Department located in Meyer Hall at 4 Washington Place. The Physics Department offices are located on the 4th floor and the Center for Soft Matter Research is located on the 6th floor.
• Train/subway from Newark Airport: Alternatively, you can take a train/subway. To do this, follow the "AirTrain" signs at Newark Airport. Take the AirTrain to the Amtrak station, and then take a train to Penn Station New York (do NOT get off at Penn Station Newark, which is usually the first stop). You can buy a train ticket (from a machine) into Manhattan ($14) just before you go up the escalator at Newark Airport to get on the AirTrain or you can buy it at the end of your AirTrain ride. The AirTrain is free at Newark. When you get into Penn Station New York, take the A or E subway (blue line) to the West 4th Street subway stop. This lets you off on 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) and 3rd Street or Waverly Place. Follow the map to the NYU Physics Department located in Meyer Hall at 4 Washington Place. The Physics Department offices are located on the 4th floor and the Center for Soft Matter Research is located on the 6th floor.
• Shuttle bus from JFK and Newark: A shuttle bus can be taken from either airport to Manhattan. Just proceed to the Ground Transportation Desk and ask them where to catch a Super Shuttle bus ($19/first person, $11 each additional person) or Air Link, ($17/person) bus. Reservations are not required, but you might have to check with Airlink to make sure they are making stops to lower Manhattan at the time of your arrival. Supershuttle buses stop every 20 minutes and Airlink buses arrive twenty minutes from when you put in the call.

New York subway system

• Click here for a scalable map of the New York City subway system in Adobe Acrobat format.
• You can purchase subway cards at machines located in most subway stations in New York. The machines accept US currency, major credit cards, and debit cards. It's $2/ride but if you purchase $10 on a card, you get 6 rides (i.e. one "free"). A $20 purchase gets you two "free" rides, etc. Alternatively, you can purchase a card for $7 that is good for unlimited rides for the 24-hour period immediately after you purchase the card.

Amsterdam-New Amsterdam Workshop 2006

Contact information