Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ASNet (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Ageing is controlled at the molecular level via genetic and metabolic pathways. Ageing rates and patterns vary substantially even with fixed genetics and environment. However, molecular mechanisms of ageing generating individual heterogeneity are poorly understood. Stochastic dynamics of gene expression can be a main source of the variation in cellular damage dynamics leading to individual heterogeneity in ageing. The sigma factor regulatory networks constitute the core part of the bacterial gene expression networks and therefore play important role in deciding the fate of bacterial cells. In this project, I focus on exploring the role and interplays of four major sigma factors rpoD, rpoS, rpoH, rpoN in individual E. coli cells. I plan to (1) obtain these sigma factors’ expression dynamics and the demographic fates at individual E. coli cells in microfluidic platforms under fluorescent microscope; (2) process and analyze big image data in an automated manner; (3) develop mathematical models to interpret expression and demographic signals for damage and ageing. I will combine the knowledge and methods from the disciplines of molecular biology, genetics, fluorescent microscopy and microfluidics, machine learning, population and evolutionary dynamics and mathematical modelling to shed light on the link from stochastic expression dynamics in sigma factor regulatory network towards individual variations observed in ageing fates.

Mots clés : bacterial ageing, individual heterogeneity, biodemography, evolutionary demography, theoretical biology, mathematical biology, gene networks, sigma factor regulatory network, bacteria

Participants :
- Université libre de Berlin (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
Projet SixthSense (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Each fall, millions of Monarch butterflies take off from to migrate over up to 5.000 km to their overwintering sites. During their long journey, they employ a wide range of cues to maintain their southerly flight direction. While monarch butterflies have been shown to be sensitive to magnetic information, its role during migration remains elusive. In this project, I will test the role of the Earth’s magnetic field during migration. Using a double-wrapped 3D-Helmoltz coil, I will study whether butterflies can use magnetic cues as a compass to keep their migratory direction (Magnetic Compass). In addition, by virtually displacing migratory Monarch butterflies, I will investigate whether they can also determine a specific goal location or even their own global position based on magnetic cues (Magnetic Map). I will next study the neural coding of magnetic information in the Monarch brain. I will target candidate compass neurons within the navigation network of the central complex using multichannel tetrode recordings. I specifically aim to obtain recordings from the head-direction neurons during magnetic field manipulation. I will test how the different magnetic field components are encoded in central complex neurons. In this way, I aim to obtain a detailed picture of the neuronal correlate for magnetic orientation. Besides compass or map, magnetic cues could also be used for compass calibration. While time compensation is a crucial aspect of a navigation, how it is established at a neuronal level remains elusive. I will investigate the role of the magnetic field as a geo-stable reference system for compass calibration. To do so, I will combine magnetic manipulations and a simulated sun stimulus to create cue-conflicts. I will use extracellular tetrode recordings in tethered navigating butterflies, to investigate the influence of cue-conflicts on the neural coding. I aim to unravel how magnetic and celestial cues are integrated to create a time-compensated sun compass.

Mots clés : magnetic sense, compass or map orientation, time compensation, compass calibration, central complex

Participants :
- Université norvégienne de sciences et de technologie (Norvège) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 210911.04 €
- Texas a&m university system (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet MOPRITALY (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

MOPRITALY examines the wide range of new theatrical practices shaping Italian opera in the period 1815-1861: from stage technologies and stage manuals, to transformed architectural spaces, to newly powerful voices and orchestras. Italian opera at this time has long been studied in relation to the political upheavals surrounding Italian unification. MOPRITALY instead offers a new history of modern operatic performance, highlighting Italian opera's role in shaping wider experiences of modernity within Italy and abroad. In so doing, the project develops a more sophisticated framework for exploring the relationships between opera, aesthetics and politics, and defines a new role for Italian opera in narratives of modern European and Western history, by interrogating opera's relationship with broader social, cultural and technological developments. MOPRITALY achieves these objectives by concentrating on Rome, Naples, Venice, Florence and Milan - key centres of theatrical innovation - and drawing upon a wide range of archival sources: from operatic scores and libretti, staging manuals, acting guides, singing treatises, press reviews and letters, to institutional records, political tracts, scientific and medical treatises, and memoirs of the spoken theatre. The project will be carried out at La Sapienza (Rome), an outstanding international centre for musicology and ideally placed for archival work throughout Italy. MOPRITALY will be supervised by Professor Emanuele Senici, a renowned expert on nineteenth-century Italian opera, and it includes a six-month placement at the Archivio Storico Ricordi (housed at the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense) that will support implementation of earlier research findings. MOPRITALY will overall transform my research skills and professional network, putting me in a strong position to secure permanent academic employment and creating deeply connected links between a range of international institutions, both academic and non-academic.

Mots clés : opera studies modern italian studies performance material culture theatricality romanticism modernity voice

Participants :
- Université de Rome « La Sapienza » (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 261854.1 €
- Ricordi & c. srl (Italie) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
Projet EMOFFF (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Insufficient intake of iron is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies, with almost one-third of reproductive-aged women suffering from anaemia. Iron fortification of food products is an important route towards addressing this issue, but it is a notoriously difficult problem as product quality is often strongly compromised. While current strategies succeed in addressing some aspects of this challenge, they are often inadequate from a holistic perspective. Resolving these issues will help address societal challenges related to iron deficiencies, provide personalised nutrition, and support the growing adoption of plant-based diets. The objective of this research program is to explore the novel approach based on functional materials from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived from iron (Fe) and edible plant-derived organic molecules, which can function as safe and bioaccessible by-design colloidal delivery systems. The approach will be based on selecting suitable organic ligands from the family of edible, plant-based polyphenols and acids, and use them in safe concentrations as Fe-based MOFs with pH triggered solubility (i.e. reversal back to the mineral and organic ligand) in the gastrointestinal tract. To achieve this goal, the following specific objectives will be met by developing new edible MOFs, both homogeneous and core-shell morphology, from Fe and plant-derived polyphenols and acids and evaluating their reactivity (e.g. oxidation, discoloration) and bioaccessibility in food products. If successful, this approach will enable the design of high-quality, mineral-enriched, plant-based food products. The proposed research program will lead to an increase in high-impact Research & Innovation output in the field of nutritious and functional food, specifically addressing the issue of iron deficiency. The expanded skill set of the fellow will improve his future employability and career prospects, both in industrial and academic research areas.


Participants :
- Université d'Utrecht (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Wageningen University & Research (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Unilever (Netherlands) (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 187624.32 €
Projet RONCLIM (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

During the last decades, Rights of Nature have become an essential legal device for promoting environmental protection and therefore directly contribute to the implementation of SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 13 (Climate action) as well as the Horizon Europe EU Missions 1 and 3. While there has been research on Rights of Nature within legal studies, political ecology, and political science, there is still a gap within environmental philosophy regarding this topic. In RONCLIM, I explore the Rights of Nature from a philosophical perspective and with a particular focus on the tensions between the Global South and the Global North and between Rights of Nature and the climate crisis. In the first year, I analyse the opportunities and risks associated with the construction of Rights of Nature based on ontologies from the Global South and the Global North. Based on this research, I develop an ontological framework that can explain how Rights of Nature are embedded in different ontologies and how translation between them can be assessed. In the second year, I study the case of the Mar Menor and investigate whether Rights of Nature could increase the resilience of ecosystems and to what extent they could be used against the energy transition by “not-in-my-backyard” activists. This study results in a normative framework that can help law- and policymakers to navigate the overlaps and tensions between Rights of Nature and climate legislation. The Kassel Institute for Sustainability is the ideal host for RONCLIM as it has expertise in both Rights of Nature and policy-making and provides the necessary infrastructure for disseminating the research findings to both academic and non-academic audiences. In this way, RONCLIM will not only contribute to the academic debate, but also influence the public discourse on this topic and promote policy and legal action to protect nature and address the climate crisis.

Mots clés : rights of nature biodiversity crisis climate crisis, environmental philosophy

Participants :
- University of Kassel (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 202125.12 €
- Université de Murcie (Espagne) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet REMaP-Carbon (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive adopted by the EU acknowledges enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) as a sustainable process that prevents eutrophication, saves marine assets estimated at €500 billion and counters depletion of phosphorus ore. EBPR is mediated microbially by polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), but our understanding is limited to identifying Ca. Accumulibacter as a globally dominant PAO that utilises volatile fatty acids as carbon substrate. However, a variety of PAOs exists in full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) that display metabolic versatility in the assimilation or fermentation of complex carbon substrates such as amino acids and sugars. The REMaP-Carbon action will explore the metabolic versatility of PAOs using complex carbon substrates. An interdisciplinary approach involving engineering principles, multi-omics analyses, and advanced modelling techniques will be implemented. Under the supervision of Prof. Mark van Loosdrecht, TU Delft, I will study the metabolism of PAOs using isotope labelling techniques, kinetic and stoichiometric characterisation, and metabolic models. During the secondment at Aalborg University with Prof. Per Nielsen, I will gain complementary skills in bioinformatics and microspectroscopy techniques. To extend EBPR application to complex carbon substrates in WWTPs, an industrial placement is planned at the end of the fellowship to exploit research outputs with Royal HaskoningDHV. In leading international and intersectoral collaborations, I aim to develop research skills, project management and communication abilities to improve overall effectiveness as a researcher. Independently leading this action will provide me experience and confidence to undertake ambitious projects and collaborations in my academic career. Overall, this action will contribute to Europe’s knowledge-based economy by defining how PAOs turn the wheels of the biogeochemical phosphorus cycle in natural environments.

Mots clés : enhanced biological phosphorus removal, aerobic granular sludge, biofilm processes, environmental biotechnology, microbial ecology

Participants :
- Université d'Aalborg (Danemark) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 254330.4 €
- Haskoning nederland bv (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
Projet HITCHHIKE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Interspecies interactions between fungi and bacteria are highly prevalent in nature and play critical roles in agriculture, biotechnology, and medicine. Studying such bacterial-fungal interactions offers crucial insights into fungal pathogenesis that can be leveraged in understanding and treating serious fungal diseases. The Rhizopus-Mycetohabitans endosymbiosis offers a unique model to study how endosymbionts contribute to fungal pathogenicity. Notably, the fungal host's sporulation depends entirely on the bacterial endosymbionts, which are translocated into the spores. However, the molecular details of how R. microsporus mediates endosymbiont-dependent sporulation, and subsequent symbiosis maintenance, remain unknown. HITCHHIKE aims to close this knowledge gap by utilizing a combination of genetic, biochemical, and infection biology technologies. We will focus on elucidating: (i) the means of intra-hyphal transport of non-motile endosymbionts; (ii) the molecular mechanisms of endosymbiont-dependent sporulation; and (iii) how endosymbionts contribute to fungal pathogenicity. This will not only elucidate the nature of host control in this clinically relevant bacterial-fungal alliance but also has the potential to serve as a roadmap to understanding how prokaryotic pathogens and symbionts interact with more complex eukaryotic hosts. In addition, HITCHHIKE will provide a foundation to better understand how asexual sporulation is regulated in the greater Mucoromycota phylum. These ecologically diverse fungi are utilized in biotechnology and industry, with applications spanning from food production to drug development. Dr Richter, an expert in bacterial endosymbionts of fungi, will conduct HITCHHIKE under the supervision of Prof Victoriano Garre, a pioneer in the molecular biology of Mucoromycota. The MSCA fellowship will qualify her as a leading expert in fungal-bacterial-host interactions, thus laying the foundation for establishing her independent research group.

Mots clés : bacterial fungal interactions, endosymbiosis, microfluidics, medical mycology, fungal sporulation, mucormycosis, cytoskeleton, proteomics, crispr cas

Participants :
- Université de Murcie (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 209914.56 €
Projet EvoSaurAf (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The overall research goal of this proposal is to develop a multidisciplinary study of the little known long-necked dinosaurs of North Africa using virtual paleontology techniques (developed in my PhD thesis) histological data on the fossil material, pneumatic apparatus reconstruction and phylogenetic analysis to understand the significance of a range of new species. The project will have a major impact in the fields of paleontology and biology, generating critical new data on the large terrestrial vertebrates of a major continent during a period of the Mesozoic that experienced sea level and temperature changes resulting in major extinctions. The fossil material comprises the single largest undescribed fauna from any major continent during the latter half of the Mesozoic. The high-profile scientific results to come from this research over two-years in the Department of Organismal Biology (University of Chicago), under the supervision of Prof. Sereno, will boost my academic profile and experience in the fields of paleontology and evolution, significantly increasing the chance to continue my career by leading a multidisciplinary and diverse research group in the field of paleobiology in Europe.

Mots clés : dinosauria, sauropoda, extinction, phylogenetics, 

Participants :
- Université de Chicago (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- National University of Distance Education (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 261380.64 €
Projet HYPER-CAT (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The rapid increase in the number of small satellites in recent years has dramatically boosted the probability of orbital collisions that inevitably create space debris. To preserve the orbit's sustainability, a storable/stable, environmentally-friendly, highly efficient, and compact propulsion system is required to be mounted on the satellites. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and aerospike engines are promising candidates if the major flaws are solved: catalyst performance degradation due to stabilizer poisoning and extreme thermal loads at the spike structure. In this proposal, I want to test the novel concept of utilizing the thermal decomposition process of H2O2 by turning the aerospike engine's cooling challenges into an advantage. Liquid H2O2 adsorbs heat from the structure convectively, then vaporizes/decomposes to create gas layers to protect the structure from the direct contact of the combustion gas. The thermal decomposition of H2O2 eliminates the use of catalysts. Overall, the concept offers a unique approach to an efficient, compact, and durable propulsion system for small satellites. In the project, liquid H2O2 will be injected into the H2O2/Kerosene staged-combustion vitiated-air heater through the additive manufactured porous metallic wall (Fraunhofer IWS). Testing in various conditions, heat flux/temperature/pressure will be measured directly. Key variables (Da and H*) can't be directly measured. Hence, the mathematical model will be formulated to derive these variables under given conditions. The model will be validated by comparing the mono/bipropellant flame front locations between the simulations/experiments. Then, I will generate a low-order modeling tool that can predict the cooling performance and combustion efficiency based on the data and the model. The tool will be implemented to apply the new concept to existing TUD etholox rockets. The spike module will be fabricated, integrated and tested for concept verification.

Mots clés : aerospike engine, hydrogen peroxide, thermal decomposition, hybrid combustion, space propulsion, heat transfer, additive manufacturing, mathematical modeling

Participants :
- Université technologique de Dresde (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
Projet NIRLUMIN (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) that absorb and emit in the near-infrared (NIR) region are of paramount importance in the field of optoelectronics (LEDs, LASERs, solar cells, telecommunication) and biological imaging. However, most of the NIR emitting NCs are based on heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg) which are highly toxic and are restricted from widespread use by the European regularity concerns. Therefore, the development of NIR emitting environmentally friendly (Cd/Pb/Hg- free) NCs are of interest. NIRLUMIN proposes a strategy to develop high NIR (1-1.35um) luminescent, stable AInTe2/(Ga/In)2S3/Zn(S/Se) core/shell/shell (CSS) NC heterostructures with controlled bandgap and size in which the outer shells will protect the surface of the core and enhance the photoluminescence quantum yield by passivating the dangling bonds and surface traps while the intermediate layer will stop diffusion to prevent the undesirable bandgap enhancement. Further, the advantages of these NCs will be directly translated into device performance in the LED. For biological imaging, these nanostructures will be over-coated with a ceramic-type alumina shell and transferred to the aqueous phase. The whole work will be conducted in five major steps. (i) Synthesis of CSS NCs, characterization and study of their structural and photophysical properties (ii) Surface functionalization to investigate the surface ligand chemistry on their optical and electrical properties and to make the NCs compatible for devices and bio-application (iii) Cytotoxicity study and bio-imaging using the Alumina coated NCs. (iv) Optoelectronic characterization, to understand the optical and electronic characteristics of the NCs on film. Finally (v) fabrication of LED using these NCs as an active layer and optimization to achieve an efficient NIR emission.

Mots clés : colloidal nanocrystals ncs , heterostructure quantum dots qds , photophysical properties of ncs, nir light emitting diode led , photoluminescence quantum yield plqy , bioimaging

Participants :
- Université technologique de Dresde (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €