The complex fluid dynamics group at MPI-DS, which is headed by Stephan Herminghaus, has a long-standing experience and reputation in soft matter physics, droplet based microfluidics, and the physics of systems far from thermal equilibrium in general. The group strives to understand the overarching principles underlying self-assembly, self-organization, and pattern formation, in systems including biofilms, emulsions, liquid crystal mesostructures, and granular matter. A key challenge in synthetic biology is the fabrication of microcompartments exhibiting tailored physical properties and biological functionalities. Within the MaxSynBio initiative, we develop lab-on-a-chip technologies for the high-throughput production of multifunctional compartments - via the self-assembly of phospholipids and/or block-copolymers in an artificial membrane – as well novel experimental methods for the characterization of their functionalities.