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

The nature of the Dark Matter (DM) is one of major open questions in modern physics with two interesting candidates: axions and Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). Axions arise from extensions of the Standard Model (SM) implementing the Peccei-Quinn mechanism. On the other hand, WIMPs appear in well-motivated extensions of the SM, like supersymmetry. Axions and WIMPs could have been produced in an early stage of the Universe and have been extensively searched during last decades. The use of Micromegas (MICROMesh GAs Structure) readouts has been recently introduced for axion and WIMPs searches and proposed for different experiments: TREX-DM and IAXO. TREX-DM is located in the Canfranc Underground Laboratory and is looking for low-mass WIMPs, in a mass range that is attracting the interest of the experiments. On the other hand, IAXO is a proposed new generation solar axion helioscope with enhanced sensitivity. The low counting rates expected in these experiments require to bring down the experimental background to the lowest levels possible. Another important aspect to enhance the physics potential is to reduce the low energy threshold, that would increase TREX-DM sensitivity to even lower WIMP masses. Moreover, it would make IAXO sensitive to axion-electron coupling values. The goal of this proposal is to reduce the background levels in order to reach sensitivity scenarios with discovery potential for axions and low-mass WIMPs and secondarily to reduce the low energy threshold. These objectives can be achieved by the use of some innovative aspects like the introduction of new Micromegas architectures and the use of new radiopure electronics. If the objectives are fulfilled, the advancements in the field would be tremendous, it will set the baseline for the design and construction of ultra-low background detectors for many different applications. Moreover, these new developments could be extrapolated to different kind of particle detectors.

Mots clés : rare event searches, underground physics, dark matter, axion, wimps, data acquisition, micromegas, detectors

Participants :
- Universidad de Zaragoza (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet RESTREIG (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The need for high-quality joints in the aerospace industry has fostered the use of inertia friction welding for nickel-based super-alloy components. This technique provides improvements in the joint quality when compared to the fusion welding techniques, but understanding on the effect of residual stress on creep deformation of welded components is limited. The proposed research aims to develop new computational and numerical tools to reproduce the residual stress field in inertia welded components in the as-welded and post-weld heat treated conditions. This innovative approach will meet experimental data with the eigenstrain theory to reconstruct stress fields in large scales and provide a realistic model to understand creep behavior of materials under complex loading and high-temperature conditions. To achieve this target, the eigenstrain theory will be used with experimental measurements. This will allow modeling of complex geometries with high accuracy. The study will be composed of three stages which are data collection for eigenstrain reconstruction method, creating a model for eigenstrain reconstruction process and development of a visco-plastic model for investigating creep behavior of post weld heat treated samples. Results and data created in the first two stages will be used to create the visco-plastic model. Experiments will be performed using diffraction and contour methods and numerical models will be created using ABAQUS commercial finite element software. All research, management, training, dissemination, public engagement, and communication activities are scheduled into a 2 years work plan. The developed methodology is expected to provide a better understanding of creep behavior, to be used by other researcher and be beneficial for industry on the development of components with lower cost and longer service life. The success of this research will have a positive impact on the European Union and United Kingdom economies and societies.


Participants :
- University of Oxford (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet Terra-Micro-Carbo (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The need for improved food production for the growing population has led to increase in planet’s arable land cover. Many studies suggest that such practices lead to loss of soil organic carbon (C) – a relatively large C pool with a fast response time. Thus there is a need to manage soils sustainably in order to mitigate atmospheric CO2 levels while maintaining agricultural productivity. Soil microorganisms act as gatekeepers for soil-atmosphere C exchange by regulating the storage and release of organic C in soil. However, there is a lack of understanding on how land use induced shifts in soil microbial diversity affects this regulation; necessitating detailed research on the underpinning microbial mechanisms. The project objective is to discern the effects of land use on microbial diversity in differing soil types and to investigate whether this shift has implications for C cycling (do certain microbial groups have a greater capacity for soil C accumulation?). To address these objectives an interdisciplinary approach merging molecular biology and isotope chemistry will be employed. Soil from long-term grassland-arable paired sites will be used to assess differences in microbial biodiversity and functional gene abundance through DNA next-generation sequencing. In addition, a field incubation experiment with 13C labelled substrates will be performed to investigate the variable tracer incorporation into different microbial functional groups. This will be measured using novel magnetic bead capture hybridization of RNA from specific groups followed by its 13C analysis using liquid chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The novelty of this project is that it aims to provide direct evidence to prove diversity-function linkages and gain mechanistic understanding of the physiological responses of soil microbial communities to land use change. The resulting knowledge will help better predict changes in soil C and thus improve prognosis of climate change feedbacks.

Mots clés : land use, microbial community, soil carbon, bacteria, fungi, copiotrophs, oligotrophs, next generation sequencing, metagenomics, bioinformatic, stable carbon isotopes, lc irms, mag sip

Participants :
- UK Research and Innovation (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet DECOMPOSE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The need for more sustainable and environmentally-friendly products and materials is driven by an increasing environmental and health awareness, opening new markets with significant economic potential. Specifically, plastic and microplastic pollution are parts of an environmental hazard which have received significant media attention over the last few years. The difficulty in recycling commodity plastics means that incineration and landfills are the predominant ways of dealing with this waste. Novel materials are necessary to tackle these issues and facilitate the recycling and degradation of (commodity) polymers. Building on the expertise of the host supervisor (Prof. Christoph Weder) and his group at the Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, in the field of supramolecular polymers and material science, novel materials based on metallosupramolecular polymers will be developed which are envisaged to provide a solution to the above issues. Moreover, a novel platform for metallosupramolecular polymers based on renewable building blocks will be developed which allow to prepare bio-based, benign, and (bio)degradable metallosupramolecular polymer precursors. This MSCA will provide the applicant with the unique opportunity to improve his scientific skill set and network in the scientific community and allow the applicant to apply for independent academic positions in the polymer and material science field by the end of this fellowship.


Participants :
- University of Fribourg (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet NEUROCIRCLE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The neural computations underlying perceptual decisions have been a central interest for psychology and cognitive neuroscience for decades but, to date, this work has largely focussed on decisions with just two potential outcomes. Yet, in daily life we make countless decisions along a continuous dimension and the precision of these choices is of critical importance, such as when judging the direction of a tennis ball or adjusting course to avoid obstacles while driving. How does the brain implement such decisions while balancing the need for speed and accuracy? Separate parallel breakthroughs in computational modelling and neural signal tracing now provide me with an unprecedented opportunity to address this challenge and gain a mechanistic understanding of continuous-outcome decisions. I will be trained in innovative electrophysiological methods recently developed by my proposed supervisor, which will allow me to trace neural markers of the decision process in the human brain using electroencephalography. These signals will provide powerful constraints on a new computational model for decisions on a continuum that I worked on at the University of Melbourne. My unique background and expertise will allow me to incorporate methods from psychology, neuroscience and engineering to develop a novel computational and experimental paradigm that stands to have a major impact on basic and clinical research in the field of decision making. In so doing, the work will create a collaboration and skill exchange between three highly complementary labs in Dublin and Melbourne. After several years abroad, I will have the opportunity to reintegrate into the scientific community in Ireland and establish vital collaborations with world-class neuroscientists and clinicians at the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience. The networks and skills I will develop will set me up to establish an independent program of research on neurally-informed computational models of decision making.

Mots clés : decision making, response time modelling, electroencephalography

Participants :
- Trinity College Dublin (Irlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196590.72 €
Projet SUCCESS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The new generations of spectral computed tomography (CT) scanners provide energy-dependent information that could translate into higher contrast and material decomposition capabilities, among other benefits, not only improving conventional CT but opening new possibilities for medical diagnosis. However, fast development of spectral CT technology is not flawless. Narrow energy bins are required to achieve the desired energy resolution, which increases the noise ratio per energy bin. A promising solution is to use sparse CT reconstruction methods (SRM) to improve image quality without increasing radiation dose. To date, several SRMs have been proposed based on simulated or phantom data, but only a few studies have considered preclinical or clinical data. The objective of this proposal is to provide and optimize new algorithms for spectral CT that will be designed and validated on experimental data targeting specific high-impact high-potential applications. To this aim, the project will evaluate previously suggested SRMs and propose new SRMs. In addition, the project will introduce a novel method to validate SRM for spectral CT. On the last stage, the developed SRMs will be validated using experimental data from several spectral CT scanners. This research will contribute to the development of spectral CT, which is foreseen as a new revolution in clinical diagnosis.

Mots clés : spectral ct, synchrotron ct, sparse reconstruction methods

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet CADENT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The notion of big data and its application in driving organizational decision making has attracted enormous attention over the past couple of years. Prominent examples of companies engaging in the big data paradigm have illustrated the potential in generating substantial business impacts and fundamentally changing the way organizational-level decisions are made. The need to harness the potential of rapidly expanding data volume, velocity, and variety, has seen a significant evolution of techniques and technologies for data storage, management, analysis, and visualization. Yet, there is limited understanding of how organizations need to change to embrace these technological innovations and the business shifts they entail. The purpose of CADENT is to examine how big data is successfully exploited and by which means it improves competitive performance. The aim is to identify the critical success factors in a range of contexts, and use these findings to promote research and practice. More specifically, the proposed research project is targeted in identifying and categorizing the primary decisions needs from big data intelligence and analytics in varying industries and for different strategic orientations. The goal is to develop a clear understanding of how strategy and context shape data-driven information requirements, and explore through a holistic approach the human, technological, managerial, and relational aspects that contribute to successful data-driven decisions. In effect, the CADENT project seeks to explore through case studies, action research, as well as qualitative and quantitative methods how big data is optimally exploited and the organizational changes it creates. Implications stemming from the CADENT project will serve industry by providing a set of guidelines for companies adopting big data strategies to optimally exploit their investments and gain a competitive edge.


Participants :
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norvège) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196400.4 €
Projet DeepFIN (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The notion of ‘deep time’, or persistent long-term social and economic patterns in history, has emerged as an increasingly powerful conceptual framework for thinking about the development of past human societies. Owing to its time-depth, the archaeological record offers exemplary and unique opportunities for studying the effects of long-term processes on societies - many of which continue to inform modern demographic patterns. There exists in Finland a considerable body of digitised archaeological material that is well-suited to such analysis. This includes the Finnish Heritage Agency’s (FHA) database of archaeological sites and monuments, but significantly also a growing body of metal-detected public finds recovered by members of the public and recorded by the FHA. This latter represents in the Finnish context a completely new body of material. It has not, however, been examined through Digital Humanities methodologies, nor has the FHA monuments data been the subject of a comprehensive scientific investigation. My research proposes to address this gap in the scholarship. The goal of this two-year project is to analyse Finnish archaeological and historical data through Geographic Information Systems and other Digital Humanities methodologies in order to reassess and create a new understanding of the deep history of archaeological landscapes, historical settlement and material culture development from the Iron Age (500 BCE - 1200/1300 CE) to the Middle Ages (1200/1300 - 1520 CE). This project will identify what long-term and large-scale patterns related to settlements and the material culture emerges from the archaeological data, how they relate to the physical environment, and how they change across time. By employing significantly under-used existing database resources, DeepFIN will create ground-breaking new information on Finnish archaeology and history without recourse to new excavations and data collection.

Mots clés : digital humanities, finland, database analysis, landscape archaeology, deep history, metal detected public finds, iron age, middle ages, heritage management, material culture

Participants :
- University of Helsinki (Finlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 190680.96 €
Projet PROMISES (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The novel class of nanomaterials made from misfit-layered compounds offers intriguing properties. However, due to the complex, non-symmetric, structure of the misfit-layered compounds even down to the atomic scale, the analysis of these nanomaterials is a highly challenging task. Our PROMISES proposal will allow to reveal the structure and (opto)electronic properties of these nanomaterials (especially 1D nanomaterials) by combining an experimental and theoretical approach. The experimental analysis comprises advanced electron microscopy and spectroscopy at high spatial resolution as well as related experimental techniques, such as x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence, all of which will be applied to analyse individual nanostructures. The obtained experimental results, particularly once the atomic structure has been revealed, will serve as a basis for the theoretical analysis that will be conducted via ab-initio simulations using the time-dependent variant of the density functional theory. We especially strive for studying these 1D nanomaterials under external stimuli such as elevated and liquid-nitrogen temperature and biasing to assess their properties under application-relevant conditions by employing in-situ electron microscopy. With this approach, we intend to fully reveal the structure and properties of the nanomaterials, which will be of great interest to a broad audience and potentially fuels their application. The work will be carried out by an experienced researcher with a strong background in methodological development of electron microscopy who will diversify and enhance his competences by means of an experimental analysis of the novel class of nanomaterials and by acquiring skills in computational physics. In addition, our PROMISES proposal will strengthen the collaboration between the hosting institutions and enable the main hosting institution to reinforce crucial competence in nanofabrication and ab-initio simulations.

Mots clés : misfit layered compounds  mlc, 1d nanomaterials, nanotubes, electron microscopy  em  and spectroscopy, in situ em, time dependent density functional theory  tddft

Participants :
- Universidad de Zaragoza (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet ASTROMOVES (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The number of members of underrepresented groups (including women & Eastern Europeans for the EU) participating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics continues to be of concern at the local, national, and international level including it being a priority of MSCA. The issue of underrepresented groups participating fully in astrophysics has been a long-standing concern of astrophysicists worldwide. Astrophysicists recognize the importance of mobility in building a scientific career, but social science research revealed that women astrophysicists have to move more often & stay abroad longer to achieve the same career rank as men (analysis has not been done for astrophysicists embodying other forms of underrepresentation). ASTROMOVES examines the careers of astrophysicists (men, women & the gender diverse), their career decision-making and the role of mobility. 50 astrophysicists (European or worked in Europe) more than 8 years past their doctorate (>two career relocations), will be interviewed using semi-structured interviews focused on each of their career moves & their underlying decision-making process. Of interest is if their decision-making includes perceptions of scientific reputation, discrimination/bullying, family friendliness & career enhancement and how each astrophysicist ranks these. Training includes learning the latest qualitative analysis software for analysing the interviews and the latest visualization techniques for showing career moves consecutively. The research results will inform policies to support & enhance the careers of underrepresented astrophysicists with broader implications for STEM in Europe. Project deliverables include peer-reviewed articles, scholarly presentations, public lectures & a documentary film. The project will be based in the STIS department at UEDIN, proximate to the UK Royal Observatory. My career goal is to obtain a position in an interdisciplinary department similar to STIS.

Mots clés : migration of highly skilled workers, academic migration, intersectionality, stem diversification, decision making

Participants :
- University of Edinburgh (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €