Ability to manipulate equilibrium self-assembly and dynamical self-organization in nonlinear systems is of central importance to the success of many emerging technologies. This seminar will focus on flow instability and pattern formation in complex fluids, i.e., fluids with internal microstructure such as solutions/melts of polymers, surfactant/colloidal gels and suspensions. Specific examples discussed will include coherence and chaos in turbulent flows of “viscoelastic” dilute polymer solutions (PRL, 100, 134504 (2008)), solitary vortex solutions that manifest as a result of elastic stress-mediated self organization in complex fluids (PRL, 97, 054501 (2006)) and purely flow-induced phase transitions in surfactant micelles (J. Rheol. . 52, 527-50 (2008)).