Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet OPLD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The high current density required for population inversion in organic semiconductors has made the realization of an organic laser diode rather challenging. Here, I propose an organic polariton laser diode (OPLD) in which the threshold is achieved through the mechanism of polariton condensation. This conceptually different lasing mechanism does not require population inversion, suggesting that lasing under electrical injection can be, for the first time, demonstrated in organic semiconductors. To date, most commercial laser diodes are based on inorganic semiconductors, which are expensive materials, require complex fabrication and manufacturing processes, and have a limited range of lasing wavelengths. Organic semiconductors, in contrast, are ideal materials for the industrial production of diode lasers and other optoelectronic devices due to their ease of fabrication and processing, low acquisition-cost, and broad spectrum of emission. The realization of the first OPLD within this fellowship will be tremendously important for the European market. In 2014, diode-laser technology comprised 46% of the total revenue ($9.4 billion) in the global laser market. Moreover, emerging automotive lighting (BMW Laserlight) and high-definition laser display (LG LASER display) technologies could enable diode lasers to overtake the global laser market. Therefore, any steps towards the realization of the first organic laser diode (or organic solid state laser) would represent a significant technological and scientific achievement. Furthermore, the proposed device offers a totally new, due to its electrical pumping, platform for fundamental studies of quantum fluids of light.

Mots clés : strong light matter interactions, polaritons, microcavities, organic semiconductors, dielectrics, polariton condensates, laser diodes, optoelectronic, microelectronics, light emitting diodes

Participants :
- Aalto University (Finlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 179325.6 €
Projet H2Gut (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The human gut is a complex microbial bioreactor which protects the host from enteropathogens, facilitates the harvesting of nutrients and energy from undigested dietary components, stimulates healthy immune function, alters host insulin resistance, and exerts control over fat deposition and appetite. The principal duty of the bacteria in the mammalian gut is the fermentation of undigested dietary components, which results in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and H2 gas. The H2 produced by fermentation has to be disposed of very efficiently, since the buildup of H2 strongly disrupts gut function. The harmful accumulation of H2 is prevented by three groups of H2-consuming microbes - sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), acetogens, and methanogens. Thus, H2 is a critical metabolite in the gut that controls colonic fermentation and the flow of energy and carbon to the host. Yet, we do not understand the identity of the major functional producers/consumers of H2, the ecological forces that drive one or more of the H2-consuming guilds to colonize the gut, or the microbe-microbe interactions between fermenters and H2-consumers that lead to efficient H2 dispersal. The objectives of the proposed research program are to 1) determine what pathways for H2 production and consumption are actively expressed in the gut using a mouse model, 2) elucidate the identity and spatial distribution of hydrogen producers/consumers in the mouse gut at the single cell level, and 3) ) elucidate the physiological mechanisms of H2 transfer in the gut using model communities. Overall, these research actions will produce the first characterization of the microbiota community members that actively influence the hydrogen economy in the gut in-situ and how these microbe-microbe interactions control colonic fermentation.

Mots clés : microbiome, hydrogen, homeostasis, mouse, inflammatory bowel disease, sulfate reducing bacteria, acetogen, methanogen

Participants :
- University of Vienna (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 178156.8 €
Projet RiPPs from the Gut (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The human gut is the habitat for trillions of microbial cells living in synergy with each other and with the host. While metagenomic studies of the gut microbiome have provided a wealth of DNA sequence data, functional studies of gut bacteria remain challenging. To study the gut microbiome from a functional perspective, understanding host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions is key. These contacts are often established by specialized molecules termed secondary metabolites or natural products (NPs). The machinery required to synthesize these metabolites is encoded in bacterial genomes by biosynthetic gene clusters (BCGs). Remarkably, even though 14,000 BGCs were identified in the human microbiota, very little is known about the identities and functions of their products. To address that, we will focus on NPs of the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) family, the second most abundant NP class in the human gut. The Piel group recently discovered unprecedented RiPPs with altered peptide backbones, challenging the paradigm that ribosomal synthesis is limited to the L-alpha-amino acid topology. These modifications include the excision of a tyramine moiety from a tyrosine-glycine motif, which introduces an alpha-keto-beta-amino acid in the peptide precursor backbone; and the epimerization of amino acids from L- to D-configuration. Enzymes homologous to these backbone-modifying catalysts and associated with RiPP gene clusters have been found bioinformatically in a wide variety of bacterial genomes, including gut microbiome representatives. The pervasiveness of these BGCs in microbiome bacteria suggests a function for these metabolites and possible therapeutic applications. This proposal aims to identify the products of these gene clusters in representatives of the most abundant phyla in the gut microbiome. In addition, we will examine the functions of the discovered metabolites utilizing bioactivity assays and chemical proteomics.

Mots clés : microbiology, natural product biosynthesis, ribosomal peptides, chemical proteomics, genome mining, biological function

Participants :
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet plasTCD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The human immune system has the ability to fight various infectious diseases or self-cells turning malignant. Dendritic cells (DCs) are innate immune sensors and professional antigen presenting cells that initiate the development of adaptive immune responses towards the formation of memory cells. Very important studies deciphered the various signals in DCs to effectively polarize naïve T cells. However, a significant gap of knowledge remains on how DCs can mediate and influence antigen-specific T cell recall responses. In this program, we aim to investigate how the different human DC subsets can modulate antigen-specific T cell recall responses directed against influenza (Flu) epitopes. To this end, we have designed a set of highly integrated work packages: WP1: Using a systematic experimental approach of challenging co-cultures of pure DCs (6 different subsets) and Flu-specific T cells from healthy subjects, we will generate a functional atlas revealing the impact of the different DC subsets on antigen-specific T cell recall responses. T cell response status will be assessed at the protein level using phenotypic and functional approaches on multimer positive T cells. WP2: Using CITE-seq technology together with cutting-edge system biology platforms, we will interrogate the transcriptomic programs and molecular pathways associated with antigen-specific T cell recall responses following stimulation with the various DC subsets. WP3: As a complementary analysis of the data generated in WP2, we will perform TCR repertoire analysis to compare the clonal composition of the responding antigen-specific T cells. This program represents an ambitious and promising project that will generate novel biological insights into fundamental immunological mechanisms of human DC-T cell communication. Such information could have direct clinical impact on the design of therapeutic DC-based vaccines, immunotherapies targeting DCs or T cell expansion protocols for adoptive transfer therapy

Mots clés : dendritic cells, antigen specific t cells, recall responses, immunotherapy, vaccine

Participants :
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet REDUCTeeth (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The human skeleton has continued to evolve over the past 40,000 years in Europe, long after the emergence of our species. During this period, major social, technological and demographic changes occurred as a mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyle gave way to sedentary farming villages, and then cities. This was accompanied by biological changes to our skeletons, which are retained into the present day. One of the most striking changes is the reduced size of our teeth and jaws. This dental reduction contributes to dental crowding for modern day Europeans, which requires extensive orthodontic treatment with a significant global socio-economic cost. Despite 50 years of academic debate amongst anthropologists about the hypothesised causes underlying dental reduction, a consensus has still to be reached. Yet, we know nothing about the cell mechanisms that facilitated the reduced size of our teeth and jaws. The goal in this project is to develop an original, interdisciplinary and holistic approach that combines dental and bone analysis at three structural levels, to identify and describe the micro-evolutionary cell mechanisms that led to the reduction of modern human teeth and jaws in Europe. Combining cutting-edge histological and microtomographic techniques, I will examine molars and jaws from prehistorical, medieval and modern samples, spanning our most recent evolution from ~38,000 years ago to the present day. Using these cell mechanisms, I will re-evaluate the existing hypothesised causes of dental reduction. This project will provide a unique biological insight that will help to resolve a long-standing debate, and reshape our understanding of dental reduction during recent human evolution. Results will be of interest to anthropologists, biologists, and the general public. My project can also contribute new information for clinical orthodontic treatment. Results will be published in high-impact scientific journals and presented at international conferences.

Mots clés : dental reduction, virtual dental anthropology, dental histology, late pleistocene, holocene

Participants :
- University of Kent (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet Voice Modulation (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The human voice is a social tool. Non-linguistic voice cues can influence judgements of attractiveness, formidability, trustworthiness, intelligence, and general likeability, with meaningfully differential social outcomes depending on whether ones voice is credited, unduly or not, with positive or negative attributes. Yet, despite its apparent societal implications and the known capacity for vocal control, studies of human voice perception have focused on static rather than dynamic speech. The proposed project will explore the vastly understudied niche of human voice modulation. The Research Objectives of the project are to: (1) Provide the first experimental evidence of voice modulation in four novel social contexts (political debate, commercial ad, public lecture, and first date); (2) Describe the structure and production mechanisms of modulated speech using new technology developed through a secondment; (3) Identify individual and environmental factors that affect the use and nature of modulated speech; (4) Test the extent to which voice modulation effectively influences social attributions and decisions. The project will be the first to examine voice modulation across cultures, addressing a serious need for comparative research in psychology, and facilitating international collaboration. The research objectives will be achieved through a unique combination of lab and field voice recordings, spectrotemporal speech analysis, questionnaire data, cross-cultural and cross-linguistic playback experiments, and sophisticated statistical modelling. This original line of research will provide ample insight into how the voice affects human behaviour, ultimately helping to uncover the functions and origins of nonverbal communication, but also educating lay and scientific communities about social stereotyping and its socioeconomic impact. Importantly, the Fellowship will put me in an excellent position to secure a research station in one of the top European universities.

Mots clés : voice modulation, nonverbal communication, social perception, human speech, bioacoustics, acoustic analysis, fundamental and formant frequencies, cross cultural research, socioeconomics

Participants :
- University of Sussex (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet DecoProg (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The iconography of temples is an aspect that has been frequently treated in Egyptian research. Yet, it is still an important source of knowledge for understanding the religion, thought, or ideology of ancient Egypt. In the 18th dynasty (ca. 1539-1292 BC), a time of ideological rebirth and political stability, specific constructions proliferate: the temples of millions of years. This action will conceive how the decoration of these temples possessed a particular iconographic program and how their iconographic programs may reflect the needs of the kingship and legitimacy, as well as to explore the relations of power and identity established at that period. For this purpose, the proposal will focus on a specific aspect: the analysis of the interactions between the royal and funerary worship of the sovereign in the temples of millions of years and in other types of temples dedicated to deities, as well as in relation to the royal and private tombs. A database will, for the first time, gather scenes related to the project. The action will be carried out in the section Égypte Nilotique et Méditerranéenne (ENiM) of the laboratory of Archéologie des Sociétés Méditerranéennes (ASM, UMR 5140, CNRS, University Paul-Valéry, Montpellier) under the supervision of Prof. Marc Gabolde and Prof. Sébastien Biston-Moulin. The host institution is one of the best in the Egyptological field. It has huge experience in editing epigraphic and iconographic primary sources, in project management in Egypt, and has a strong network. The allocation will contribute to the research activities of the host laboratory while developing the own candidate network of contacts through the dissemination/publication of the results and by organizing a scientific workshop. The candidate will particularly develop skills in: database creation, management, and use, with specific training activities at the host institution; budget management; teaching at the university level; organizing scientific conferences.

Mots clés : new kingdom, royalty, temples of millions of years, tombs, iconography, iconology, database, agency theory, network theory

Participants :
- Université de Toulouse (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet PWAQUTEC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The implementation of technologies based on the rules of the quantum realm lies at the forefront of worldwide research and investment efforts. A particularly appealing application is the design of an advanced computer where quantum nodes and connectors form a miniaturized processing network. So far, many designs have been proposed based on light or other systems, but not so far on the quanta of vibrations (phonons). In this project I will go beyond discrete phonon-photon (optomechanical) quantum systems into studying a full platform based on optimized phonon emitters in combination with continuous phononic media (i.e. waveguides), for whose a fundamental understanding at the quantum level is lacking. I aim at exploiting the richer phenomenology arising for elastic phonons (e.g. longitudinal polarization states, or hybrid bulk+surface modes) to increase the effiency of protocols and devices beyond their photonic counterpart, possibly obtaining yet unattained functionalities. In the first part of this project I will develop a quantum theory of these Waveguide Elastodynamics (WQLD) platforms focusing on experimentally realistic setups. I will also incorporate the concept of phononic crystal and phononic chirality (spin-orbit coupling), and bring both these ideas to the quantum level. This will set up an enlarged parameter space for WQLD. In the second part of this project I will study simple quantum protocols, including operations on various phononic states and dissipative engineering of quantum correlations between phononic quantum emitters. Finally, in the last part I will focus on particular applications: first I will use nonreciprocal (chiral) waveguide-emitter couplings to engineer a heat isolator, which allows heat to flow along one preferential direction. Second, I will implement phononic devices for signal distribution in computing networks (e.g. diodes and transistors). My work aims at demonstrating the potential of WQLD platforms for quantum technologies.

Mots clés : theoretical quantum phononics, quantum computing, waveguide, elastodynamics, entanglement, quantum circuits

Participants :
- Austrian Academy of Sciences (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 178156.8 €
Projet Fit-The-Fat (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are inexorably increasing and elevated healthcare costs related to the higher disease-associated morbidity are affecting European and extra-European countries. Obesity is associated with resistance to the action of insulin (called insulin-resistance) in adipocytes, which is thought to be induced by a low-grade inflammation present in the adipose tissue. Bariatric surgery has been described as the most effective treatment for obesity; however, the pursuit of non-invasive strategies to override obesity-induced insulin-resistance, promote weight loss and restoration of glycemic control is highly needed. In this project will be investigated the hypothesis that T cells residing in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) are endowed with immunological and metabolic properties that are altered in obese patients and that, in turn, induce insulin-resistance in adipocytes. The following specific Objectives will be accomplished during the fellowship: I. Determine identity, metabolic demands and immunological functions of human VAT-T cells in obese patients and lean subjects; II. Assess the metabolic properties of human VAT-T cells in obese patients and lean subjects; III. Target VAT-T cell-mediated mechanisms of insulin-resistance. In this project, clinical expertise on diabetes and competences in tissue-specific T cell immunology will be merged with cutting-edge technologies in the cellular and molecular biology of diabetes as well as active support from a broad network of collaborators in the field of cell metabolism. The proposed research project has the scientific, structural and institutional support to bring new knowledge on T cell metabolic demand and functional properties in human obesity and lead to the discovery of new pathways involved in the induction of insulin-resistance, ultimately fostering advances in the field of Immunometabolism as well as the applicant’s career development.

Mots clés : immunometabolism, t cell, obesity, insulin resistance, adipocytes

Participants :
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 180277.2 €
Projet ClimateMigration2050 (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Economic Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The increase in migration into EU member countries in 2015, and the socio-political challenges associated with it, have led the EU to set out a strategy to tackle root causes of irregular migration in the countries of origin. Crop failure caused by climate change, in particular, is forecast to be a major driver of international migration in the coming decades. In this project, we will integrate state-of-the-art climate, crop, economic and migration models in order to predict potential migration flows, driven by climate-change-related crop failure, from African and Middle Eastern countries into EU member states until the year 2050. We go on identify optimal adaptation strategies in countries at risk, which can stabilise agricultural production and help minimise future migration pressures. By using multi-model projections, and performing in-depth model uncertainty and sensitivity analyses, we will generate robust projections driven by the best data available, and ensure a transparent assessment of uncertainties. Our results will inform evidence-based action by EU policy makers aimed at minimising future large-scale forced migration driven by climate change. This highly interdisciplinary project will give the Experienced Researcher the opportunity to complement his background in agro-environmental modelling, by developing expertise in the socio-economic dimensions of global food production under climate change. Home to world-leading experts of all disciplines relevant to the project, and exceptionally well connected with national and international governmental and non-governmental bodies, both the Host Institution (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research) and the Secondment Host Institution (International Organization for Migration) will provide a unique environment for ensuring the highest-quality research and training during the fellowship, as well as the effective communication of results to EU policy makers and the wider public.


Participants :
- Leibniz Association (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 162806.4 €