Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet MICROB-COM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Farm management practices have been shown to drive the evolution of specific consortia of agricultural microbial resources that contribute to increased agricultural productivity. The ecological traits of agricultural micro-organisms have made them an important target for patenting. Farmers' rights are an outcome of the recognition of the role of farmer communities in the evolution of crop varieties. Indigenous farmers have acted as selection agents in the development of crop as well as agricultural microbial resources by increasing reproductive fitness of particular genotypes. However, unlike with crop selection, no formal recognition of farmers' rights or potential benefit sharing programme has been proposed for agricultural micro-organisms that evolved from farming regimes. The central thesis that this project seeks to prove is that multilateral trade and environmental agreements have failed in protecting the rights of indigenous farmers for their intellectual contribution in selection of beneficial agricultural biodiversity. The coming into force of TRIPS agreement and the Convention on Biological diversity has concretized the patenting regime of micro-organisms. In the absence of effective international and national legal enforcement, benefits are shared through mutually agreed contract arrangements which are invariably skewed against indigenous farmers. A commons approach to micro-organisms has potential to align farmers' rights on agricultural microbial resources with legal instruments developed for plant genetic resource collections. Microbial commons is conceptualized and builds on other work that is done in the areas of genetic resource commons and networked information commons in digitized environments in the field of genetic resources. This project aims to analyse deficiencies and barriers in multilateral agreements and develop a legal instrument for the incorporation of a commons regime for sharing of benefits from agricultural micro-organisms.

Mots clés : farmers rights, agricultural microbial resources, intellectual property rights, microbial commons

Participants :
- University of Strathclyde (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet DrugCrops (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Feeding 9 billion people by 2040 in a context of water shortage poses a critical challenge for agricultural practices, particularly under recurrent drought periods. The so-called Blue Revolution -evaluated by UN as an urgent priority- calls to develop innovative solutions to grow staple food crops in water-limited conditions. Increasing temperatures and reduced precipitation have severely impaired crop yields. Plants can be protected against these stresses by the action of the hormone abscisic acid (ABA), which orchestrates a multitude of adaptive responses that enhance plant survival. The major class of ABA receptors has been characterized and structural data are available for the receptors of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. However, in crops that provide more than 50% of the diet worldwide, this knowledge is limited. The goal of DrugCrops is to generate and exploit biochemical and structural data of the ABA receptors in the model crop plant Setaria viridis and in maize to develop novel ABA receptor agonists in order to enhance drought tolerance using small molecules. Towards this translational and multidisciplinary goal, we propose the use of high throughput technologies, X-ray crystallographic, chemical and genetic approaches to dissect the mechanism by which agonists engage and activate their receptors. This information will be leveraged for the design of new chemicals that can be used to control abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants. The ER will work in collaboration with different partner research organizations with recognized expertise in ABA signaling, chemical and structural biology that collectively bring experience ranging from big pharma drug discovery to the genetic engineering of drought tolerant crops. As a result, both the ER and Host could obtain new molecules for plant biotechnology in the field of plant drought tolerance, boosting knowledge-based bioeconomy in the EU and ER´s possibilities to reach a position in research.

Mots clés : plant biology, plant biotechnology, chemical genetics, drug discovery, drought, stress, abscisic acid, aba receptor, protein phosphatase 2c, crystal structure

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 158121.6 €
Projet TAXON-TIME (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Few macroecologists would dispute the importance of taxonomy for their work. Yet most treat taxonomic classification as a static, although it is intrinsically dynamic and subject to periodic change. This inconsistency arises from the divergent objectives of both disciplines and hampers progress towards more robust estimates of species richness across biomes. TAXON-TIME aims to bridge the gap between taxonomy and macroecology. The project will scrutinize 250 years of botanical explorations in African and Amazonian rainforests and analyze the impacts of taxonomic reclassifications on the macroecological patterns of tree species abundance and richness. To this end, TAXON-TIME will apply cutting-edge methods of data-intensive research and integrate massive volumes of digital data of historical taxonomic discoveries and reclassifications that became available only recently. A probabilistic approach to data analysis will ensure the resulting biodiversity patterns account for the likelihood of taxonomic reclassifications across space and time. TAXON-TIME results can lead to a paradigm shift in macroecological research towards the adoption of a probabilistic, rather than deterministic, view of taxonomic reclassifications. The project is led by an Experienced Researcher (ER) with outstanding analytical and technical skills and relevant research experience on three continents. TAXON-TIME brings together an interdisciplinary team of leading scientists with complementary research skills in tropical ecology, macroecology and data-intensive research. Upon completion, TAXON-TIME will contribute to a paradigm shift in macroecology and provided the ER with an analytical toolbox tailored for the next generation of macroecologists, establishing the ER as a central actor in a unique cross-disciplinary research field, which has just began to emerge.

Mots clés : macroecology, taxonomy, trees, africa, amazonia, uncertainty, biodiversity, data intensive research, biodiversity informatics

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet FACADE FIRE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Fire growth through spreading up the façade of high-rise buildings can lead to catastrophic loss of life and property. Façades at times are required to have a fire-resistance rating, for instance, if two buildings are very close together, to lower the likelihood of fire spreading from one building to another. The issue is becoming increasingly critical due to new development trends involving higher buildings and sometime in close proximity to each other and the increasing use of combustible material in façade to raise energy performance of buildings. The proposed Fellowship is aimed at investigating numerically the behaviour of flames ejected from enclosure fires in external facades and other vertical spaces such as atrium, void spaces and staircases. Full understanding of such external flame behaviour requires insight of the combustion processes within the enclosure. Hence the scope of the research includes enclosure fires to characterise the ejected flames as well as fire growth in façades. The research will take advantage of the abundant experimental data available for model validation. The specific objectives include: 1. Fine tune and validate the open source CFD code FireFOAM , a dedicated LES based solver for fire simulation within the OpenFOAM® toolbox for enclosure fires; 2. Investigate the combustion and aerothermodynamics of enclosure fires, including travelling fires; 3. Characterise the spill flame extent, combustion efficiency and heat fluxes inside and outside different enclosures with different openings (office blocks, residential buildings, travelling fires in open plan compartments, etc.); 4. Develop and validate a predictive approach based on FireFOAM for façade fires; 5. Conduct parametric studies for different façade panel materials, spread upwards/downwards to different floors within the building and spread to adjacent buildings in different wind conditions to inform the update of regulatory guidance.

Mots clés : enclosure fires, facades, fire growth, fire safety, computational fluid dynamics  cfd, pyrolysis and radiation

Participants :
- University of Warwick (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet FireCracker (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Fire-induced explosive spalling (violent peeling-off of concrete cover) and plastic shrinkage cracking are major issues for concrete infrastructure. Tunnels and buildings can experience catastrophic failure due to fire spalling, as well as premature deterioration due to cracking, leading to huge economic costs and loss of life. In any new project, EU directives and codes of practice require adequate solutions for the spalling/cracking problems whilst all major existing road tunnels need to be upgraded. However, the mechanisms of fire spalling and shrinkage cracking are not well understood, and there are no guaranteed spalling/cracking prevention measures. This fellowship aims to develop: (1) a better understanding of the complex mechanism behind fire spalling and shrinkage cracking in concrete, and (2) novel sustainable cracking/spalling-mitigation solutions by using waste polymer fibres and greener cementitious binders produced from industrial by-products. If successful, this will enable the replacement of the currently used manufactured polypropylene fibres with waste materials of equal or better performance, thereby providing a possible annual reduction of 0.5 million tonnes of CO2 in an EU market worth about £50 million per annum. The microstructural changes of concrete during the fire attack/shrinkage cracking will be monitored using multi-advanced techniques (e.g. X-ray Computed Tomography) and the revealed mechanisms will help develop predictive models and design recommendations. The host organisation has world-leading expertise in the fields of fire and concrete engineering and it is currently coordinating an EU project (ANAGENNISI) on the reuse of tyre components in concrete. This project, along with training schemes available at the host organization, will provide a unique opportunity for the fellow to develop his career as an independent researcher.

Mots clés : fire induced spalling, crack resistant, concrete, waste materials

Participants :
- University of Sheffield (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet 2D-EG-FET (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Much research is underway to create a new class of inexpensive electronic devices fabricated by printing combinations of nanomaterial- & functional polymer-inks onto arbitrary substrates, such as everyday plastic film. This will open a route to a wide range of electronic, optoelectronic & electrochemical applications that are impossible using conventional silicon-based manufacturing approaches. For example, it will enable devices that are mechanically deformable (i.e. flexible or stretchable), optically transparent, or even cheap enough to be considered disposable. Innovative features such as these will enable electronic functionality to be integrated into locations where they are currently not feasible. As such, these printed electronics technologies will have applications in many areas of concern for modern society such as public security, healthcare & environmental protection. Here we aim to fabricate aerosol-jet printed ensembles of semiconductor nanosheets (i.e. nanosheet networks) with controlled composition & morphology, then fabricate these into electrochemically-gated field-effect transistors (E-gated FETs). This will enable the study of electronic transport, charge separation & recombination processes that occur within these networks with the view to apply them within cheap, printable photodetector & electroluminescent devices.

Mots clés : printed electronics, nanosheets, 2d materials, layered crystals transistor, electrolyte gated, liquid phase exfoliation, electrochemical transistors

Participants :
- Heidelberg University (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 159460.8 €
Projet Multi-IF (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Multi-IF proposes a fully innovative approach combining nanoscience, fluorescence microscopy and cancer histopathology to achieve optically multiplexed immunofluorescence for cancer diagnostic. At present, when examining cancer tissue, biomarker analyses are sequential and require several biopsy slices implying a lot of (not always available) biological material. Testing several biomarkers on a single tissue biopsy slice in an efficient, quantitative and reproducible way, would be crucial but not currently available at hospital. This project will involve an innovative technology based on single-walled carbon nanotubes to create a library of novel multicolor immuno-labels. More precisely, this will employ sp3 defects implanted fluorescent ultrashort nanotubes together with the development of a dedicated NIR microscope for multiplexed immunofluorescence on a single biopsy and the proof-of-concept on liver cancer tissue. The applicant will bring strong expertise in chemical synthesis, bioprobe spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence microscopy applied to the study of complex and heterogeneous bio-molecular organization (2D/3D cells, proteins and peptides). Concomitantly, he will gain a high-level hands-on training on carbon nanotube optics, near-infrared advanced spectroscopy, custom-built microscopy techniques, cancer tissue model and imaging analysis. To achieve this objective, the project will be performed at one of the leading French research institution, IOGS-LP2N at the CNRS/Univ. Bordeaux, with well-identified work packages to ensure efficient management, career development and training, science development, communication and technology transfer to pathologists. It will allow the applicant to reach high level of professional maturity to develop independent research career. The fellow’s expertise, privileged environment of the hosting lab, the mentoring, the infrastructure & relevant facilities will guarantee the successful execution of Multi-IF goals.

Mots clés : single walled carbon nanotubes, sp3 defects, click chemistry, bio functionalization, immunofluorescence, multiplexing, nir ii probe, histopathology, cancer diagnostics

Participants :
- Institut d'optique Graduate School (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet NanoScan (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Multi-photon polymerization 3D nanolithography (MPP 3D-NL) technology has great advantages in fabricating arbitrary 3D micro/nanostructures of various materials with nanoscale resolution. However, how to simultaneously achieve large-size and high-efficiency fabrication has become a very challenging issue for the MPP 3D-NL fabrication due to the shortcoming of small workspace of the nanoscanning system. At present, the scientific community has to rely on “splicing” to achieve large-size fabrication, which leads to the machining accuracy and efficiency are greatly limited. Recent requirements on additive manufacturing and 3D nano lithography aggravate these challenges. This proposal aims at realizing the large-size 3D micro/nanostructures machining and guaranteeing the high quality MPP 3D-NL fabrication by developing of a set of nanoscanning system with cubic centimeter workspace. By developing of bio-inspired wheel-type nanomotor, WTM-actuated XYZ nanoscanner, laser scanning galvanometer with vibration self-damping property, array surface-forming technics and double closed-loop high-bandwidth control strategy, difficulties in MPP 3D-NL fabrication could be well treated. Taking advantages of the novel, high-quality and multidisciplinary features of this programme, high-impact and fruitful outcomes are expected to be produced with improved performance of MPP 3D-NL fabrication technique in practice. This project brings together an experienced scientist with a unique skill set of flexure-based nanoscanning with an internationally recognized research group with expertises in precision mechanisms and micro/nano manipulations. The developments in the project could accelerate the candidate’s career development as a leading independent scientist and could enhance the reputation of the host institute. It would be also helpful to strengthen the European leadership in the field of advanced micro/nano manufacturing.

Mots clés : flexure hinge, nanopositioning, multi photon polymerization, 3d lithography

Participants :
- University of Warwick (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 337400.64 €
Projet RESOLVE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Multidrug-resistant bacteria are spreading worldwide and present a serious public health issue. Bacterial resistance has to be addressed with a global approach connecting human health with animals and the environment. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as bacterial plasmids, transposons or cassettes of integrons, as frequent carriers of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), play an important role in the global spread of ARGs among bacterial communities. My research aims to understand how environmental parameters could modulate the dynamics of MGEs involved in ARG dissemination and contribute to the global burden of antibiotic resistance. For this aim, I will use a global approach that merges medical and molecular microbiology, microbiota studies and genomic studies (employing next generation sequencing techniques). Single monospecies-biofilms as well as natural biofilms grown from wastewaters will be used as models of investigation. The proposed research will profoundly improve my knowledge in molecular and medical microbiology techniques to study MGEs associated with antibiotic resistance. This project will be pivotal for my personal development to become an independent researcher and will provide me with the unique opportunity to work with experts in the field of MGEs, antibiotic resistance and the environment. I will be exposed to novel ideas and input from renowned researchers belonging to scientific disciplines unrelated to my background that will have a strong impact on my personal and scientific development. Furthermore, I aim to establish a series of lectures and seminars for the general (research) community to further increase awareness of the importance and relevance of the global fight against antibiotic resistance.

Mots clés : antibiotic resistance, mobile genetic elements, dissemination, environment, expression induction

Participants :
- Université de Limoges (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173076.0 €
Projet MUGNAIO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Multiplex networks are networks where multiple different types of nodes and relations are studied together. Multiplex network analysis is a growing branch of network science, with contributions from both mathematics/physics, looking for the defining statistical mechanics of multiplex networks, and computer science, aiming at using multiplex networks to represent and analyze complex real world interacting phenomena. In this proposal, the researcher will exploit a recently collected dataset extracted from the government websites of the states of the US, which allows a multiplex network representation of a government. The main aim of the research plan is to understand how governments work, how they scale and speciate their agencies covering more complex tasks, and how they relate to the society in which they are embedded. A wide range of techniques will be applied, from the detection and comparison of functional topical modules inside government networks, to the creation of government activity complexity measures. This research is expected to have externalities in how we understand government activities, potentially impacting the efficiency of public actions on society. A public observatory including the results of the research, along with visualizations and data release, will be shared with the public, empowering citizens with a better understanding of the agencies governing their lives. Under this plan, the researcher, whose background is mainly in computer science, will be exposed to a mathematical approach to multiplex network analysis, and he is expected to increase his proficiency in this aspect. As a result, he is expected to become an all-around multidisciplinary network scientist, improving over his previous pioneering work on the computer science side of multiplex networks. The host institution has been chosen as one of the leading and fastest growing groups

Mots clés : complex network analysis, multiplex networks, mining complex networks

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €