Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet RelPro (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Non-linear optical properties of molecules with strong relativistic effects play an important role in current research e.g. for photochromic materials and bioimaging. Up to now, there is no computational treatment of these molecular properties such as two-photon absorption (TPA) and first hyperpolarizabilities using density functional theory (DFT). Such a computational technique will, however, be very benefitial for research in this field as by result prediction and computational assistance for the interpretation of results, it will allow for a much more efficient use of synthesis ressources both regarding manpower and chemicals. The molecular properties will be treated in terms of energy derivatives w.r.t. the electric field using response theory. Relativistic effects will be taken into account as part of the zeroth-order Hamiltonian. Namely, the four-component Hamiltonian will be used. As the first main task of the project, the so-called second exchange-correlation kernel, the third derivative of the exchange-correlation energy with respect to the variational parameters, will be formulated and implemented. Due to the innovativeness of the response theory approach to be used, TPA, first hyperpolarizabilities and excited state dipole moments will be available at the same time allowing for a large variety of applications right from the start. This project is a big challenge for quantum chemical method development as taking into account relativistic effects using the four-component Hamiltonian operator renders the fundamental expressions very complex. However, the risk behind this project will be minimized by the organization in terms of work packages which ensure that the implementation will be performed in different steps with increasing complexity.

Mots clés : response theory, molecular properties, relativistic quantum chemistry, non linear optics

Participants :
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet ESTIMA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Novel materials and developments for spintronic applications are among the most active and successful research topics in condensed matter physics. Topological insulators (TIs) have been on the spotlight for such potential applications as they promise dissipationless carrier transport through their spin-momentum locked surface states. The principal strategy for making practical use of TIs is believed to be by combination with magnetic materials due to the emergence of novel magneto-electric effects, either by doping TIs with magnetic impurities or at interfaces of thin film heterostructures. However, the mechanisms for magnetic proximity and electronic transport at these interfaces are not completely understood and therefore not well controlled. Thus, we propose to investigate heterostructures of TI thin films in direct contact with magnetic insulators (MI). Our research program involves growth of TI/MI structures with state-of-the art molecular beam epitaxy, device design, nanofabrication, and magneto-electrical characterization. Magnetic proximity effects at the TI/MI interfaces will be studied in a local and selective way by advanced characterization techniques, such as synchrotron-based measurements. We will seek for TI/MI heterostructures with low density of defects and spontaneous magnetic order at the TI. By tuning the Fermi level through electrostatic gating, using novel structures and materials, we will eliminate any residual bulk carriers that may remain in the films. If successful, the outcomes of this work will include new understanding of the mechanisms by which TIs acquire an induced magnetic order at the MI interface, it will unveil novel systems with enhanced magneto-electrical properties, and will provide the guidance for exploiting new routes for charge and spin transport effects mediated by TIs surface states in future electronic and spintronic devices.

Mots clés : topological insulators, magnetic proximity effects, magneto electric phenomena

Participants :
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 170121.6 €
Projet eJUMP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Nowadays, important safety concerns limit large-scale use of lithium batteries for electric vehicles and stationary storage. Despite their high ionic conductivity, conventional liquid electrolytes for lithium batteries are highly flammable and can leak out of the battery case. Safer electrolytes are needed to enable the next-generation of rechargeable batteries. The eJUMP Global Fellowship aims to develop innovative nanocomposites electrolytes based on Organic Ionic Plastic Cristals (OICPs) – a novel class of solid state electrolytes with intrinsic safety and high ionic conductivity. The eJUMP approach is to prepare composites materials from OIPCs and polymer nanoparticles – which can act both as reinforcement but also add function via a purposely designed nanoparticle interfaces. The knowledge generated by eJUMP will help to establish specific design criteria for the fabrication of this new class of solid electrolytes. The fellow – Dr. Luca Porcarelli – will carry out the research and training activities of the outgoing phase at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Electromaterials Science (Deakin University, Australia), under the supervision of Prof. Maria Forsyth. The incoming phase will take place at POLYMAT (University of the Basque Country, Spain) at the Innovative Polymer Group of Prof. David Mecerreyes. The quality of the multidisciplinary research program will broaden the scientific knowledge of the fellow and help him to set the basis for the development of a new class of products providing performance competitive with traditional electrolytes and improved safety standards.


Participants :
- University of the Basque Country (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 245440.8 €
- Deakin University (Australie) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet eADAM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Nowadays, over 1.2 million people in Europe live with Parkinson’s disease (PD) considered as a complex disorder of unknown etiology, where an important number of cases are sporadic. In practice, the neurodegeneration associated with PD, also at the level of neurotransmitters (NT) misbalance, starts several years prior to the appearance of the cardinal symptoms. There are important evidences supporting that some environmental factors increase the risk of developing PD. Thus, there is the need of understanding their role and action mechanisms in order to develop therapeutic strategies and, even more important to minimize risks of PD development. The main aim of this project is to develop an ultra-small electroanalytical diagnostic platform for highly-specific real-time monitoring of NT, such as dopamine (DA). Several methods have been developed in order to address this issue, but in general they lack either specificity or high spatial/temporal resolution. In this project we propose to exploit the ability of nucleic acid aptamers to sensitively and selectively bind/catalytically transform DA and develop an ultra-small array platform for DA monitoring in small biological environments. The importance is that it will be used to measure nM/μs DA release from PC12 cells and drosophila flies, examine the molecular mechanisms of neuronal function/dysfunction, and further correlated them to particular PD risk factors. In a long-term perspective, the project aims microscopic sensors that may future be integrated with brain implants designed to restore local neuronal activity and/or NT release, such as deep brain stimulation electrodes, implanted to treat PD.

Mots clés : aptamer, aptasensor, neurotransmitters, dopamine, dendrimers, carbon fiber miroelectrodes, microarrays, thin film electrodes, neurodegenerative diseases

Participants :
- Aarhus University (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 200194.8 €
Projet NUCLEARDECOM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Nuclear decommissioning is the final part in the life of nuclear power plants (NPPs) after they permanently cease to operate. Decommissioning strategies, including the management of hazardous materials, largely depend on NPPs reactor technology, operating history, and ecological context and therefore require long-term and site-specific projects, whose complexity far exceeds the commonly debated problem of waste disposal. Treated as a marginal issue until the mid-1970s, nuclear decommissioning became a crucial expert sub-field when first generation NPPs permanently shut down. Since then, it has expanded globally and is destined to grow further as countries like Italy (1991) and Germany (2011) decided to phase out nuclear energy production. While social studies of science and technology have abundantly analyzed the controversies caused by high-level waste disposal and the siting of deep geological repositories, they have substantially ignored other critical aspects of decommissioning, such as the formation of a global market of decommissioning services, workers safety and training, costs, expert knowledge management, and the fate of nuclear sites after decommissioning. Another limit of these studies is that they have examined the social implications of decommissioning disjointly from its technical dimensions, which remain exclusive technical expert territory. To overcome the above limitations, this research tackles the unexplored problems of nuclear decommissioning—beyond waste disposal—through a comparative study of decommissioning projects in Italy and in Germany. It adopts a Science and Technology Studies (STS) perspective to examine the social, technological, and ecological dimensions of nuclear decommissioning in tandem. In the pursuit of this research plan, I am seeking to establish and advance my academic career in Europe and to integrate my professional skills in view of consulting opportunities for regulatory agencies and affected local communities.

Mots clés : nuclear history, environmental humanities

Participants :
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 162806.4 €
Projet RNA Smuggling (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Nuclear export of newly synthesized RNA to the cytoplasm is an essential step in eukaryotic gene expression, yet the participating proteins and their interplay remain poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, I propose to study RNA export of a family of long non-coding RNAs to elucidate fundamental principles underlying the regulated assembly of export-competent RNPs. I will focus on the precursors of piRNAs, a class of small regulatory RNAs. These transcripts are generated by RNA Polymerase II from heterochromatic, transposon-rich loci and are processed into piRNAs in the cytoplasm to specify transposon silencing. Notably, piRNA precursors violate mRNA quality control hallmarks and thus have to bypass degradation in the nucleus for their export. For this a specialized pathway evolved, combining canonical mRNA export factors with novel or neo-functionalized components. I propose a holistic approach combining quantitative biochemistry, structural biology and genetics to integrate known and novel components into a coherent model of piRNA-precursor export. I aim at understanding (1) the recruitment of export factors to sites of transcription, and (2) the nature and regulation of a nuclear piRNP complex consisting of piRNA factors and the canonical mRNA export components UAP56 and THO complex. The molecular function and regulation of these highly conserved proteins is poorly understood. Elucidating how piRNA-precursor export hijacks canonical RNA export factors to avoid mRNA quality control thus holds great promise to uncover general principles of RNA cargo loading onto NXF family proteins and the molecular principles of nuclear RNA export.

Mots clés : drosophila, gene expression, transposon control

Participants :
- Austrian Academy of Sciences (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 174167.04 €
Projet DisMoBoH (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Numerous DNA variants have already been identified that modulate inter-individual molecular traits – most prominently gene expression. However, since finding mechanistic interpretations relating genotype to phenotype has proven challenging, the focus has shifted to higher-order regulatory features, i.e. chromatin accessibility, transcription factor (TF) binding and 3D chromatin interactions. This revealed at least two enhancer types: “lead” enhancers in which the presence of genetic variants modulates the activity of entire chromatin domains, and “dependent” ones in which variants induce subtle changes, affecting DNA accessibility, but not transcription. Although cell type-specific TFs are likely important, it remains unclear which sequence features are required to establish such enhancer hierarchies, and under which circumstances genetic variation results in altered enhancer-promoter contacts and differential gene expression. Here, we propose to investigate the molecular mechanisms that link DNA variation to TF binding, chromatin topology, and gene expression response. We will leverage data on enhancer hierarchy and sequence-specific TF binding to identify the sequence signatures that define “lead” enhancers. The results will guide the design of a synthetic locus that serves as an in vivo platform to systematically vary the building blocks of local transcriptional units: i) DNA sequence – including variations in TF binding site affinity and syntax, ii) molecular interactions between TFs, and iii) chromatin conformation. To validate our findings, we will perform optical reconstruction of chromatin architecture for a select number of DNA variants. By simultaneously perturbing co-dependent features, this proposal will provide novel mechanistic insights into the formation of local transcriptional hubs.

Mots clés : genetic variation, combinatorial tf binding, transcriptional hub assembly, enhancer hierarchy, single molecule tracking

Participants :
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet MolecularControl (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Numerous biological processes harvest out-of-equilibrium forces for transport, sensing, signaling and more. For example, pumping of ions is performed within fluctuating pores that are believed to facilitate transport. The nature of these forces is extremely diverse, from electrical driving to thermodynamic or chemical driving. The ability to describe nonequilibrium states is critical to understand a broad range of biological processes but remains extremely challenging as appropriate thermodynamic concepts have only recently been introduced and are still scarce . The MolecularControl project aims at developing theoretical tools that can be widely applied to out-of-equilibrium soft matter problems. I will use these tools to address more specificially systems relevant to health issues or sustainable energy. In this context, I will develop two theoretical frameworks in the USA. The first will address the dynamics of ions in confinement (electrochemical driving) and will be used to describe the blockage mechanism of a specific neuronal ion channel called NMDA. The second will address the fast growth of molecular crystals via screw dislocations (kinetic and thermodynamic driving) and will be applied to the growth of L-cystine crystals, involved in the formation of kidney stones, a major health issue. Back to Europe with this added value of mastering numerous tools to control molecular assembly and ionic transport in nonequilibrium systems, I will use them to study (a) ion current fluctuations in confinement and between electrodes for applications in individual ionic sensing, advanced capacitive electrode design and blue energy generation and (b) molecular assembly in a more realistic kidney representation, in particular under flow. This project represents a unique opportunity to grow as an independent researcher with a strong transatlantic network and to become a future leader in an emerging scientific field of great fundamental and societal relevance.

Mots clés : nanofluidics, molecular crystals, fluctuating hydrodynamics, out of equilibrium driving, electrochemical sensing

Participants :
- New York University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 275619.84 €
Projet OMIT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

OMIT aims to examine the role of microbial Oxylipins in the MIcrobiome:hosT dialogue. Oxylipins liberated from the oxidation of fatty acids are appreciated as key chemical signals perceived by both microbe and man. Human oxylipins (hOXY), comprising eicosanoids, docosanoids and octadecanoids are well characterised; they are implicit in many biochemical and signalling pathways in humans, including cell migration, proliferation, chemotaxis, immune reactions and most importantly, they are key regulators of inflammation. However, the diversity, functions, impact and mechanistic roles of microbially derived oxylipins (mOXY) are not well understood. State-of-the-art ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS) platforms (secondment at Waters MS Headquarters, UK) will be developed and validated for oxylipin analysis in faecal samples and bacterial supernatants derived from co-incubation experiments (i.e. bacteria and oxlipin precursor). The latter will facilitate the discovery of novel mOXY. Additional bacterial biofilm assays will be performed to examine the role of mOXY in microbe-microbe interactions. To determine the contribution of mOXY in health and disease, biobanked samples from healthy volunteers and Crohns disease patients will be analysed. In vitro cell culture experiments and gene expression profiling will determine the function of mOXY in microbe-host interactions. During this project, the applicant will receive high quality training through research that will significantly improve scientific knowledge and provide a strong platform for building an independent research career. In line with the Work Programme for the MSCA fellowships, the knowledge and competencies gained by the applicant will add to developing her potential to achieve professional maturity and leadership in the field so that she may continue to make significant contributions to society and the economy.

Mots clés : oxylipins, microbiome, host, pufa, lipid mediators, mass spectrometry, commensal bacteria

Participants :
- National University of Ireland (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196590.72 €
Projet OPTOHYB (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

OPTOHYB focuses on studying the carrier localization (CL) in a new hybrid structure namely halide perovskites/GaAs for photodetection application. Understanding the CL phenomenon in this hybrid structure could provide insights towards enhancing/controlling the optoelectronic properties. The idea consists of detecting and controlling the CL in the hybrid heterojunction and orient it towards photodetection devices. The phenomenon can be generated, either, randomly by strain, composition, size, and diffusion fluctuations, or, controllably by doping. The CL affects the bandgap (creating band-tails states and optical transitions) which affects the carrier lifetime. The experimental treatment of the phenomenon will be performed optically by the mean of steady-state photoluminescence (PL) and the time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) to evaluate the CL signatures. The obtained results will be correlated with morphological and structural observations to qualitatively understand the luminescence mechanisms in the new hybrid structure. To realize OPTOHYB's goal, for the first time, a quantitative study by modeling the PL features and the decay time will be performed using the Localized State Ensemble model (LSE) and the generalized model for TRPL. The newly obtained parameters will allow the control of the CL's evolution versus the ex- and/or in-situ conditions. The successful execution of this proposal will create a new platform with controllable band-tail state formation and carriers dynamic related to the CL phenomenon. Therefore, slowing the charge carrier lifetime due to the carrier hopping between different states in the band-tail, which is beneficial for photodetection. Finally, the fabrication of a photodetector based on halide perovskites/GaAs heterostructure prototype will be performed. The efficiency of the prototype will be checked regarding the possible engineering of the CL and its effect on the prototype and the way on how we can exploit it.

Mots clés : photodetectors, hybrid materials, carrier localization, gaas, lead halide perovskite

Participants :
- University of Parma (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 107170.8 €
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 64302.48 €