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

For the photocatalytic reduction of inert small molecules using nanomaterials, surface point defects (such as vacancies and heteroatoms) play an important regulatory role. In particular, promoting the activation of adsorbed molecules is directly related to the subsequent multi-step reaction. Traditional simulations mainly focus on the relationship between the ground state fixation model and activation, while ignoring the exploration of the influence of dynamic evolution of defects and molecules on the activation process in the photoexcitation environment. Through the combination of first-principles, many-body perturbation theory, ab initio nonadiabatic molecular dynamics, and experimental verification, we will explore the dynamic evolution and the mechanism of the adsorbed molecule activation process at point defects under photoexcitation. 1) We will study the relaxation process of photogenerated hot electrons at point defects, analyze the formation and evolution of transient and vibrationally excited states of adsorbed molecules, and expand the static activation based on the conventional "acceptance-donation" mechanism. Simultaneously, by exploring the spin state transition and exciton effect at the point defects, we will reveal their effects on the lifetime of molecular dynamic activation intermediates. 2) By studying the dynamic evolution of point defects under molecular adsorption and photoexcitation, we will clarify the regulatory effect of point defects in semi-stable states on the evolution of adsorbed molecular excited states. 3) We will explore the effect of liquid-solid interfaces on the dynamic activation process of small molecules under photoexcitation. The implementation of this project will help resolve many contradictions between the static mechanism and the experimental results, and it will provide a reliable theoretical basis for the photocatalytic performance optimization of point defects.

Mots clés : density functional theory surface point defect photogenerated charge excited state dynamics inert small molecule reduction

Participants :
- Université technologique de Dresde (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 217965.12 €
Projet GrowDiv (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Biological systems such as developing organisms, growing tissues, or expanding bacterial biofilms depend on two key processes—cell division and growth. While division increases cell numbers, growth enlarges individual cells. These active processes shape large-scale properties such as division waves, mechanical state transitions, ordered spatial arrangements, and cell size regulation. Though division and growth are often coupled, they can also operate independently, complicating their influence on tissue mechanics and organization. For example, spatially coordinated division and its role in pattern formation have been underexplored, especially in particle-based models that account for individual cell dynamics. This project, GrowDiv, focuses on understanding how biological systems with uncoupled division and growth achieve robust spatial and temporal organization.  Working closely with experimentalists studying the self-organization of Xenopus laevis embryo cytoplasm, I will use a numerical particle-based model to investigate the impact of growth and division timescales on three major transitions: (i) from steady division waves to chaotic dynamics, (ii) from fluid to solid-like states, and (iii) from ordered spatial arrangements to disordered configurations. In particular, I will simulate how independent growth and division lead to stable organization, comparing theoretical predictions to experimental results on cytoplasmic dynamics and microtubule asters. The project will reveal how large-scale biological self-organization emerges from the intricate interplay between division and growth, providing deeper insights into early embryogenesis and the mechanical properties of living systems.

Mots clés : oscillating active matter, synchronization, tissue mechanics, pattern formation, active glasses

Participants :
- Université technologique de Dresde (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 202125.12 €
Projet GROVER (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Natural language processing (NLP) models trained on text without explicit supervision can have groundbreaking performance. They can develop a notion for grammar, syntax, and semantics, thus learning the structure of language. However, while we have defined the rules in our language, we only have a basic understanding about the linguistics of our genome. In this project, our goal is to treat the human genome as a sequence of text and apply NLP techniques to the human DNA sequence. We will establish byte-pair tokenization to generate vocabulary from DNA sequence and analyse attention maps to see the training relationship between different “words” of the genome. We will then further investigate the language rules using methods from corpus linguistics. Together, this will allow us to explore the grammar, syntax, and semantics hidden in the genome and capture their biological meaning. For proof-of-principle, we will perform several biological prediction tasks with fine-tuning models, built on top of the pretrained model. First, we will take popular genomic prediction tasks to benchmark our approach, such as predicting genome elements, transcription, and precision of genome editing. Then we will add some novel tasks around genome stability using available multi-omics data. Throughout the project we will implement techniques for interpretable learning and strategies to observe, control, and prevent ethnic biases in our approach. We expect for large language models to change how we, as a scientific field, approach genomics data analysis and expect our models to establish how these techniques can be applied efficiently, transparently, and in a bias-reduced way. In addition to general understanding of genome biology, we plan to use our models in the future for technical improvements of data analysis, population genetics, and for translational uses with applications in cancer genomics and genome editing.

Mots clés : natural language processing, genomics, bioinformatics, machine learning, genome instability

Participants :
- Université technologique de Dresde (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet POPOLACOP (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Political polarization, populism and illiberal tendencies in post-communist countries stem among other sources from their communist heritage, whose bearers are, paradoxically, also organizations of political prisoners who unintentionally transformed the political polarisation characteristic of the socialist dictatorship into a strong current of anti-communism and a polarized view of history. The research objectives are to: (1) study the roots of the narrative of polarisation among the politically persecuted; (2) analyse the value system, the formation of values and their transfer within associations of political prisoners; (3) study the transfer of their polarised narrative and value system to society and the degree of their success. Although there is a large body of literature focusing on the politics of memory, survivor trauma and anti-communism, none of them has addressed the link between political polarization and coping with the communist past. The project combines the historical research methodology of data gathering with the concepts of psychology (political polarisation and narrative). The German-Czech comparative project is expected to: (1) contribute to the emerging literature on political polarisation; (2) bring a better understanding of the links between the success of the democratization process and radical forms of anti-communism and populism while contributing to the ever growing debate on the need to use a non-polarized approach towards the communist past in education, politics and history; (3) initiate discussions on the role of political bodies with respect to victim organisations and their members and the necessity of various forms of help for persecuted persons (financial, psychological etc.). The project seeks to transfer best practices from Germany, where a more balanced view of the past seems to be prevalent, and analyse which historical, cultural, social and political factors have contributed to it.

Mots clés : political polarisation organisation of political prisoners populism illiberal democracy political prisoner anti communism, czech republic, germany, 20th century

Participants :
- Université technologique de Dresde (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 94843.68 €
Projet Horti-Predict (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Horticultural crops face the urgent need for climate adaptation and a shift towards a more sustainable production model. Genetic improvement through conventional breeding is one of the most viable and sustainable solutions yet is hampered by its slow pace. Predictive breeding, and the integration of new omics resources, is on the cutting-edge of breeding science and offers a potential solution to accelerate this process. While effective in major cereal crops, predictive breeding has been underutilised in horticulture. This project will harness this opportunity and develop novel predictive breeding methods by uniquely combining multi-omics data and advanced prediction models to speed up the breeding cycle to increase the rate of genetic improvement. To achieve this the applicant will (1) generate high-quality multi-omics data, (2) develop models incorporating multi-omics data and genotype-by-environment interaction terms in order to increase the predictive ability of the model, (3) validate the models and create haplotype catalogues in order to develop practical breeder-friendly tools. Grapevine and apple are two of the most important horticultural species in Europe and will be explored as use cases in the project, however the methodology and tools developed will also be highly relevant for other crops. Specifically, the project will result in three open-access outcomes (1) An end-to-end framework to produce high-quality omics data, (2) Advanced predictive breeding models, and (3) a deployable breeding tool in the form of a haplotype catalogue. All outcomes contribute to scientific advances in either breeding methodology or improved trait knowledge and collectively work towards increased genetic gain for enhanced adaptation of horticultural crops to future environments.

Mots clés : predictive breeding, genotype by environment interactions, multi omics, horticulture, apple, grapevine

Participants :
- Hochschule Geisenheim University (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 202125.12 €
Projet MDietSafe (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Food ingestion plays a significant role in human exposure to environmental contaminants, resulting in health implications. Specific legislative measures control internationally the occurrence of chemicals in food to ensure consumer protection. However, there is strong evidence that there are many uncontrolled sources (e.g., deposition of particulate matter, biotic uptake and accumulation from contaminated soil or water, etc.), that may contaminate fresh and unprocessed food with unregulated contaminants. MDietSafe aims to explore the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in fresh and unprocessed food ingredients typically consumed in the Mediterranean diet (MDiet) and evaluate their potential as an exposure source for humans. For this purpose, suspect analysis of contaminants will be undertaken in a variety of food ingredients, produced in the seven Mediterranean diet countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Cyprus, and Croatia) using a novel and simple approach based on the combination of supramolecular solvents with liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (SUPRAS-LC-HRMS). The generated data will be used for human health risk estimation using different hazard indexes. Results from MDietSafe will give a first insight into the current status of unregulated contaminants in MDiet, thus providing a starting point for taking corrective measures if necessary. MDiet is worldwide recognized as a source of health for consumers, so keeping it safe from contamination is essential for guaranteeing this intangible cultural heritage and the associated traditional and cultural assets. MDietSafe is in line with the European mission for food safety and security, deepening the knowledge of the contribution of unregulated contaminants to human exposure through food. MDietSafe also addresses the UN-SDG 2, which aims to achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promotion of sustainable agriculture.

Mots clés : unprocessed food mediterranean diet unregulated contaminants supramolecular solvents suspect screening exposure risk estimation

Participants :
- University of Córdoba (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 209914.56 €
Projet EFFECT (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Phytosanitary products are major component of modern agriculture contributing to the substantial increase in yields and crop protection. Their accumulation in the environment presents risks to humans and living beings in front of a spectacular development of resistance to pesticides among target pests and diseases. Thereby, increasing global ecological and economic requirements tend to shift agriculture towards healthier production systems that take into account crop sustainability, environment and human health. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are considered as an ecological alternative to pesticides thanks to several privileges notably their specificity of action, absence of toxic residues and spectacular genetic elasticity. Additional interesting features were recently attributed to entomopathogenic endophytes for plant protection and production. However, data published so far are variable and fail to Predict their bioecological roles accurately. Consequently, through a novel integrated research program, EFFECT will use cutting-edge experiments and analyses to disentangle and valorize the additional ecological roles of EPF in plant structure relating to systematic endophytic development and aggressor’s survival that underpin feedback mechanisms between plant and its ecosystem. The ultimate objective to be achieved is to boost the effectiveness of these micro biocontrol agents in order to make an innovative and feasible substitute to chemical insecticides. In addition to the scientific audience it may interest, the project might offer potential solutions for industrials and farmers to combat many pests and diseases whilst benefiting from ecological aspects to reduce chemical input into the environment. Accordingly, EFFECT combines multidisciplinary approaches to innovatively achieve objectives that are timely and in line with the current European and global research trends of which positive spin-offs will be achievable and measurable on different levels.

Mots clés : entomopathogenic fungi, endophytes, pests control

Participants :
- University of Córdoba (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 181152.96 €
Projet EcoVerse (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Conventional thermal insulation materials like mineral wools, polyurethane, and polystyrene foams are widely used in Europe, but their production significantly contributes to CO2 emissions, generating up to 6.9 times CO2. Additionally, these materials impede air circulation in buildings, leading to poor indoor air quality and discomfort. This project seeks to address the need for carbon-neutral or carbon-negative building materials that not only provide thermal insulation but also enhance indoor air quality through effective air filtration. The focus of this research is on developing lightweight indoor concrete blocks utilizing biochar, a carbon-rich material produced through pyrolysis. Biochar can sequester up to 2.6 times its own weight of CO2 while offering exceptional properties such as air filtration, acoustics, and thermal insulation. The project aims to maximize biochar content in concrete blocks to 50 to 75 vol% to achieve superior air filtration and thermal comfort while maintaining adequate mechanical performance. The methodology involves developing granulated biochar aggregates and combining them with low-carbon binders and biochar fines to develop lightweight, carbon-negative concrete blocks. Various mix designs, curing conditions, and additives will be explored to optimize the blocks' physical, mechanical, and durability properties. Advanced analytical techniques, including microstructural studies and multiscale modelling, will be employed to understand and validate the blocks' performance. This project has the potential to significantly advance sustainable building practices by developing a novel material that aligns with EU sustainability goals, the Paris Agreement, and the European Green Deal. By integrating biochar into building materials, this research offers an innovative approach to improving indoor air quality and energy efficiency, contributing to healthier and more sustainable living environments.

Mots clés : carbon neutrality biochar absorbent lightweight concrete indoor air quality air purification durability multiscale modelling

Participants :
- Université de technologie de Darmstadt (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 217965.12 €
Projet BioFluoSens (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Malaria is one of the most catastrophic infectious diseases, causing nearly 250 million deaths in 2021, according to WHO. Although malaria is curable, delayed diagnosis is the leading cause of death in malaria patients. The major obstacle in malaria diagnosis is clinical assessment by conventional methods, which requires well-trained clinicians and expensive equipment. Moreover, point-of-care diagnostic tests are not sensitive enough to accurately detect low levels of parasitemia. Thus, there is an urgent need for a rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive malaria diagnostic method based on the detection of parasite biomarkers in the bloodstream and amplification of weak parasite signals by novel methods. In recent years, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), a controlled radical polymerization, has been studied as an attractive method for signal amplification in biosensing because the chain reaction accumulates monomers in the form of polymers at the site of polymerization. In addition, clinically relevant metalloproteins have been detected using this polymer-based signal amplification technique. Herein, the aim of this work is to develop biocatalytic fluorescent switch-on polymerizations with a triple signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive diagnostics and biosensing of malaria. The polymerizations will be used in assays for malaria diagnosis based on hemozoin (metabolic byproduct of all Plasmodium species) and in immunoassays that involve antibody-peroxidase conjugates (lateral flow immunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunofluorescence staining) for low abundance malaria antigens. The diagnostic platform will be a collective combination and use of multiple independent technologies in a unique design to detect realistic and feasible Malaria biomarkers found in peripheral blood.

Mots clés : malaria diagnostic, hemozoin, horse radish peroxidase, atrp, biocatalysis, polymerization based signal amplification, pro fluorescent polymerization, elisa, lateral flow assay, ifa staining, macs tips

Participants :
- Université de technologie de Darmstadt (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet PraMixCat (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The direct conversion of methane to methanol (DCMM) has attracted strong interest due to its great potential use in the energy and chemicals sectors, at the same time diminishing the greenhouse effect. However, this process is challenging for heterogeneous catalysis due to the high energy required for cleaving the C−H bond in CH4, as wells as the facile over-oxidation of CH3OH to CO or CO2. Recent ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) studies indicate that metal-oxide surfaces/interfaces can facilitate DCMM with high selectivity at low temperature in a single batch mode. Inspired by the model studies, in this project we will synthesize a series of praseodymium mixed oxides supported Cu and Au catalysts (i.e. Cu-Au/Ce1-xPrxO2-δ, Cu-Au/Zr1-xPrxO2-δ) and explore its application for DCMM under ambient conditions. Major challenges in designing this system for DCMM is the identification of the active sites in the working state and correspondingly tailoring its properties, which can be overcome by using in situ/operando techniques and ‘defect engineering’. The catalytic performance will be investigated using both a batch (and flow) reactor and an operando spectroscopy cell. Near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) will be used to determine the electronic state of the metals. Structure, including defects, of catalysts will be investigated by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) and Raman scattering. The reaction mechanism will be investigated by concentration-modulation Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and operando Raman scattering. This study will provide strongly validated mechanistic and structural conclusions for the future design and optimization of nanostructured DCMM catalysts and represent ground-breaking work at the intersection of surface science and applied catalysis.

Mots clés : direct conversion of methane to methanol, gold catalysis, o vacancies, in situ operando, model catalysis, mixed oxides, uhv, defect engineering, nap xps, xas

Participants :
- Université technique de Vienne (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 199440.96 €