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

The aquaculture industry is essential to meet the dietary needs of the growing world population and an important contributor to the European economy and to the people’s health and welfare. However, its expansion has been limited by the great variety of diseases that affect farmed species and cause great economic losses. There is an urgent need to find new methodologies that allow cost-effective and early-detection that can be easily applied in decentralized settings or points-of-care. The main goal of AQUASENSE is the development of a new biosensor for early molecular diagnosis of aquaculture pathogens and to evaluate the use of third generation sequencing to monitor potential reservoirs of pathogens. To perform this, the turbot aquaculture will be used as a study case. A miniaturized device based on microscale solid phase extraction (µSPE) and microfluidics will be developed and optimized to perform universal highly efficient DNA extraction and purification from aquaculture samples. Then this system will be integrated with a novel biosensing module, based on isothermal amplification and CRISPR/Cas system, to develop a micro total analysis system (µTAS) suitable for resource-limited analysis. This device will be evaluated for the detection of two of the most problematic pathogens in turbot. In parallel, a miniaturized nanopore sequencer will be used to monitor the microbiome present in the samples and the potential reservoirs of pathogens, with the aid of the universal highly efficient DNA extraction device. This technology will allow more targeted treatments and reduce mortality and the use of antibiotics, improving the profitability of the sector. These objectives fit with important goals included in the Farm to Fork European Strategy (European Green Deal), such as reduce dependency on antimicrobials, improve the knowledge about microbiome and reach a more sustainable aquaculture production, all of them aimed at achieving a robust and resilient food system.

Mots clés : biosensing, molecular diagnosis, miniaturized analytical devices, microfluidics, microbiology, fast dna analysis

Participants :
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (Portugal) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 147815.04 €
Projet CERAM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The arrival of farming had important consequences on many aspects of human society, from health to ideology. The study of this process therefore constitutes a key theme in prehistory and archaeology. One of the traits traditionally associated with the transition to farming in Europe is the introduction of pottery technology. For centuries, archaeologists have documented the appearance and dispersal of ceramic vessels across the European continent, using them as proxy for the shift to farming, domestication and sedentism, collectively known as the Neolithic transition. However, the role of pottery in the transition to farming is unclear. In other parts of world there are examples of both pre-farming pottery production and aceramic farming communities. With new research the basis that has underpinned centuries of Neolithic research is beginning to be questioned. Crucially, only by understanding the use and function of pottery can this technology be meaningfully linked to farming. By applying the latest chemical and molecular analysis, CERAM aims to reconstruct the use of pottery during this key transition focusing on the sequence of Atlantic Southern Europe. The host will train a ceramic specialist from Spain, with no prior experience of organic residue analysis, in the latest molecular and isotopic techniques providing the necessary skills for her to establish a similar facility in her home country where none currently exist. In turn, the fellow will bring specific expertise of ceramic technological analysis, not currently available at the host institution. Through her extensive prior experience and contacts, she will also provide an opportunity for the host to expand the application of organic residue analysis to a novel and under-researched context, i.e. Atlantic Southern Europe and consolidate long-term collaborations with a leading institute of coastal prehistory.

Mots clés : biomolecular archaeology, neolithic pottery, organic residue analysis

Participants :
- University of York (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet MIFLUKE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The assessment of carbon cycle in the Earth-climate system is one the highest challenge in science nowadays. It still remains some key knowledge gaps and uncertainties concerning the budgets of greenhouse gases (GHGs) at ecosystem scale and the key role of microbial communities. Karst ecosystems cover up to 25 % of the land surface and they are acting as rapid CH4 sink and as alternately CO2 source or sink. Pioneer results point to microbial action must be playing a crucial role in CO2 and CH4 uptake, fixation or production and maybe determining the strong variations of these major GHGs in karst ecosystems. MIFLUKE will elucidate, for the first time, the role of karst microbiota in the main GHGs -CO2 and CH4- content and fluxes in underground vadose atmospheres, as a key challenge to clarify the accurate effective contribution of karst ecosystems to the global carbon cycle. By applying an innovative and multidisciplinary combination of a broad suite of advanced tools and cutting-edge technologies from very different research areas -GHGs flux monitoring, isotopic geochemical tracing, biogeochemistry, metagenomics, etc.- a biogeochemical model of microbial processes will be developed. This project will combine the expertise of a multidisciplinary group of leading researchers on ecosystem functioning, GHGs and biogeochemistry modelling, with the extraordinary resources including analytical facilities and training support in PLECO (Univ. Antwerp, Belgium). The proposal represents an exceptional opportunity the candidate to acquire the essential skills that will open new career avenues and will convert her into a highly competitive European researcher. In turn, the fellow will bring specific expertise to PLECO that will open a new and promising research field. This proposal directly addresses the cross-cutting priority of climate action established by H2020 Work Programme and will reinforce the already large European competitiveness in GHGs research and management.

Mots clés : greenhouse gases  ghgs, carbon cycle, biogeochemistry, geomicrobiology, karst, ecosystem, microbial communities

Participants :
- University of Antwerp (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 178320.0 €
Projet 5GTRACK (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The automobile industry is fast moving towards commercializing autonomous vehicles (AV) after 2020. An important component of AVs is localization; a process by which the location of an AV is estimated, for which the industry is relying on high cost and computationally expensive technologies. 5GTrack aims to fill this gap by devising localization methods using 5G millimetre-wave (mmWave) communication technology, which have the potential to provide cm-level accuracy. Since AVs will be equipped with 5G communication technology anyway, integrating localization with 5G communication would provide an affordable and accurate localization solution. In a close interaction with local industry (Vovlo, Ericsson, Zenuity, Autoliv), the objective of 5GTrack is, firstly, to provide an integrated low-cost high-accuracy localization and tracking solution for near-static and highly-dynamic scenarios with a max error of 20 cm to serve vehicles, infrastructure, and vulnerable road users. Secondly, based on the reflective and scattering nature of the mmWave channel, 5GTrack also investigates methods of environment sensing to create a map of the vehicle surrounds that can be stored for future use. 5GTrack has 3 WPs, each will be achieved in 3 steps: 1) Modeling and performance requirement that will be discussed with the relevant industry, 2) theoretical analysis and 3) validation via computer simulation. Hosted by a highly dynamic, international, and intellectually stimulating department, 5GTrack will provide the ER with a great opportunity to interact with world class industrial partners, who work on cutting edge vehicular and communication technologies. This will boost his market competitiveness in a domain that will witness high growth in the future by giving him hands-on experience in the industrial requirements and methodology, as well as relevant software packages. It will also give the ER an opportunity to lead and industrial and academic innovation and patenting process.

Mots clés : 5g communication, millimeter wave, localization, tracking, v2v and v2i communication, autonomous vehicles

Participants :
- Chalmers University of Technology (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 185857.2 €
Projet BirdsongBiomechanics (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The avian vocal tract offers bioinspiration for the improvement of available vocal prosthetics, which do not currently capture the frequency of the patient’s natural voice. The avian vocal organ, the syrinx, is anatomically different from the human larynx, relying on vibratory membranes within the walls of the trachea, rather than vocal folds within the larynx. The avian system is capable of a much greater range of vocal diversity, suggesting unique ways in which birds produce and modify sounds. The objective of this fellowship is to directly observe and measure the anatomy, biomechanics, airflow, and acoustics of birdsong in vivo and understand how birds physically produce such vocal diversity. We will overcome previous methodological challenges by using a unique combination of cutting-edge methods. First, avian vocal tract anatomy will be described and quantified in 3D, using digital dissection techniques across three bird groups of vocal interest (songbirds, parrots, and doves). It will allow us to accurately determine which anatomical characteristics are linked to which sound characteristics. Next, interactions between the biomechanics of the vocal system (e.g., kinematics, volume changes), the airflow dynamics inside and outside the oral cavity, and the resulting sound production will be measured for the first time in vivo. We will use state-of-the-art biplanar x-ray video methods and 3D imaging of the resulting airflow, synchronized with acoustics, at the level of the individual. By combining in vivo results with the corresponding anatomy, we can directly observe and quantify structure-function relationships, and understand, rather than infer, how the components of the vocal tract work together to modulate sound. This project will be foundational for both the comprehension of the evolution of birdsong and the development of vocal prosthetics that will restore a natural-sounding voice to people who lost their voice.

Mots clés : bird, birdsong, biomechanics, xromm, anatomy

Participants :
- Université Paris Cité (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet MBD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The bacterial cell cycle is of fundamental importance and an important potential antibiotic target; however, many details of the molecular mechanisms involved remain elusive. Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is an important model system for cell cycle studies. Here, I propose applying the ribosome profiling method, not only to identify novel factors involved in the of B. subtilis cell cycle, but also to create a map of factors regulating this process. I will use advanced genetic methods and microscopic techniques to characterize the functions of the novel factors, gaining insights into their role in the cell cycle. My extensive experience in prokaryotic translation gained in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel Wilson in Munich, Germany, combined with the exceptional genetics and cell biology expertise of the laboratory of Prof. Jeff Errington in Newcastle, England, creates a great opportunity to study important fundamental aspects of bacteria, with potential implications for healthcare, drug discovery and industrial biotechnology, as well as providing the foundation for a successful independent career in science.

Mots clés : cell division, cell cycle, bacillus subtilis, sprulation, ribosome profiling, genetics, imaging

Participants :
- Newcastle University (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet Small-scale CSP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The biggest challenge for renewable energy sources is to match the demand with the supply. By using thermal energy storage for concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, the stability, reliability, and capacity factor of the plants are improved. Conventional CSP plants typically use mirrors, which are expensive to produce, install, and maintain. Apart from that, conventional thermal storages are also expensive as these are based on molten salts, which are expensive and their handling require special materials. Based on a novel micro-structured polymer foil, Heliac, Denmark, has demonstrated cost-effectiveness of the Fresnel reflector integrated foil based CSP plants. The primary objective of “Small-scale CSP” is to design a novel thermal storage for Fresnel reflector integrated foil based CSP plants. Detailed numerical works as well as experimental demonstrations are included. The intention is to design a packed bed storage system with heat storage charging and discharging using evaporation/condensation of one or more heat transfer fluids. For the thermal storage to be designed in this project, the cost is estimated to be around 4 €/kWh which is less than half of the cost of conventional storage system using molten salt (~ 11 €/kWh). The estimated cost of electricity and heat generation from the Fresnel reflector integrated foil based CSP plant with storage (at Seville, Spain) is 38 €/MWh and 8 €/MWh, respectively. By involving research topics from different fields and collaborations with world-leading organizations from industry and academia, this is a truly inter-disciplinary and inter-sectorial project, ensuring its successful completion. In broader terms, the project will contribute to the development of cost-efficient renewable energy systems, reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and reducing the carbon dioxide emissions of the heat and power generation sector, thus helping to attain socio-economic and environmental targets in context of the EU 2020 vision.

Mots clés : concentrated solar power, co generation, thermal energy storage, packed beds, organic rankine cycle

Participants :
- Technical University of Denmark (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €
Projet BioSIGNAL (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The biological pump refers to the mechanism by which carbon is assimilated by photosynthetic algae in the ocean photic zone and subsequently exported to depth upon death of the organisms. The largest part of this export production is generally remineralized as it travels throughout the water column where it depletes dissolved oxygen concentrations. A fraction of the export production may still reach the sea floor, where it is susceptible to be buried, thus inducing a net removal of CO2 from the ocean-atmosphere system. Therefore, the good appraisal of the response of the biological pump to changing environmental conditions is crucial to reasonably predict climate and ocean oxygenation impacts, both associated with past events and as will result from ongoing anthropogenic emissions. However, the behavior of the ecological system in the face of climatic changes and how it impacts the strength and efficiency of the biological pump remains difficult to predict. To address this, here I propose to investigate the sensitivity of the biological pump in a novel way – using a state-of-the-art ecological model including a representation of marine biogeochemical cycles. I will focus on past periods, which provide a whole evolutionary chronicle to which model outputs can be directly compared. Confrontation of model results with geological records will also allow me to develop a mechanistic understanding of the behavior of the ecological system in response to a wide range of environmental perturbations. The proposed approach constitutes an unrivaled opportunity to increase our understanding of the geological record and what it can tell us of relevance to the future. Lessons learned here, both positive and negative, have the potential to help inform the next generation of marine ecosystem models needed to make improved projections of future global change impacts on ocean ecosystems, and hence engaging a broad range of global change scientists and ultimately, policy makers.


Participants :
- Université Marie et Louis Pasteur (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 257619.84 €
- University of California System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
Projet MoWS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The brain is a complex system whose function relies on a dynamic information exchange between trillions of neural connections organised hierarchically: local neuronal circuits are interconnected to form large-scale functional networks spanning several brain areas. Neural oscillations are the result of this multilevel interaction and regulate vital processes, from sleep to attention. Neurophysiological techniques, such as electrophysiological recordings or brain imaging, can only investigate separately the micro- and macro-circuits that, together, generate global activity patterns. To date, despite significant recent technical advancements, the causal roles between local and global brain activity, and between global dynamics and overall brain function, remain largely unknown. In this context, complementary computational approaches can dramatically improve the understanding of the multilevel functional organization of the brain. This project aims to develop the first model of whole-brain slow oscillations based on the integration of multi-scale neural activity. Slow neural oscillations (<1Hz) regulate key functions such as synaptic plasticity, memory consolidation and sensory processing. Moreover, abnormalities in this brain rhythm have been linked to the pathogenesis of autistic spectrum disorders. The novelty of my model lays in three aspects. It will include pyramidal neurons, parvalbumin interneurons and somatostatin interneurons, following on the experimental results defining their differential roles in regulating slow waves; it will be based on the integration of multi-scale experimental data acquired in-house (local field potential recordings and fMRI); it will be used to model the slow dynamics alterations occurring in genetically defined autistic-like disorders. This solid and highly credible computational tool will advance our understanding of the physiology of brain oscillations and will potentially impact the diagnostic and therapeutic paths for autism.

Mots clés : multi scale brain modelling, slow oscillatory dynamics, integrate and fire models, interneurons, connectome, fmri, mouse models, brain imaging, electrophysiology, autism

Participants :
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet LUCENT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The breakthrough of super resolution imaging has revolutionized biology and nanomedicine, allowing to visualize synthetic or biological structures with nanometric accuracy and providing a deeper understanding of complex molecular systems. The key idea at the basis of these methods is the use of novel fluorescent markers endowed with specific properties such as photoswitching, reversible binding, stimulated emission and single molecule imaging capabilities. In this emergent framework the fluorescent markers play a role as important as the optical setup utilized for imaging. Therefore, among the prerequisites for successful nanoscopic imaging the selection of the suitable fluorophore is essential. Despite the recent advances in the development of super-resolution microscopy techniques, fluorescent probes with high brightness, high photostability and low toxicity remains an unmet need. This proposal aims at developing ultrasmall photoluminescent atomic metal quantum clusters as new generation of advanced optical probes for super-resolution microscopy. To this purpose, we will apply a combination of property-designed nanochemistry routes and surface engineered strategies for producing multicolour atomic metal clusters that will provide novel model systems for single molecule imaging. The strategy will focus at three important levels: synthesis, biocompatibility and preliminary cellular imaging, application in super-resolution microscopy. The research activity here proposed could realistically lead to live, multicolour, three-dimensional images with an even higher resolution – down to the molecular level – with applications in biology and nanotechnology. To this end, LUCENT will employ a multidiscicplinary approach whose strength resides in the combination of the complementary expertise of the experienced researcher –design of new probes - and the host institution - nanoscopy.

Mots clés : luminescent metal quantum clusters, ultrasmall fluorescent probes, super resolution microscopy, multicolour cellular imaging, single molecule imaging

Participants :
- Eindhoven University of Technology (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175572.48 €