Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet COSuccess (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cognitive abilities should be beneficial for individuals to optimize decisions when facing environmental changes in the wild and recent studies have shown that inter-individual variation in cognitive performances is related to variation in fitness, in particular reproductive success. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the links between cognition and success are causal or driven by a third confounding factor, such as ageing. In humans and laboratory animals, decline in mitochondrial numbers or functioning and increased oxidative stress has been shown to directly contribute to the ageing- or brain pathology-related decline in cognitive performances. Hence, one hypothesis is that a shift in the oxidative balance in particular with age leads to fast accumulation of oxidative damage in metabolically active tissues, such as the brain and muscles, which in turn leads to a decline in cognition and physical performances, and ultimately explains the age-related decline in reproductive performances and survival. This first scenario predicts that links between cognition and fitness are entirely explained by a third variable, the oxidative balance. However, animals can acquire antioxidants from their diet and cognitive capacities are important to search for and better exploit food resources. Therefore, an alternative hypothesis predicts a causal relationship between cognition and fitness that is driven by the ability of birds to adequately exploit their habitat for healthy food for themselves and their offspring. In COSuccess, I will use a long-term database, carefully designed experiments fin the field, state-of-art laboratory and statistical methods to reveal how physiology and cognition interact together in shaping fitness. Findings from this project will lead to important gains of knowledge on (i) whether cognition is under selection (i.e. causally linked to fitness) and (ii) the importance of cognition and access to dietary antioxidants in mitigating ageing.

Mots clés : cognition, fitness, ageing, innovation, learning, reproductive success, oxidative balance, provisioning, bird, wild

Participants :
- Schweizerische vogelwarte sempach (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 84645.6 €
- University of Aberdeen (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187444.8 €
Projet NEURINFDNA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Cognitive deficits are manifested several years prior detecting any neuronal loss in neurodegenerative diseases or during persistent infections of the central nervous system (CNS). Accumulating evidence show that epigenetic alterations contribute to neuronal dysfunction, as they cause durable changes of the chromatin structure that affect gene expression. In this context, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are now emerging as central regulators of neuronal epigenetics. My recent findings opened innovative perspectives of research. I showed that DSBs are not always associated with neuronal apoptosis, but rather constitute novel epigenetic signals that contribute to cognitive processes. To date, the role of DSBs in pathogen persistence and the mechanisms whereby DSBs affect neuronal function in the course of an infection are totally unknown. Here, we postulate that perturbations in sensing, production and/or repair of DSBs may underlie the behavioral impairment that is observed in many CNS infectious diseases. Persistent neuronal viral infections, such as Bornavirus or Herpesviruses alter neuronal function, sometimes without overt immune response. The underlying mechanisms may result from episomal persistence of the viral genome in interaction with neuronal chromatin, thereby hijacking the chromatin remodeling system of the host cell, or from the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Parasites such as Toxoplasma also persist in the CNS and cause behavioral impairment. Their long-lasting impact on neuronal function may involve the modulation of the epigenome. Here, we propose to analyze the role of DSBs in cognitive alterations that accompany neurological infectious diseases. In particular, we will: 1) characterize the role of pathogens and the associated immune response to neuronal localization of DSBs during CNS infections; 2) analyze which mechanisms of neuronal DSBs generation, detection and repair contribute to cognitive impairments in CNS infections.

Mots clés : dna double strand breaks, cognition, neuroinfectious diseases, epigenetics, behavior, neuron, brain, bornavirus, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasma, transgenic mouse, endonuclease, dna repair

Participants :
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (France) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 85816.85 €
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 56032.08 €
Projet vPESS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CEνNS) is a recently demonstrated novel process of neutrino interaction. It provides numerous avenues to advance our sensitivity to new nuclear and particle physics beyond the Standard Model while simultaneously allowing a dramatic miniaturization of otherwise massive neutrino detectors, opening up the possibility of technological applications. Both the supervisor and the partner organization host, along a number of collaborators, recently proposed to use the neutrino flux from the upcoming European Spallation Source (ESS) for a definitive exploration of all phenomenological opportunities provided by CEνNS. The proposal includes a variety of detection techniques to evaluate such a process including the use high-pressure gaseous xenon (HPGXe) chambers and cryogenic undoped CsI scintillator crystals. For reasons of nuclear structure, CsI and Xe detectors are identical in their response to CEνNS. However, the technologies and their expected systematics are fully different. Simultaneous use at the ESS will therefore provide robust confirmation for any possible signatures of new physics. During the outgoing phase (OP) the researcher will take part in the development and characterization of a 31.5 Kg cryogenic undoped CsI array which will be later deployed in ESS. While HPGXe detectors are a mature technology, their response to nuclear recoils in the energy range of CEνNS is unknown. Characterizing the response in such range is one of the main goals of this proposal and the methodology to do so will be developed during the OP. In the incoming phase, the researcher will implement the techniques developed during the OP in a small HPGXe chamber currently being built in DIPC. The studies will be repeated in a larger demonstrator in which he'll take a leading role in the design and deployment. Finally, the researcher will evaluate, through simulation and on-site measurements, the neutron background for CEνNS searches at ESS.

Mots clés : neutrino ce ns spallation nucleus scattering coherent scintillators time projection chambers

Participants :
- University of Chicago (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Donostia International Physics Center (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 163099.2 €
Projet InPlane (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) attract immense interest both from the scientific community and industrial companies/startups, due to their unique optical properties that are tunable in a wide range through changing their composition, size, shape, etc. However, currently, the implementation of the well-developed NCs in consumer products is hindered by the presence of toxic cadmium and the development of “Cd-free” NCs, investigation and optimization of their properties are important challenges in the field. Among the most promising “Cd-free” alternatives are indium phosphide (InP) NCs but despite all advances in their synthesis, there is still a need to achieve narrow fluorescence of such NCs – a parameter crucial for their applications in light-emitting devices (e.g. in displays). In this project, we propose a novel approach to solve this issue, which consists in the chemical synthesis of two-dimensional InP nanoplatelets (NPls). To achieve this, two strategies will be examined: recrystallization of small InP NCs and cation exchange. The research of the first strategy will involve studying precursor reactivity, searching for a suitable promoter of anisotropic growth, and on the optimization of the reaction conditions. The cation exchange strategy will focus on the investigation of the incorporation of indium ions into the pre-synthesized Cu3-xP NPls to achieve complete cation exchange. In the next stages, further work will concentrate on the optimization of obtained NPls for practical applications through achieving spectral tunability by alloying and through maximizing photoluminescence quantum yield and stability by covering InP NPls with a wide bandgap shell. Additionally, to demonstrate the application potential of the prepared NPls and related heterostructures the extensive characterization of chemical and physical properties of InP NPls will be conducted with the specific focus on the properties relevant for light-emitting applications.

Mots clés : semiconductor nanocrystals, colloidal synthesis, indium phosphide, nanoplatelets, optical properties, photoluminescence

Participants :
- TU Dresden (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 162806.4 €
Projet COMFUTURO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Cofund Postdoctoral programme
Statut du projet : SIGNED

ComFuturo is a public-private collaboration initiative managed by Fundación General CSIC (FGCSIC), which has had 4 successful previous calls for young researchers at the national level. Now, FGCSIC wants to expand ComFuturo, attracting international talent, through a comprehensive programme that includes quality training and research secondments. This 60-month programme will offer 15 ComFuturo 36-month fellowships to Experienced Researchers (ER) of any nationality who have obtained their PhD in the last 10 years. The “ComFuturo fellows” will be selected through a single call and an objective and transparent process, which will include an external evaluation by the Spanish State Research Agency. FGCSIC has teamed up with 7 partner organisations (PO). The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) will recruit, hire and host the ER. ComFuturo research areas will include those aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that contribute, from any scientific-technical discipline, to fulfilling the 2030 Agenda; and topics proposed by PO (in consensus with FGCSIC), that help respond to strategic challenges of the productive sector. ComFuturo aspires to generate, via the promotion of highly innovative projects and science of excellence, an impact on the sustainability of the productive fabric, the environment and society. ComFuturo fellows will freely propose their research projects and their host CSIC centres. They will carry out industrial and international secondments and it will be ensured that they all have the same opportunities and can benefit from the interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international nature of the programme. ComFuturo aims to contribute to obtain a generation of researchers who are leaders in their fields of specialization, but at the same time, versatile and multifaceted, for an improvement in their employability prospects and a successful development of their professional careers, whether in the public or private sector.

Mots clés : public private collaboration, science, future, sustainable development goals, young talent

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Autres, subvention : 1655100.0 €
Projet MENACE-CO2 (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Combatting the menace of global warming requires solutions to recycle carbon dioxide (CO2). Electrochemical (EC) CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR) could potentially solve this problem by the storage of energy from renewable sources in the form of chemical energy in fuels or value-added chemicals in a sustainable manner. However, CO2 is a highly stable molecule and catalysts are needed to overcome its kinetically sluggish reduction. Despite the considerable progress in the design of metallic nanoparticle (NP) catalysts, the polydispersity of conventional NPs limits the fundamental understanding of structure-activity relationships, which remains the bottleneck for further catalyst development. To overcome this problem, I propose the utilization of a novel class of catalysts that lie in the transition regime between small molecules and NPs: Atomically precise ligand-protected metal nanoclusters (MNCs). Contrary to NPs, MNCs are monodisperse particles with a defined composition that can be structurally characterized at the atomic level. The aim of this project is to develop the full potential of MNCs for catalytic EC CO2RR i) by studying MNC structure-activity relationships, including size, protecting ligands and metal composition; ii) by tuning their catalytic performance, modifying MNCs with molecular metal-oxides to enhance CO2 adsorption; and iii) by their immobilization into nanocarbon materials, improving catalyst stability and performance due to the synergy between the support substrate and supported catalyst. The goal of the MENACE-CO2 project is to shed light into the precise correlation of structure with catalytic properties, enabling the rational optimization of this novel type of catalysts. Moreover, this project will open new perspectives by engineering nanocomposites, recognizing the roles of each component and how they synergize to achieve their properties to, ultimately, open new directions in CO2 conversion.

Mots clés : nanoclusters, metals, polyoxometalates, carbon dioxide, electrocatalysts, electrochemical co2 reduction, structure activity correlation, nanoengineering, graphene, and carbon nanotubes

Participants :
- Universitat Politècnica de València (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet EuroTechPostdoc (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Cofund Postdoctoral programme
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Combining complementary research & innovation strengths with unique infrastructures across four leading European Universities of Science & Technology will provide the basis for an internationally competitive fellowship programme. The new EuroTechPostdoc programme aims at attracting excellent experienced researchers from all over the world through an open, transparent and structured recruitment process. EuroTechPostdoc will provide exceptional research and training opportunities for up to 80 experienced researchers funded for a 2-year period (divided in 2 calls, 10 fellowships per participant per call). The fellows will develop their skills in interdisciplinary collaboration projects between at least two participants from two different European countries, and will be provided with the opportunity to transfer knowledge in entrepreneurship activities or by collaboration with public and industrial organisations from the combined networks of the participants. The research programme has been carefully selected to provide the fellows with the complementary strengths, established networks and industrial collaboration in areas of high relevance to the EU’s industrial leadership: Health & Bioengineering, Smart & Urban Mobility, Data Science & Engineering, High Performance Computing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation. The fellows will gain access to the excellent and complementary training options offered at the four participants, and will be supported by a personal supervision and mentoring scheme, as well as excellent local support structures. The EuroTechPostdoc 3-days Workshop focuses on strengthening the fellows’ skills and network, preparation ahead of their careers and to foster further collaborative projects between the fellows. Together with outstanding working conditions that support both family and career, the programme will thus provide the fellows with unprecedented possibilities to diversify their career options for a leadership position within the ERA.

Mots clés : eurotech universities alliance, experienced researchers, incoming fellowships, cross border, mobility, interdisciplinar and  sectoral collaborative projects, societal challenges, training workshops

Participants :
- Technical University of Denmark (Danemark) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Eindhoven University of Technology (Pays-Bas) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Technical University of Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 5664000.0 €
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Partner, organization partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
Projet EuroTechPostdoc2 (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Cofund Postdoctoral programme
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Combining complementary research & innovation strengths with unique infrastructures and training facilities across six leading European Universities of Science & Technology (the EuroTech Universities Alliance) will provide the basis for an internationally competitive fellowship programme, including an innovative Postdoc Academy. The EuroTechPostdoc2 programme aims at attracting excellent experienced researchers from all over the world through an open, transparent and structured recruitment process. It will provide exceptional research and training opportunities for up to 70 experienced researchers funded for a 2-year period (divided in 2 calls for proposals). The fellows will develop their skills in interdisciplinary, cross-border collaboration projects between at least two participants from two different countries, and will be provided with the opportunity to transfer knowledge in entrepreneurship activities or by collaboration with public and industrial organizations from the ecosystems of the participants. The research thematic is open to all areas within the Alliance enabling the exploration of emerging and promising fields and promoting new interdisciplinary research collaborations. Fellows may freely choose a research topic and the appropriate organizations to host them, fitting their individual needs and ambitions. The EuroTech Postdoc Academy will offer excellent and complementary training options organized at the six participants and ensures a personal supervision and mentoring scheme. The Postdoc Academy bootcamps focus on strengthening the fellows’ skills and network, their career development inside and outside academia and foster further collaboration and exchange. Together with outstanding working conditions that support both family and career, the programme will thus provide the fellows with unprecedented possibilities, including a dedicated research and secondment budget, to diversify their career options for a leadership position within the ERA.

Mots clés : eurotech universities alliance, experienced researchers, incoming fellows, crossborder mobility, career development, postdoc academy, training, network, interdisciplinary and  sectoral collaboration

Participants :
- Eindhoven University of Technology (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 5149200.0 €
Projet COMFECTION (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Communication is essential to effective food protection policies: if healthy habits help reduce food-related diseases and disorders, communication can enable active and responsible consumers; but it might also lead to misinformation by promoting food myths and hoaxes. In fact, news on “poisonous” or “miraculous” foods fill up the daily agenda of the mass and new media, through which they become viral and more likely to affect people’s perceptions of edibility. While considerable efforts have improved food risk communication, no extensive research has addressed this increasing phenomenon: it is not sufficient to debunk food myths, but it is necessary to understand how they are able to spread so widely and what can be done to oppose them. The project COMFECTION - “Communication for Food Protection” intends precisely to fill this gap by addressing some of the most urgent—but not adequately explored yet—issues concerning food protection and its communication: (i) the genetic modification of foods and the risks and benefits associated with their consumption; (ii) organic farming techniques and principles, as opposed to the use of synthetic pesticides, vaccines, hormones, etc.; (iii) the risks and benefits associated with the consumption of meat or the abstention from the use of animal products; (iv) the recent spread of grain free movements—from “gluten sensitivity” to the Paleo diet, etc. The project will be implemented by means of a unique combination of theoretical and methodological approaches, and thanks to the collaboration of a well-experienced ER and the support of two top-class academic institutions: New York University, United States, and the University of Turin, Italy. This will allow not only identifying effective tools for opposing food myths, but also defining creative solutions for promoting food protection through communication and, ultimately, helping the general public understand better some of the crucial issues currently involving the European Union.

Mots clés : food protection, communication, food myths, hoaxes, misinformation, health, social media

Participants :
- University of Turin (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 176203.8 €
- New York University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €