somexlab · mohan8488 · Jun 3, 2026 · Jun 3, 2026
diff --git a/config/_default/menus.yaml b/config/_default/menus.yaml
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ main:
   - name: Collaborators
     url: collaborator
     weight: 70
-  - name: Services
-    url: services
-    weight: 80    
+  #- name: Services
+  #  url: services
+  #  weight: 80    
   - name: Contact
     url: contact
     weight: 90
diff --git a/content/instruments/rheometer/.index.md b/content/instruments/rheometer/.index.md
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ---
 title: Rheological measurements
-summary: We provide classical rheological measurements for various soft systems relevant for academia and industry.<span style="color:#4284EB;">Read more</span>
+summary: We provide advanced rheological characterization of soft materials for academic and industrial clients. Using state-of-the-art instrumentation, we help quantify material flow, deformation, stability, and viscoelastic behavior to support product development, quality control, and research.<span style="color:#4284EB;">Read more</span>
 tags:
   - Rheology
-date: '2026-04-01T00:00:00Z'
+date: '2026-06-01T00:00:00Z'
 authors:
-  - Mohan
+  - Mohandas
 
 # Optional external URL for project (replaces project detail page).
 external_link: ''
@@ -39,58 +39,80 @@ url_video: ''
 #   Otherwise, set `slides = ""`.
 #slides: example
 ---
-### Instrument Details
+{{< callout note >}}
+<div style="font-size: 0.85rem;">
+<strong>Applications:</strong> Polymer formulations • Coatings and paints • Food products • Hydrogels • Bio-inks • Colloidal suspensions
+</div>
+{{< /callout >}}
+
+
+### Why Rheology Matters
+
+<div style="text-align: justify;">
+
+Rheological measurements reveal how materials flow and deform under applied forces. Unlike conventional viscosity measurements, rheology provides deeper insights into yield stress, viscoelasticity, structural stability, and processing behavior.
+
+</div>
+
+These measurements help answer questions such as:
+
+- How easily will a product flow during manufacturing?
+- Will a coating level smoothly or sag after application?
+- Does a formulation remain stable during storage?
+- How does a hydrogel respond to deformation?
+- What processing conditions are optimal?
+
+---
+
+### We provide:
+
+- Flow curves and viscosity measurements
+- Yield stress determination
+- Oscillatory rheology (G' and G")
+- Frequency & amplitude sweeps
+- Temperature-dependent measurements
+- Time-dependent studies (aging)
+- Thixotropy analysis
+- Creep and recovery experiments
+- In-situ microscopic imaging during shear flow
+
+---
+
+### Suitable for:
 
-|  |  |
-|----------|------|
-| **Model** | Anton Paar MCR702e Space |
-| **Type** | Stress-controlled |
-| **Geometries** | Cone-plate, Plate-plate, Concentric-cylinder, Double-Gap |
+- Polymer solutions and melts
+- Colloidal suspensions
+- Paints, coatings, and inks
+- Food products
+- Hydrogels
+- Bio-inks
+- Cell suspensions
+- Polymer films
+- Volatile samples*
 
-<div style="display: flex; gap: 40px;">
+### Clients receive:
 
-<div style="flex: 1;">
+- Raw and processed data
+- Technical interpretation of results
+- Consultation on experimental design
+- Customized reporting according to project needs
 
-## Specifications
+### Anton Paar MCR702e Space
 
 |         |      |
 |---------|------|
 | Bearing | Air |
+| Type | Stress-controlled |
+| Geometries | Cone-plate, Plate-plate, Concentric-cylinder, Double-Gap |
 | Min. torque rotation | 1 nNm |
 | Min. torque oscillation | 0.5 nNm |
 | Max. torque | 230 mNm |
-| Deflection angle | 0.05 to ∞ μrad |
+| Deflection angle | 0.05 μrad – ∞ |
 | Max. speed | 314 rad/s |
 | Min. frequency | 10⁻⁷ rad/s |
 | Max. frequency | 628 rad/s |
 | Normal force range | 0.005–50 N |
 | Normal force resolution | 0.5 mN |
+|         |      |
 
-</div>
-
-<div style="flex: 1;">
-
-## Sample type
-
-| |
-|-------|
-| Polymer solutions |  
-| Colloidal suspensions |  
-| Food products | 
-| Paints | 
-| Polymer films |  
-| Biological (cell suspension, bio-inks) |  
-| Evaporating samples* | 
-
-</div>
-
-</div>
-*Specialized solvent trap available 
-<div style="text-align: justify;">
-
-## Description
-Rheometers are instruments which are capable of performing complex viscoelastic measurements on soft materials. These measurements are fairly advanced than the simple viscocity measurements provied by traditional viscometers.
-
-Rheological parameters such as yield stress and shear moduli play an important role in understanding/predicting material flow behaviour that affect their processing and final behaviour (e.g paint flow over a surface and drying). These parameters also help in formulating products to achieve the ideal solution in terms of material cost and performance.
-
-</div>
+*Specialized solvent trap available 
diff --git a/content/post/2026/26-06-03-ismc/featured.gif b/content/post/2026/26-06-03-ismc/featured.gif
diff --git a/content/post/2026/26-06-03-ismc/index.md b/content/post/2026/26-06-03-ismc/index.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+---
+title: Showcasing research at ISMC 2026 🔬
+summary: Somex members share their latest research at the Soft Matter conference held in India.<span style="color:#4284EB;">Read more</span>
+authors:
+  #- Mohandas
+date: 2026-06-03
+image:
+  placement: 1
+  #caption: 'Photo by [Geo](https://github.com/gcushen/)'
+  focal_point: 'Top'
+  preview_only: false
+  #alt_text: An optional description of the image for screen readers.
+# Show this page in the Featured widget?
+featured: false
+text-align: justify
+---
+
+<!--more-->
+<div style="text-align: justify;">
+
+It was a fruitful and enjoyable week for the Somex group at the ISMC 2026 conference held in [BITS Pilani](https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/goa/), Goa, India. For many members, this was their first visit to India, making the experience both scientifically rewarding and culturally memorable.
+
+The [conference](https://ge.iitm.ac.in/ismc2026) brought together numerous leading researchers from the Soft Matter community and was among the largest soft matter meetings ever held in India. The scientific programme featured a wide range of exciting talks and discussions, providing excellent opportunities for exchanging ideas, establishing new collaborations, and showcasing our group's research.
+
+</div>
diff --git a/content/project/24-01-01-TRAINGEL/index.md b/content/project/24-01-01-TRAINGEL/index.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ tags:
 date: '2024-10-21T00:00:00Z'
 authors:
   - admin
+  - Sakshi
 # Optional external URL for project (replaces project detail page).
 #external_link: 'https://nebula.esa.int/content/extension-sodi-instrument-neuf-dix-non-equilibrium-fluctuations-during-diffusion-complex'
 
@@ -37,4 +38,10 @@ The project also involves:
 - University of Vienna: [Christos Likos](https://comp-phys.univie.ac.at/likos/)
 - ENS, Lyon: [Thomas Gibaud](https://perso.ens-lyon.fr/thomas.gibaud/) 
 - ESPCI, Paris: [Stefano Aime](https://sites.google.com/view/steaime/home?authuser=0)
-- CNRS, Grenoble: [Frédéric Pignon](https://sites.google.com/site/fredericpignon)
+- CNRS, Grenoble: [Frédéric Pignon](https://sites.google.com/site/fredericpignon)
+
+{{< callout note >}}
+<div style="font-size: 0.85rem;">
+Contact our PhD student Sakshi for more details.
+</div>
+{{< /callout >}}
diff --git a/content/project/25-11-01-Mechanosynth/index.md b/content/project/25-11-01-Mechanosynth/index.md
@@ -40,9 +40,15 @@ Physical forces are crucial in development, tissue maintenance, and disease. Tis
 
 
 Progress has been limited by the lack of experimental methods that can measure tissue-scale mechanical properties while simultaneously visualizing cellular and molecular dynamics. To address this, the proposed research combines material science, developmental biology, and physics through a reductionist approach. It will use functionalized biomimetic emulsions and zebrafish gastruloids to create materials with tunable mechanical responses, analyzed using an innovative opto-rheological platform. Integrating these findings into a biophysical theory will reveal how microscopic interactions generate distinct mechanical behaviors in living versus synthetic tissues. Ultimately, this work aims to reconstruct and understand how passive and active mechanical processes interact, enabling the rational design of new living materials.
+
 {style="text-align: justify;"}
 
 The project also involves:
 - IMP - Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna: [Diana Pinheiro](https://www.imp.ac.at/groups/diana-pinheiro)
 - Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA): [Edouard Hannezo](https://ist.ac.at/en/research/hannezo-group/) 
 
+{{< callout note >}}
+<div style="font-size: 0.85rem;">
+Contact our Postdoc Zhibo for more details.
+</div>
+{{< /callout >}}
diff --git a/content/services/.index.md b/content/services/.index.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-title: Services
+title: Tour
 date: 2022-10-24
 
 type: landing
@@ -9,36 +9,108 @@ type: landing
 # indent the content with 2 spaces
 # to go on a new line, just add 2 spaces and return
 sections:
-  - block: portfolio
-    id: instruments
+  - block: slider
     content:
-      title: Services
-      count: 6
-      filters:
-        folders:
-          - instruments
-      # Default filter index (e.g. 0 corresponds to the first `filter_button` instance below).
-      default_button_index: 0
-      # Filter toolbar (optional).
-      # Add or remove as many filters (`filter_button` instances) as you like.
-      # To show all items, set `tag` to "*".
-      # To filter by a specific tag, set `tag` to an existing tag name.
-      # To remove the toolbar, delete the entire `filter_button` block.
-      buttons:
-        - name: All
-          tag: '*'
-        - name: Rheology
-          tag: Rheology
-        - name: Optics
-          tag: Optics
-        - name: Microscopy
-          tag: Microscopy
-        - name: Biology
-          tag: Biology
+      slides:
+      - title: 🧑‍🏭 External Services
+        content: We promise to handle your questions with care, your experiments with precision, and occasionally, your coffee spills with panic! Take a look at the services we offer...
+        align: center
+        background:
+          image:
+            filename: services-2.jpg
+            filters:
+              brightness: 0.7
+          position: right
+          color: '#666'
+      - title: Brightfield/Confocal Microscopy 🔬
+        content: |
+          *Science is all about perspective.. until you put it under a microscope, then it's all about panic!* <br><br>Our state-of-the-art equipment and expert support, allows users to capture detailed three-dimensional images with exceptional clarity and precision. Whether investigating cellular dynamics, studying intricate colloidal networks, or delving into fluorescent labeling, our microscopy facility provides the tools and expertise needed to achieve the desired results. Join us in unlocking new insights and pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery. Contact us to schedule your session today.
+        align: left
+        background:
+          image:
+            filename: confocal_1.jpg
+            filters:
+              brightness: 0.8
+          position: center
+          color: '#111'
+        link:
+          icon: hand-point-up
+          icon_pack: fas
+          text: Request
+          url: ../contact/
+      - title: Rheometry 🫗
+        content: |
+         *Ketchup in a bottle is like life's greatest challenges, nothing happens when you need it, and then it all comes pouring out at once!* <br><br>Our latest rheometry facility allows for precise measurement and analysis of viscosity, elasticity, and flow properties across a wide range of temperatures and shear rates for complex fluids (like Ketchup!). From understanding the flow characteristics of polymer solutions and colloids to studying the rheological properties of biological fluids, our facility offers the tools and expertise to tackle diverse research challenges. Contact us to know more.
+        align: left
+        background:
+          image:
+            filename: rheometer_blur.jpg
+            filters:
+              brightness: 0.7
+          position: center
+          color: '#444'
+        link:
+          icon: hand-point-up
+          icon_pack: fas
+          text: Request
+          url: ../contact/
+      - title: Rheo-imaging 📷
+        content: |
+          *"Rheology without Morphology is Theology"* - Prof. Malcolm Mackley.<br>
+          <br>
+          You want to know what happens to the fat droplets in your favorite mayonnaise while applying on a bread? Or the froth bubbles in your handwash while you wash your hands? We can help you! <br>  
+          Our rheometry facility boasts advanced imaging techniques that allow in-situ measurements on materials undergoing shear flow. 
+        align: left
+        background:
+          image:
+            filename: rheo_image.jpg
+            filters:
+              brightness: 0.5
+          position: center
+          color: '#444'
+        link:
+          icon: hand-point-up
+          icon_pack: fas
+          text: Request
+          url: ../contact/
+      - title: 3D printing 🖨️
+        content: |
+          *Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to literally 3D print your way out of it!*<br><br>
+          Materialize your complex designs with our advanced 3D printing facility tailored for scientific research. Having different filament options to choose from, we empower researchers to innovate with ease. From custom lab equipment to intricate prototypes, our facility delivers with accuracy and reliability. Elevate your scientific exploration and accelerate breakthroughs with our comprehensive 3D printing solutions.
+        align: left
+        background:
+          image:
+            filename: 3D_print_5.jpg
+            filters:
+              brightness: 0.7
+          position: center
+          color: '#222'
+        link:
+          icon: hand-point-up
+          icon_pack: fas
+          text: Request
+          url: ../contact/
+      #- title: Dynamic Light Scattering💡
+      #  content: 'With our state-of-the-art equipment and expert guidance, you will gain unprecedented insights into the size, distribution, and dynamics of particles and molecules in solution. From characterizing nanoparticles to studying protein aggregation, DLS offers non-invasive, rapid analysis for a wide range of applications. Schedule a session today and discover the potential of DLS to drive your research forward.'
+      #  align: left
+      #  background:
+      #    image:
+      #      filename: scattering.jpg
+      #      filters:
+      #        brightness: 0.7
+      #    position: center
+      #    color: '#222'
+      #  link:
+      #    icon: hand-point-up
+      #    icon_pack: fas
+      #    text: Request
+      #    url: ../contact/
     design:
-      # Choose how many columns the section has. Valid values: '1' or '2'.
-      columns: '2' #valid if view:card
-      view: card #showcase
-      # For Showcase view, flip alternate rows?
-      flip_alt_rows: true
+      # Slide height is automatic unless you force a specific height (e.g. '400px')
+      slide_height: ''
+      is_fullscreen: true
+      # Automatically transition through slides?
+      loop: false
+      # Duration of transition between slides (in ms)
+      interval: 2000
 ---