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

Why are sports segregated by gender? Why do women play some sports and not others? What makes gymnastics a feminine sport? Why shouldn’t men compete in synchronised swimming? Why didn’t women compete in Olympic weightlifting before 2000? These questions have gained renewed prominence in the wake of South African athlete Caster Semenya’s legal appeals against the decision by the International Association of Athletics Federations to reduce her testosterone levels, the ‘me too’ movement, revelations of years of abuse in women’s gymnastics, and the controversies around Laurel Hubbard’s transition from male to female and what it meant for her weightlifting career. These issues have cast a fresh spotlight on the gendering of sport which has created barriers to discrimination against women, and a range of psychological and health problems for women, especially young women. This project employs historical sociology to understand how sports’ international governing bodies create, enforce, and dismantle gender segregation. It uses gymnastics, swimming, and weightlifting as case studies to compare how three sports have been engendered through their international federations’ rules and policies. Immersion in historical archives combined with qualitative interviews provide the data for the project, which will be analysed using a gender theory. In doing so, this project aims to provide a critical understanding of the binary gendering of sports as masculine or feminine, and offer new policy recommendations for sports associations to achieve greater inclusivity in sport. It will also expand the scientific skills of the researcher by incorporating sociological theory into history. It thereby broadens her expertise and reinforces a mature research position, improving the fellow’s employability post-project.

Mots clés : history, sport, governance, gender, olympic, sociology

Participants :
- Örebro University (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 305778.24 €
Projet BrainBehaviourModel (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Why do some people make decisions impulsively while others are more cautious? The answer may lie in individual differences in synaptic connectivity strengths within the underlying brain network. Previous work has found correlations between aspects of the decision making process and BOLD or electrophysiological responses. However, a proper mechanistic and biological explanation is still missing. This is nevertheless crucial for understanding how neurotransmitter systems influence behaviour and lead to impulse control disorders, addiction, or eating disorders. To reach this aim, I propose to combine state-of-the-art cognitive models with likewise state-of-the-art models of neural responses. My ‘BrainBehaviour model’ will link cognitive factors that influence behaviour with synaptic connectivity patterns that give rise to neuroimaging findings. Using this model, I will first analyse high-resolution (7T) fMRI data of subjects performing a stop-signal task. I will then turn to a novel data set comprising local field potential recordings obtained from deep brain stimulation electrodes implanted in the subthalamic nucleus for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, in combination with simultaneous MEG. After model inversion, the estimated parameters will be used to test specific hypotheses on the role of the hyperdirect, indirect, and direct pathways in movement inhibition. The project is not only at the forefront of cognitive and computational neuroscience but it also offers invaluable training experiences, including the opportunity to work with high-tech imaging data (7T fMRI), mastering dynamic causal modelling, learning how to apply advanced cognitive models, and a good number of transferable skills like teaching and student supervision. The latter will result in an official teaching certificate that is compulsory for all university lecturers in the Netherlands. Granting this proposal will be a vital step for progressing my career beyond the current postdoctoral level.

Mots clés : humans, decision making, movement inhibition, fmri, subthalamic nucleus, mathematical psychology, dynamic causal modelling, bayesian inference, effective connectivity, oscillations

Participants :
- University of Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165598.8 €
Projet BIODIV ISLAND-CONT (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Why do some regions encompass higher number of species? Which are the main drivers of biodiversity in different biogeographical areas and ecosystems? Many efforts have been made to decipher the main factors that play a key role in the patterns and processes that generate biodiversity and contribute to the structuring of communities at different spatial scales. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this project aims to shed light into the biogeographical and evolutionary processes that generate biodiversity, using multiple island and continent datasets to compare diversity drivers between model systems where distinct processes have shaped the current species composition. The feasibility of BIODIV ISLAND-CONT is supported by the extensive database provided by four different European funded projects, offering an invaluable tool to study the differences in community assembly of islands vs. continents. The project will be hosted by two high-quality European institutions: FMNH-UH in Finland and IPNA-CSIC in Spain, enhancing the reciprocal transfer of knowledge among different European partners. Overall, the goals proposed in this project will allow testing general macroevolutionary hypotheses of broad interest to the scientific community.

Mots clés : biodiversity, phylogenetic community ecology, taxonomy, functional diversity, metagenomics

Participants :
- University of Helsinki (Finlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191325.6 €
Projet ECOCYST (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Widespread replacement of algal forests with less-complex turf algae threaten the diversity and functioning of coastal rocky ecosystems and have prompted conservation and management efforts worldwide. Yet these initiatives target the species forming the marine forest rather than preservation of the ecosystem services these communities provide. The project ECOCYST will conduct a comparative valuation of Mediterranean rocky shore fringe communities associated with different dominant macroalgal forms that potentially represent alternative stable states: from forests of the canopy-forming genus Cystoseira to turf-forming species, considered a degraded state. The co-occurrence of these alternative fringe habitats in similar physical conditions presents a unique opportunity to evaluate the loss of function associated with algal forest decline. I will assess value by measures of diversity and ecosystem function that are linked to services of nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and habitat provision. Measurements of abiotic conditions (e.g. temperature, hydrodynamics) within each fringe type will determine to what extent the canopy facilitates other species by ameliorating environmental extremes. Compound-specific stable isotope signatures in each fringe type and their associated consumers will reveal differences among algal states in food web support. Pulse-chase labelling experiments will estimate rates of carbon fixation, nitrogen assimilation, carbon storage potential and contribution to coastal nitrogen cycling. In order to maximize the impact of this work toward coastal management that focuses on conservation of ecosystem services, I will hold regional meetings and a final open workshop with networks of monitoring agencies and stakeholders (disseminated via MedPAN). Together with a systematic literature review, the synthesis of these outcomes will provide a best-practice guide toward development of management frameworks that enhance coastal ecosystem value.

Mots clés : ecosystem function, marine forest, coastal restoration, rocky intertidal, trophic diversity, macroalgae, ecological status, mpa management, stable isotopes, habitat fragmentation

Participants :
- University of Genoa (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183473.28 €
Projet Mitogression (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Wine global demand is decreasing due to a shift in consumer preferences and cultural changes. The EU is a GLOBAL LEADER in WINE production, whose wine companies wants to decrease ethanol content, while improving organoleptic properties to deal with these new demands. YEASTS, mainly Saccharomyces cerevisiae, play a KEY ROLE during wine fermentation, when alcohol and the main flavors are produced. Application of new yeasts, produced by genetic engineering, is limited due to the non-acceptance of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). We PROPOSE to apply non-GMO methodologies, to obtain IMPROVED YEASTS by the generation of yeast strains (cybrids), with mitochondrial genomes (mitogression) from non-cerevisiae species, or hybrids, increasing yeast DIVERSITY, to select strains whose fermentation products match wine company expectations. We will ANSWER some BASIC research QUESTIONS: how is genotype molded by the presence of a foreign mitochondrial genome? Are these changes common between independent experiments and wild isolates? And, are evolved strains starting to show evidence of speciation from their ancestors? The results of this project will IMPACT the WINE INDUSTRY by generating new potential commercial strains, and future collaborations. The knowledge gained through this proposal will demonstrate to the scientific community the use of novel methodologies as well as expose the general public to the importance of biodiversity for industrial processes and how the transfer of genetic material and experimental evolution can produce beneficial traits for our societies. The researcher (evolutionary biology and bioinformatics background), supervisor (microbiology, systems biology, and synthetic biology background), and host institution (facilities, knowledge, experience, and supporting elements) will form a perfect entity for the development of MITOGRESSION proposal, and to CONSOLIDATE the scientific career of the researcher for his future INDEPENDENT position.

Mots clés : yeast, wine, fermentation, introgression, speciation

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 170121.6 €
Projet GREAT-4PA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Wireless electronic systems (nodes) used in precision agriculture (PA) can bring solutions to a grand challenge that Europe is facing: producing more/better food despite shrinking agricultural zones while also limiting pollution by reducing the amount of agrochemicals used. Nevertheless, severe constraints apply to conventional nodes that must be deployed in vast agricultural fields: i) they are powered by batteries that must be replaced or recharged; ii) they cannot be left in the soil because of the toxic metals/materials they intrinsically contain. With the aim to set new standards for nodes used in PA, the GREAT-4PA project proposes to redefine completely the core electronic components of game-changing nodes having unique and unprecedented attributes. Specifically, this proposal focuses on developing green autonomous nodes; namely self-powered biodegradable/compostable nodes having the ability to physically disappear after a period of stable operation so they could be left in the soil after use with zero environmental impact. Further, the GREAT-4PA project proposes to go beyond the usual sensing capabilities of nodes by adding actuation functionalities to create green smart transducers which could deliver agrochemicals locally (e.g., near the plant roots). The project involves two of the most prominent figures in the field of paper-based microfluidic fuel cells and biodegradable batteries (Dr. Neus Sabaté and Dr. Juan Pablo Esquivel, IMBCNM-CSIC, Spain). To maximise the outcomes and potential impact of the proposed research, two additional actions are planned: i) a partnership with the Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA); ii) a secondment within Fuelium, a Spanish company specialised in the development and commercialization of paper-based batteries. The completion of such a multidisciplinary project could open up research avenues. It will also lay the foundation for long-term collaborative efforts with partner organisations in academia and industry.

Mots clés : biodegradable, compostable battery, paper based microfluidics, bioelectrochemistry, transient electronics, wireless sensor, node, hydrogel, agrochemical delivery, precision agriculture

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet CIOP (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Climate change by the early-to-mid century will attract great social, economic, political and scientific attention. Countries will be faced with elevated sea levels, changes in drought and precipitation, alterations to marine ecosystems, and economic insecurity as a result of Earth’s changing climate. In order to make practical and prudent decisions about economic aid to developing and developed countries alike, the European Union (EU) must predict global change with increased accuracy. While climate models are consistently improving in predictive skill, their computational demands necessitate parameterization of sub-grid-scale processes. In oceans, one such process is centrifugal instability (CI) occurring near topographic boundaries in the abyssal oceans. The research proposed here, “Centrifugal Instability in the Orkney Passage (CIOP)”, aims to improve our predictive capability of climate by representing a small-scale turbulent mixing process occurring in and around steep topography, and that is believed to impact global ocean circulation through modification of dense water properties. This study will focus on the analysis and interpretation of moored observations and model simulations of Orkney Passage (OP). As the OP is a region where dense water that is formed within the Weddell Sea is modified prior to joining the deep ocean circulation, it is a prime candidate for such study. As part of CIOP, the applicant will (1) enhance understanding of energy and buoyancy fluxes by closely examining mooring and high-resolution model data, (2) identify a relationship between volume transport and fluxes within OP and (3) identify regions conducive to CI. Three outcomes of CIOP will be (i) work toward representing such fluxes in coarse-resolution models and communicated through open-access publications, conferences and meetings, (ii) development of the applicant’s modelling skills and (iii) strategic collaborations between French, British, and American institutions.

Mots clés : oceanography, climate, antarctica, weddell sea, ocean physics

Participants :
- Université de Brest (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173076.0 €
Projet EcoScan (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Climate change is arguably the most pressing challenge facing all life on earth, threatening human health, ecosystem integrity and the survival of vulnerable species and habitats. Monitoring ecosystem health is critical for the early detection of imbalances but current approaches to do so measure the end-state, not the mechanisms driving patterns of change. Plants form the base of ecosystem functioning and accumulate increased viral- and fungal load in response to climate-related stress. These viruses are ingested along with plant matter by insect herbivores who similarly have microorganisms and may be eaten by a secondary consumer such as a bat. In the current proposal, we take advantage of this natural aggregation through trophic levels by collecting bat guano which contains a snap-shot sample of the environment. Directly sampling the individual taxa in multi-trophic assemblages would be unfeasible both financially and logistically. We will then use the latest in high-throughput sequencing protocols in metabarcoding and viral metagenomics to retrieve plant viruses and fungi, in addition to insect, fungi and bat DNA, viruses and fungi. Temporal sampling across climatic zones and habitats will ensure that complex and seasonal ecosystem processes are captured. We will use novel, sophisticated methods in ecological analyses to explore taxon diversity, abundance and associations, and how these change over time. By constructing weighted and multi-layer networks we will illuminate the processes affecting seasonal ecosystem health in relation to habitat and climate. As such we will be able to distinguish between localised phenomena and effects which cascade across layers. Our proposal will substantially increase knowledge of biodiverse but understudied groups (non-pathogenic fungi and viruses), shed light on ecosystem processes and how they respond to climate change, and ultimately provide proof of concept results for ‘aggregation’ as a means to survey ecosystem health.

Mots clés : biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem health, edna, chirosurveillance, agronomic pests, non invasive genetics, metabarcoding, virome, metagenomics, fungi, plant, trophic levels, climate change

Participants :
- Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet BoRiS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Climate change is observed and predicted to profoundly affect Arctic and Alpine ecosystems. These ecosystems, at the border of woody plant growth, change at a faster rate than the global average. Growth responses of Arctic-Alpine shrubs to climate change are variable and influenced by different factors. A key to understand the plasticity of responses to climate change is a detailed analysis of growth at the intra-individual to the community level. Currently, we lack knowledge on the intra-individual, intraspecific, and interspecific variation in growth and wood anatomical traits across environmental gradients. BoRiS aims at uncovering the information archived in annual rings to gain fundamental new insight on how the responses scale from individuals to communities. Insight into past dynamics opens a valuable window to the future and provides the basis for predicting future range dynamics of Arctic-Alpine shrubs. BoRiS provides a retrospective quantification of growth and wood anatomical traits from Arctic-Alpine shrub species, assesses their variation across environmental conditions, tests their significance as climatological proxies, disentangles the abiotic and biotic factors influencing growth, and models future shrub dynamics at the landscape to regional scale. BoRiS is possible due to a unique data set of > 1000 individual shrubs sampled in Arctic and Alpine areas and an innovative integration of state-of-the art quantitative wood anatomical analyses, classical dendrochronology, a newly proposed community-based dendroecology framework, range dynamic modelling and remote sensing observations. It is the first project to combine growth and wood anatomical responses of a large number of Arctic-Alpine shrubs and to upscale the results from individuals to communities. BoRiS is envisioned to be the first step in the development of an independent research field linking plant growth dynamics in a community perspective with earth observations across space.

Mots clés : arctic and alpine shrubs, climate, chronology, quantitative wood anatomy, range distribution, xylem

Participants :
- Aarhus University (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 207312.0 €
Projet EAGER (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Climate change is one of the main challenges in the world today as addressed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal. An important contribution to global warming comes from the current cooling technology based on vapour compression of greenhouse gases. Electrocaloric (EC) materials show reversible thermal changes in response to an applied electric field known as the electrocaloric effect (ECE), and are in the spotlight as candidates for future green refrigeration with even a better energy efficiency than vapour compression. Despite the intense research activity in EC materials (mostly focused on lead-containing oxides), ECE effects sufficiently large for applications have only been reported in thin films and the progress in the field is hindered by the reliability of the ECE measurement methods. Besides, the microscopic origin of the ECE remains to be understood in order to enable a rational design of EC materials. The aim of this project is to develop new lead-free Aurivillius oxides with strong ECE by: i) implementing experimental setups for direct (calorimeter) and indirect (polarization analyzer) ECE measurements to allow for a comprehensive analysis; ii) synthesizing Aurivillius oxides with targeted compositions towards EC performance, both in bulk and thin-film forms; and iii) combining the macroscopic characterization of the electric and EC properties with an advanced microscopic characterization using cutting-edge synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopies. The outcomes of this work will include the determination of the most reliable ECE detection method for bulk and thin films, the finding of novel compounds with enhanced EC properties, and new understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which the materials show the ECE behaviour. All these will contribute to open new directions in the field of EC cooling, ultimately also providing guidance for exploiting the ECE in practical refrigeration devices.

Mots clés : electrocaloric effect, solid state refrigeration, green cooling, lead free materials, aurivillius phases, bismuth layer structured ferroelectrics, relaxor ferroelectrics

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172932.48 €