Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet SASQUATCH (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

We commonly assume our heart maintains a steady rhythm, a crucial aspect of our well-being, often predictable until it suddenly isn't. Cardiac arrhythmias, marked by abnormal heart rhythms resulting from electrical impulse irregularities, affect a significant number of individuals. The most prevalent arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AF), a progressive condition afflicting over 7.6 million people aged 65 and older in the EU. Symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, and weakness not only diminish the quality of life but also lead to additional complications and possibly death. Interestingly, most initial AF episodes spontaneously resolve, a phenomenon that remains incompletely understood despite substantial advancements in knowledge over the years. Particularly enigmatic is the triggering mechanism for such spontaneous termination.  To tackle this challenge, we need innovative and advanced biomedical models capable of exploring the intricate mechanisms behind spontaneous termination. One such mechanism, known in the mathematics community as transient chaos, plays a significant role in this endeavor. In recent times, digital twins, i.e. computational models simulating biological cells or tissues, have rapidly gained prominence, aiding the exploration of new pharmacological and clinical therapies. The field of cardiology is no exception, with digital twins effectively replicating the behavior of cardiomyocytes (normal rhythm, spontaneous termination, and arrhythmia) within digital hearts. We intend to employ these digital twins to delve into the origins and precursors of spontaneous termination at an ionic level with "Searching for Arrhythmia Solutions by Quantifying and Unraveling Atrial Transient CHaos" (SASQUATCH), opening the door for the development of novel AF treatment methods.  The synergy between fellow and host is ideal for this biophysical (and fundamentally interdisciplinary) project, as it combines their respective expertise in biophysical modelling.

Mots clés : transient chaos, cardiac arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, biophysics

Participants :
- Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 101062.56 €
Projet AFILM (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

One of the main challenges towards the commercialization of fusion energy is the appropriate confinement of alpha particles in burning plasmas as well as fast ions generated by auxiliary heating systems. This project contributes to that objective by aiming at the temporal and velocity-space characterization of fast-ion losses in the most advanced tokamak experiments (ITER and JT-60SA). i) Commissioning of a Fast-Ion Loss Detector (FILD) and its installation at the JT-60SA tokamak, including the synthesis of its scintillator plate, testing of its reciprocating system, optical calibration and assessment of its structural integrity. ii) Assessing the escaping fast ions generated by the 500keV N-NBI at JT-60SA. These unprecedented time-resolved velocity-space measurements under different regimes of operation will be validated using Hamiltonian full-orbit simulations. Moreover, advanced, first-principle hybrid kinetic-MHD modeling with the MEGA code will be used to reproduce the losses induced by Alfvénic instabilities. iii) Designing the ITER FILD and developing the technical solutions required to survive the harsh conditions at the ITER first wall. This includes thermo-mechanical assessment of the probe head, a synthetic diagnostic to estimate the signals, and the development of a scintillator plate with tolerable noise and degradation induced by neutrons and gamma radiation. This action is carried out at the Plasma Science and Fusion Technology group of the University of Seville in close collaboration with the ITER Organization, EUROfusion Consortium and JT-60SA teams. It includes two two-month secondments at QST (Japan) to install and exploit the JT-60SA FILD. Trough the execution of this project, the candidate will be trained to lead a research group of engineers and physicists implementing instrumentation relevant for the commercialization of fusion energy.

Mots clés : fusion energy, tokamak, iter, jt 60sa, burning plasmas, alfv nic waves, plasma diagnostics, energetic particles, scintillator, fast ion loss detector, hybrid kinetic magnetohydrodynamic

Participants :
- Université de Séville (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 181152.96 €
- National institutes for quantum and radiological science and technology (Japon) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet FucAd (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Many marine organisms of the intertidal zone like mussels, barnacles and various algae must form strong attachments to the substrate in their environment in order to resist forces of crashing waves. Therefore, they evolved high-performance underwater adhesives which are able to stick to various surface chemistries - a feat unmatched by current glues on the market. Understanding the chemistry and formation process of these adhesives has great potential for the development of synthetic underwater glues which are of high interest for medical and industrial applications. Here, I propose to conduct research on the underwater adhesion of the brown macroalgae Fucus vesiculosus analyzing its composition, structure and adhesive properties. For this purpose, the early formation process shortly after the fertilization of Fucus egg cells will be analyzed using a combination of traditional histology and advanced electron microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Once key building blocks have been identified, their dynamic secretion and assembly process will be followed over time. Additionally, the curing of the adhesive and the involved crosslinking reactions will be investigated after different time points. Elucidating key chemical principles of the complex formation of this underwater adhesive has the potential to inspire the development of novel and sustainable adhesives with a wide range of applications.

Mots clés : adhesion underwater adhesives polyphenols

Participants :
- Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet CRYamKmetKstab (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

One of the main questions in Differential Geometry is the existence of special metrics, that is, a way to measure distances, on smooth manifolds. They are the basic objects in Differential Geometry, and can be thought of as geometric objects that can be locally approximated by the usual flat space. The goal of CRYamKmetKstab is to investigate the existence of these special metrics on complex manifolds from the point of view of Complex Differential Geometry, by employing techniques that come from Differential Geometry, Algebraic Geometry and Geometric Analysis. More precisely, we propose a novel way to approach constant scalar curvature Kähler metrics by drawing a connection between the so-called CR-Yamabe problem and K-stability of the manifold.

Mots clés : special k hler metrics, einstein hilbert functional, sasaki geometry, k stability, fano varieties

Participants :
- Lyon-I université (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195914.88 €
Projet New-DMI (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The magnetic phases that can be formed in chiral magnets has been of increasing interest due to the unique and exciting physics and potential applications these materials have. The chiral magnetism in these materials is created by the competition of energy terms in the Hamiltonian, namely exchange and the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya Interaction (DMI). This DMI is created from the asymmetric environment of interacting magnetic spins and is thus connected with non-centrosymmetric crystallographic point groups. As these non-centrosymmetric point groups have different symmetries the form of the DMI equation changes from one to the next. However, only a small number of DMI point groups have been studied so far. This project will investigate the physics of the yet unexplored DMI terms computationally. These terms will be integrated into micromagnetic calculators and will be made open-source to enable the magnetism community to use it for research outside of this project. The multidimensional parameter space of these new DMI terms will be systematically investigated for new magnetic structures using machine learning techniques. Novel magnetic structures discovered will have their stability, equilibrium and non-equilibrium dynamics studied to gain new physics insights. This will lead to exciting new physical phenomena being discovered which may have the potential for applications in spintronics.

Mots clés : skyrmions, topological magnetic structures, oommf, ubermag, open science

Participants :
- Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet LEGENDRE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Although numerous evidences from cosmology and astrophysics indicate the existence of Dark Matter (DM), which constitutes about 85% of the whole matter in the universe, its intrinsic nature is still today one of the major mysteries in physics. The lack of the discovery of the so-called Weakly Interacting Massive Particles is shifting the attention to additional, well-motivated, theoretical models that predict DM particles with lower masses. To test these, new extremely sensitive direct detection DM experiments have been developed, which are now starting to explore energies so low that were considered impossible to reach until just a couple of years ago. But these experiments are now observing unpredicted excesses of events, mostly incompatible with a DM signal, in the previously unexplored low energy region. And this irreducible background dramatically limits their sensitivity to new low-mass signals. In this project I propose a novel analysis strategy that will lead to the understanding of the nature of the low energy excess, providing invaluable information to the European and international experiments working on this field. I will also lead and coordinate the data taking campaign necessary for a positive outcome, which will employ world-leading sensitive cryogenic devices developed by the SuperCDMS collaboration, installed in the Cryogenic Underground Test at the world-class underground SNOLAB laboratory. The project will be completed in a leading research group, to which I will bring knowledge on how to efficiently operate a cryogenic detector as well as on how to run a dilution refrigerator. This work will extend my experience, show my research competencies and independence, enhancing the development of my career as a researcher.

Mots clés : astroparticle physics, cryogenic detector, data analysis

Participants :
- Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
- Snolab (Canada) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet CUNNING (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Insects host various bacterial symbionts that can positively or negatively affect their fitness. While many symbionts coevolved within narrow host ranges, only a few generalist symbionts can colonize diverse insect taxa and tissues, with Wolbachia being the only well-studied example. The main aim of this project is to clarify the symbiotic nature of Symbiodolus (Enterobacterales), a newly discovered generalist symbiont infecting insects from six orders and colonizing various tissues. To investigate Symbiodolus' relationship with insects, the genus of phytophagous beetles Cryptocephalus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), including both Symbiodolus-infected and uninfected species, will be used as a model. Specifically, the first project objective is to determine the prevalence and phylogenetic distribution of Symbiodolus within Cryptocephalus to define if it is a phylo-symbiont or if its association with the host is linked to other factors. It will be achieved by characterizing the bacteria hosted by different Cryptocephalus species and testing the phylogenetic signal of Symbiodolus presence/absence across the genus. The second objective is to determine Symbiodolus transmission mode by localizing it in Cryptocephalus body across developmental stages and within its excretions using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The third objective is to assess Symbiodolus impact on Cryptocephalus fitness by analyzing the genomes of strain/s infecting six Cryptocephalus species to determine the presence of genes related to host benefits, pathogenicity, and reproductive manipulation. Symbiosis manipulation experiments will also test the effects of selectively removing or introducing Symbiodolus on the host phenotype. Beyond clarifying Symbiodolus' symbiotic nature, this project will provide insights into the mechanisms governing the establishment and maintenance of associations between insects and generalist bacterial symbionts, as well as the evolutionary adaptations sustaining them.

Mots clés : insect bacteria interactions, insect symbiosis, symbiont transmission mechanisms, bacterial genomics

Participants :
- Société Max-Planck pour le développement des sciences (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 202125.12 €
Projet PACGEL (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Heart diseases represent the main leading cause of mortality in EU and other industrialized countries. The development of minimally-invasive therapies to treat cardiovascular injuries is the subject of intense investigation by the cardiac regenerative medicine community. Moreover, in vitro models of human cardiac pathological tissues mimicking disease-specific oxidative conditions are demanded for understanding pathological mechanisms at different disease stages, and for the development and preclinical validation of novel therapies, at reduced costs and in compliance with 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement) principle. PACGEL aims at the design of novel plasma jet-activated hydrogels based on biocompatible polymers, to be exploited as: (i) injectable stimulating systems to promote cardiac tissue regeneration and (ii) in vitro models of diseased cardiac tissue with tunable oxidative conditions. The biological effect will depend on the doses and types of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species encapsulated in the hydrogels, modulated by the plasma jet treatment parameters. The objectives are: (1) to identify the minimal reactive species concentration (threshold limit) above which oxidative effects prevail, by in vitro tests with relevant human cardiac cells; 2) to develop plasma jet-activated hydrogels with regenerative potential; 3) to design in vitro 3D bio-printed tissue models mimicking different stages of human cardiac diseases. My expertise in Plasma Medicine and Chemistry, the supervisor’s consolidated competence in biomaterials design, tissue engineering and cardiac regenerative medicine, my proof-of-concept preliminary results and the availability of all the needed facilities and training opportunities at the Host Institution will ensure the research progress. Furthermore, PACGEL will address one major societal challenge such as the treatment of age-related cardiac diseases exploiting green technologies, thus achieving still a greater impact on society.

Mots clés : cardiac regenerative medicine, plasma jet, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, hydrogels, bio printed tissue models

Participants :
- École polytechnique de Turin (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet MEXCAT (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The European Union goal of a 80-95% decrease of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 requires, among other strategies, new functional materials and sustainable approaches for clean energy generation and pollutant abatement. The chemical valorisation of CO2 is a highly promising green solution involving the recycling and reuse of CO2 effluents as carbon source for fuels and chemicals, such as methanol. The low CO2 conversion, triggered by catalytic nanoparticles (NPs) deactivation by sintering and limited selectivity, however, limits its industrial growth. The first aim of this proposal is to design next-generation stable and selective catalysts for the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, that can rival state-of-the-art materials through the ambitious achievement of 10% methanol yield. This will be done by NP exsolution, a novel route to achieve stable anchored NPs, which has barely been explored for this application, despite the superior catalytic properties unique to exsolved systems. To then unravel the lack of fundamental understanding in the catalytic mechanisms of exsolved systems, we will characterise the correlation of their structure with their reactivity and selectivity via a unique in situ/operando approach (second aim). The role of active sites such as exsolved NPs and structural defects will be elucidated by in situ/operando Infrared (FTIR) and Raman studies; we will monitor the composition and strain evolution of the materials surfaces during catalytic processing by state-of-the-art in situ photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The unique expertise of the host supervisor in CO2 hydrogenation catalysts testing and characterisation by in situ/operando FTIR and Raman, and of the secondment group in XPS studies of catalysts on-stream, coupled with my experience in exsolved systems design and in situ TEM characterisation will advance the fields of exsolution and CO2 valorisation catalysis, allowing me to gain a unique skillset.

Mots clés : nanoparticle exsolution, co2 hydrogenation to methanol catalysis, in situ infrared spectroscopy, operando raman, high pressure photoelectron spectroscopy, in situ transmission electron microscopy

Participants :
- Imperial College London (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- École polytechnique de Turin (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet GLIMPSE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

If mathematics is the language of physical sciences, differential equations are their grammar. Yet, to understand them, we need computational algorithms. Some of the most intriguing phenomena in nature arise when the underlying physical laws can be described using nonlinear dispersive partial differential equations. This means that waves of different frequencies travel at different speeds -- a mechanism that is, for instance, responsible for the breaking of ocean waves near the shore. When a computer is asked to approximate solutions that exhibit discontinuities (low-regularity), as is the case for instance in shock waves, these nonlinear frequency interactions pose a significant challenge which has recently been addressed by the development of so-called resonance-based numerical schemes. In many applications, it is desirable to apply geometric numerical integrators -- algorithms that preserve geometric structure of the underlying equation such as conservation of energy or time reversibility. However, there is only a very limited set of methods available that can address both challenges in unison, i.e. perform well in low-regularity regimes and preserve geometric structure of the underlying differential equation. Such algorithms, if more widely developed, would provide a valuable tool for a range of applications, including extreme events in ocean waves and atmospheric models. The goal of this proposed research is to address this need for structure-preserving low-regularity integrators for dispersive partial differential equations. The proposed project lies at the interface of computational mathematics, analysis and physical applications and, if successful, the results of this proposal have the potential to enhance both our current understanding of numerics for dispersive equations and, in the medium term, improve practical simulations which are used in weather forecasting and efficient disaster prevention from extreme ocean events.

Mots clés : nonlinear dispersive partial differential equations time evolution equations low regularity phenomena geometric structure preservation simulation of wave phenomena

Participants :
- Sorbonne Université (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 156088.16 €
Projet NanoChain (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Efficient interactions between photons and quantum emitters are at the heart of numerous quantum information devices, such as quantum memories, switches or gates. Using chains of individual cold atoms trapped close to an optical nanofiber, the goal of the proposed research is to exploit the enhanced linear and non-linear quantum interactions that can result from the unique features of such one-dimensional ordered arrays. Periodically arranged atomic structures indeed exhibit specific light scattering properties, i.e., Bragg reflection, super-, sub- and even selective radiance. The interaction of guided light with ordered arrays can lead to tailored functionalities unavailable in current light-matter interfaces. Novel and resource-efficient quantum memory and gate protocols will be targeted. This project will push this original light-atom array paradigm towards building blocks for future quantum technologies. The candidate, with a strong background in atomic physics, quantum optics, and nonlinear optics will exploit his expertise to develop the project while extending his skillset towards the implementation of quantum information networks and further developing his innovation and leadership abilities during the fellowship.

Mots clés : nanofiber, cold atoms, nanophotonics, quantum memory, quantum networks

Participants :
- Sorbonne Université (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 211754.88 €