Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet BacPro (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is an intracellular bacterial pathogen. Lm strain 10403S harbors an active prophage in its genome integrated within the comK gene. It was previously discovered by the Herskovits lab (host lab) that during Lm infection of macrophages, the prophage undergoes excision from comK, yielding an intact and functional comK gene that assists the escape of the bacteria from the macrophages’ phagosomes to the cytosol. Notably, this phage excision does not lead to virion production and bacterial lysis in the mammalian environment, suggesting a cooperative phage behaviour. It was further shown that the phage early genes are transcribed in the intracellular niche, whereas the late lytic genes are not, thereby preventing the progression of the lytic pathway. This type of adaptive phage behaviour was termed “active-lysogeny”, representing cases where prophages cooperate with their hosts. To better understand active-lysogeny in Lm, in this BacPro proposal I aim to decipher the mechanism by which the late lytic genes are repressed in the intracellular niche. It was previously demonstrated that the late genes are positively regulated by LlgA, an ArpU-family transcriptional regulator that is encoded by the phage. Preliminary data in the lab indicate that LlgA is thermo-regulated at the protein level. LlgA regulation at the temperature of the mammalian niche was shown to relay on the bacteria, and to involve a mechanism similar to regulated proteolysis. Based on these findings, in my proposal I aim to identify the bacterial proteases that are involved in its cleavage. Further I aim to determine LlgA active form, as well as its cleavage site/s. These studies will provide a molecular insight into the mechanism by which Lm controls the phage in the mammalian environment, and further increase our understanding of how lysogenic phages interact with bacterial pathogens, an information that might lead to a better design of phages for the use of phage therapy.

Mots clés : phage, listeria monocytogenes, late lytic genes activator, gene regulation, active lysogeny

Participants :
- Université de Tel Aviv (Israël) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 200538.24 €
Projet MiMING (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Cell division is the fundamental process for cell differentiation and tissue formation in early embryogenesis. Mainly depending on the distribution and amount of yolk, fertilized embryos undergo holoblastic and meroblastic divisions. Holoblastic division can be found in most mammalian embryos including mouse embryo, in which actomyosin forms contractile cytoskeletal ring and divides the zygote into two daughter cells. In contrast, cell division in fish and insect embryos, such as zebrafish and Drosophila embryos, are meroblastic, and accumulating evidence shows that actomyosin is dispensable for meroblastic furrow ingression. Meanwhile, microtubule has been suggested to constitute the main component that drive meroblastic furrow ingression. How microtubule functions in furrow ingression of meroblastic cleavages in zebrafish and Drosophila embryos, and how far those functions are conserved between these species, remain to be fully understood. The MiMING project aims to uncover the role of microtubule and associated motor proteins in meroblastic furrow ingression in zebrafish and Drosophila, which fits me very well, as I have abundant knowledge about functions of cytoskeleton in embryogenesis and biochemical experimental methods in checking the function of actomyosin and microtubules on the cortex of Drosophila embryos in syncytial and cellularization stages from my PhD study and follow-up work. To check the biochemical and biomechanical mechanisms in meroblastic furrow ingression of zebrafish and Drosophila embryos, I would like to join Prof. Carl-Philipp Heisenberg lab at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). Prof. Heisenberg is a world-renowned developmental biologist (high citation publications > 80, total citations > 26670), who has pioneered interdisciplinary work at the interphase between developmental biology, cell biology and biophysics using both zebrafish and ascidian embryos as model organisms.

Mots clés : embryogenesis, zebrafish and drosophila embryos, mechanical property, computational simulation, crispr cas9

Participants :
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 199440.96 €
Projet REASONING (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

In flowering plants, DNA methylation reprogramming occurs in meiocytes through RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway (RdDM) mediated by 24-nucleotide small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). My host lab discovered that these siRNAs are transcribed from transposable element (TE) in tapetal cells (tapetum) and transported to male meiocyte. In meiocytes, these siRNAs induce methylation at genes (MetGenes) with similar (but not identical) sequences, and thereby regulate MetGene expression and promote meiosis. The ability of siRNAs to target loci with reduced sequence homology is unique to meiocytes: in tapetum and somatic tissues, RdDM only targets TE with perfect sequence homology to siRNAs. The broad-targeting competence of tapetum siRNAs allows the targeting of MetGenes and fast-evolving TE in meiocytes, however, it is unclear how the broad targeting is achieved and comfined to the meiocytes. My preliminary work discovered several meiocyte-specific RdDM homologues, which I hypothesize to permit siRNA mismatch targeting. Furthermore, I found that RdDM mutants are hypersensitive to heat stress in meiocyte development, suggesting RdDM mediates heat stress response in meiocytes. Harnessing single-cell multi-omics, biochemistry and bio-imaging approaches, I aim to: 1) identity germline-specific RdDM homologues responsible for MetGenes targeting; 2) decipher how methylation of MetGenes are mediated by lncRNAs; and 3) uncover how the methylation reprogramming of MetGenes contributes to mediating male germline thermotolerance. My discoveries will elucidate essential siRNA regulatory mechanisms that mediate intergenerational heredity in plants and establish a novel epigenetic paradigm in how meiocytes perceive and respond to heat stress, essential knowledge for building crop resilience under climate change. This in-depth knowledge of cell- and site-specific RdDM pathway will also inform the generation of novel crop improvement tools by the engineering of methylation at gene families.

Mots clés : sirna, dna methylation, mismatch, rddm, heat stress

Participants :
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 199440.96 €
Projet EPIC (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Glacier runoff is vital for the downstream populations and ecosystems of the Peruvian Andes. However previous predictions of future runoff have failed to take account of the complexity of the glacier surface energy balance nor of future vegetation succession. Our project aims to provide a new, interdisciplinary understanding of the possible futures of the hydrology of the Cordillera Blanca, combining changes in climate, glaciers, hydrology and ecosystems, and disentangling their interactions. We will use the advanced ecohydrological model Tethys-Chloris, which takes a physically-based approach to representing glacier and catchment processes. We will determine both the key drivers of Peruvian glacier mass balance and the role of vegetation in altering the catchment water balance. Through ‘big-data’ remote sensing approaches we will identify the past changes in land cover and wetland area and how they have coincided with glacier recession. We will then assess the future of the region’s hydrology, including the changing climate, glacier evolution and scenarios of vegetation succession, to provide a holistic view of the controls on projected catchment runoff. The proposed fellow has a strong background in the glacier surface energy balance, remote sensing and glacier hydrology, but she will diversify her knowledge to encapsulate catchment modelling, ecological understanding and the use of large geospatial data archives. She will be supported by Dr Francesca Pellicciotti who is a world-class scientist specialising in the use of physically-based approaches to modelling high mountain catchments. This project will therefore not only provide unique insights into the future hydrology of the Peruvian Andes but will also provide a springboard for the fellow to become a truly interdisciplinary researcher working at the interface between glaciology, ecology and catchment hydrology.

Mots clés : ecohydrology, peruvian glaciers, cordillera blanca, water resources, vegetation change, catchment water resources

Participants :
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183600.96 €
Projet EMVAC (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

This project focuses on the development of a new type of electrostatic actuators with high potential for the critical European sector of Space Technologies and the field of Smart Materials. Electrostatic actuators, in particular dielectric elastomers, have long been proposed for space applications. However, due to limited materials choice, reliability and intrinsic technological limitations, this method has not yet met expectations. The EMVAC project is proposing a new concept of electrostatic actuation. It exploits electrically induced deformations of multilayered dielectric structures consisting of polymer films separated by vacuum gaps. Such multilayer systems can enable actuation of space mechanisms or operate in vacuum research/industrial applications on Earth. Due to employing high vacuum as a critical dielectric layer, as opposed to bulk insulating materials, this technology can provide unmatched performance in power density, strain and actuation speeds at low materials and manufacturing costs. However, the vacuum-gap introduces complex electrical phenomena within the dielectric structure. This relates to the accumulation of electrical charges at the film interfaces, resulting in an alteration of the force output of the entire system. This work will study the complex charge dynamics that dictates the force response of such systems by integrating experimental investigations and physics-oriented theoretical approaches. A framework for materials selection will be proposed. Various polymer films will be investigated. Different actuators employing the polymer film/vacuum gap topology will be created and demonstrated in a high vacuum environment. The research fellow will deepen his expertise in the fundamentals of dielectric materials and electroactive polymers, while also acquiring critical soft skills in managing a multidisciplinary research project that integrates fundamental and applied methods.

Mots clés : electroactive polymers, electrostatic actuators, multilayered dielectrics, space applications, high vacuum, interfacial polarization, zipping actuators, high voltage, force dynamics

Participants :
- Université de Linz (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 230184.72 €
Projet SpinFerro (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Current state of the art technologies demand high density and high performance electronic devices with reduced energy consumption. This stretches the performance limits of Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) transistors technology. Among the many beyond CMOS approaches, one of the most promising routes is the spintronics ecosystem. In the framework of this project, we aim to investigate a beyond CMOS spintronics device recently proposed and called Ferroelectric Spin Orbit (FESO) device, where the spin polarized states of a Rashba interface are manipulated through its proximity with a ferroelectric material. The project’s innovation relies on the exploitation of this effect to transform spin to charge currents in a controllable manner through the reversing a ferroelectric’s polarization, to develop a new in memory computing technology. The FESO technology involves non-volatility, low operating voltage and much lower energy consumption compared to conventional CMOS and other spintronic devices. As a main scientific objective, the researcher will investigate and understand the effect of the ferroelectric layer to FESO devices performance in terms of materials choice, growth quality, dimensions and compatibility to Ferromagnetic materials. The main technological objective is to fabricate a prototype and characterize its operational performance with regards to cutting edge nanoelectronics standards. The results of the project and key performance of the FESO device will be tabulated in a roadmap. During this project the researcher will be trained in advanced Nanofabrication techniques and device characterization. Except from the research skills, the researcher will also gain experience in a series of transferable skills. This project constitutes a perfect opportunity to establish an independent scientific profile at the frontier of nanoelectronics and semiconductor industry, a key field in the framework of major European Commission initiatives.

Mots clés : beyond cmos technologies, in memory computing, ferroelectrics, spintronics, spin to charge conversion, rashba effect, nano fabrication, condensed matter physics, applied physics

Participants :
- Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 211754.88 €
Projet FQHMicroscope (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states are paradigmatic examples of strongly correlated topological quantum matter, combining geometric order and strong interparticle interactions. Yet, limited microscopic control in solid-state platforms often restricts observations to global current or spectroscopy probes. Engineered quantum systems, such as ultracold atoms in optical lattices, offer a complementary route for exploring topological order leveraging precise control over Hamiltonian parameters and access to local observables through quantum gas microscopy. The primary goal of this project is to prepare and probe quantum-engineered fermionic FQH states for the first time in a next-generation quantum gas microscope. First, we will implement direct laser cooling of fermionic Li-6 atoms to efficiently prepare individual atoms in the ground state of optical tweezers, and holographically project lattice potentials to assemble Fermi-Hubbard systems atom by atom. To explore FQH physics, we will implement small fermionic Harper-Hofstadter systems via Floquet engineering. Leveraging our system’s excellent coherence, we will extend observations beyond two particles and perform first observations fractionally charged quasi-hole excitations pinned by local repulsive potentials. To access a broader class of fermionic FQH states, we will build upon recent advances in multi-orbital lattices and engineer p-wave interactions between pairs of spinless fermions. This approach will facilitate first microscopic studies of exotic Pfaffian states.  Our results will significantly impact research in quantum simulation and topological physics. Technically, we will advance programmable optical lattices, enabling sub-second cycle times and unprecedented levels of control in quantum gas microscopes. Implementing p-wave interactions will facilitate the exploration of Pfaffian states and non-Abelian excitations, which are building blocks for fault-tolerant topological quantum computing.

Mots clés : optical lattices, quantum gas microscopy, quantum simulation, strongly correlated systems, topological physics, fractional quantum hall effect

Participants :
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 214344.72 €
Projet LINK-M (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Natural Killer (NK) cells have a critical role in anti-cancer immunity and recently the influence of the microbiome in cancer immunotherapy was shown. Comprehending the complex interplay between the expression of NK cells ligands involved in immune evasion mechanisms and the microbiome is crucial for achieving immunotherapy success. Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and Follicular Lymphoma (FL) are two types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL) characterized by accumulating B lymphocytes in lymph nodes, and extranodal sites. DLBCL and FL usually show aggressive and indolent behavior respectively. DLBCL, includes the known subtypes germinal center B-cells (GCB) and activated B-cells (ABC), and, like the DLBCL-GCB subtype, FL have a germinal origin as well. The mechanism involved in the immune-microbiome interplay are not clearly understood, hampering the improvement of therapeutic possibilities. The objective of this study is to reveal the complex interplay between the NK cells and the microbiome in DLBCL and FL patients and harness its therapeutic potential. To achieve this, I will use single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry to analyze the composition of NK cells dissociated from DLBCL and FL samples. Then, I will use correlative analyses to identify the NK ligands/receptors that are more expressed in patients with low diversity and high variability microbiome. Ultimately, I will address the impact of this correlation in the response to immunotherapy. The results will pave the way for patient risk stratification establishment and new treatment options approaches. Conducting this project at the Tumor Stroma Interactions (TSI) group will provide me a solid scientific basis as well as technical development for further progressing my scientific career.

Mots clés : microbiome, immune response, microenvironment, hematology, lymphoma, natural killer cells, cancer immunology

Participants :
- Luxembourg Institute of Health (Luxembourg) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 216240.0 €
Projet EQRSMPD (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Erbium ion embedded in crystal is a promising candidate for quantum information processing for its unique properties, such as optical transition at telecom band and large magnetic dipole. Erbium nuclear spin has long coherence time and is ideal for working as quantum memories. A hybrid quantum register formed by erbium electron spin, intrinsic nuclear spin and nearby nuclear spins in the host crystal combining fast control, high-fidelity readout and long memory time will have huge capacities in quantum applications, such as quantum computing and quantum communication. Previous spin-based quantum registers rely on the spin-dependent photoluminescence, which is system specific. In this project, we propose to realize erbium ion quantum register operated with a single microwave photon detector which is based on a superconducting transom qubit and works in principle for any spin system. This project will enable interface between quantum register and microwave photons, and pave the way for more sophisticated quantum applications of erbium ions, long-distance spin-spin entanglement, and hybrid quantum information platforms.

Mots clés : rare earth ions, quantum register, single microwave photon detection

Participants :
- Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 195914.88 €
Projet DigitalBI (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The Europe Union faces an enormous task in maintaining its buried infrastructure (BI), since BI constantly deteriorates due to ageing, harsh environmental conditions, and nearby construction disturbances. It is imperative that innovative maintenance techniques are implemented to detect BI deterioration and schedule repair works based on BI resilience (i.e. the ability of a structure to be recovered under repair measures after it has failed) in the most cost effective manner. Although digital twin models have been employed for the maintenance of BI and demonstrated superiority, they still face challenges in achieving useful results because BI’s deterioration and resilience mechanisms are ignored in existing digital twin models. Moreover, existing digital twin models face challenges in synchronising with their physical BI twin on a regular basis, adversely affecting their ability to automatically advise the BI operator about maintenance schedules. DigitalBI will: 1) Develop new adaptive denoising deep learning (DL) methods and image-based numerical simulation methods to unravel deterioration mechanisms; 2) Develop a new numerical coupling method and physics-encoded neural networks to decipher the resilience mechanisms; and 3) develop a large multimodal model (TunnelGPT) to integrate approaches developed for the investigation of deterioration and resilience mechanisms to form a digital twin model for optimizing maintenance measures. This will combine the researcher's experience in deep learning-based BI maintenance with the supervisors' expertise in physics-informed DL and large language models. DigitalBI will be expected to set the researcher for a career in academia in Europe, while improving the comprehension of BI's deterioration and resilience mechanisms to reduce maintenance costs and consumption of materials for the remediation of BI. DigitalBI will also enable policymakers to use TunnelGPT to obtain suggestions on maintenance measures including plan parameters.

Mots clés : buried infrastructure structural deterioration resilience of buried infrastructure digital twin large multimodal model

Participants :
- Université de Leeds (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 276187.92 €