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

With a target speed of 1000 km/h, Hyperloop holds the promise of being a fast, clean and energy efficient mode of transportation. The speed is unprecedented for ground-borne transport; the magnetically suspended Hyperloop vehicle offers travelers the speed of an aircraft combined with the convenience of a train. It can carry time-sensitive goods as well, providing a sustainable alternative to airfreight. The understanding and control of the interaction between the vehicle and the surrounding environment (magnetic suspension, infrastructure, air) is fundamental to the technical feasibility of Hyperloop and will be thoroughly addressed in this project. More specifically, the project will examine the vibration of the vehicle while travelling at very high speeds through a tube, to guarantee safety and comfort. Three forces – the magnetic interaction force, the aeroelastic force and the reaction force delivered by the supporting infrastructure – act simultaneously and may destabilize the vehicle vibration through complex nonlinear interactions, creating a multifaceted stability problem. This project will investigate the multifaceted stability behavior in depth to gain understanding regarding the interplay of the destabilizing forces (which becomes particularly pronounced at the very high speeds envisioned), to evaluate the suitability of the state-of-art control (stabilization) measures, and to devise an improved, optimal controller. The project comprises model development as well as experimental validation, which will be done during a non-academic placement at Hardt Hyperloop. Access will be given to the European Hyperloop Centre, a unique 2.6 km long test facility which enables testing at high speeds. Results of this project will be very relevant for the design of the Hyperloop suspension and infrastructure, for magnetically levitated train systems, as well as for high-speed rail. The results will also advance the scientific field of nonlinear dynamics in general.

Mots clés : nonlinear dynamics, vibration, wave propagation, interacting instability mechanisms, stability transition, electromagnetism, aeroelasticity, structural dynamics

Participants :
- Hardt bv (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 254330.4 €
Projet DTADD (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Bridge infrastructure in Europe has great economic, social and cultural value. Nevertheless, many of the assets which are part of this network are in poor condition, which has been recently evidenced by the collapse of several bridges. The available human and economic resources are simply not enough to repair, maintain or replace all bridges - part of the European network. Therefore, improvements on the current bridge management and operation system is urgently needed. During this fellowship an open-source digital twin anomaly detection decision-making (DTADD) tool will be developed to support the preventive conservation of existing bridges in Europe. This innovative tool will improve the bridge management by aiding the implementation of a reliability-based bridge management approach (RBBMA), thus contributing to bridge cultural heritage (CH) conservation and sustainability by extending their service life and reducing management costs. The DTADD fellowship has two specific objectives. The first objective is to build digital twin (DT) models of heritage/conventional bridges to assess and identify the highest performing anomaly detection algorithm (ADA) for damage and/or significant decay detection. Its second objective is to develop an ADA-informed open-source decision-making tool based on a RBBMA, to assess the need for bridge intervention while explicitly considering the bridge’s CH value. This fellowship will be carried out mainly at OsloMet, Norway, with a six-month secondment at TU Delft, Netherlands. The research experience, skills and knowledge obtained during the fellowship will help the experienced researcher to become a leading international expert on the conservation of bridges and will aid him to achieve his goal of becoming an independent researcher and obtaining a tenure track position. Furthermore, this fellowship is aligned with the Transport action of the European Green Deal as well as with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mots clés : structural health monitoring, cultural heritage, assets management, finite element methods, damage detection, anomaly detection, bridge management

Participants :
- International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (Italie) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes publics (hors enseignement & recherche), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université métropolitaine d'Oslo (Norvège) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 226751.04 €
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet CCBioCat (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Carbon-carbon (C-C) bond formation is one of the most challenging synthetic reactions in chemistry. Current approaches require expensive and toxic transition metals with complex ligands that have limited selectivity. Developing biocatalytic sustainable methods for the controlled formation of C-C bonds with stereospecificity in high yields has the potential to advance organic chemistry and provide access to new molecules. Although several enzymes are capable of catalyzing C-C bonds, few biocatalytic approaches have been used in organic synthesis, with aldolases being the most used enzyme group. PLP-dependent transaminases (TA) are the largest and most versatile group, and used at industrial scale, but have never shown C-C bond formation activity. In this project, I will be developing biocatalytic approaches for C-C bond formation by exploring this new functionality of these versatile enzymes. Thus, I will explore the catalytic versatility of TAs through protein engineering to allow C-C bond formation. Protein immobilization of engineered TAs will support their biocatalytic application in preparative C-C bond formation reactions. This will expand the biocatalytic toolbox available for synthesis, and improve sustainability. This project will be carried in the Biocatalysis section at TU Delft, where I will receive training in protein engineering, while using my experience in immobilization, and co-supervise students. This project will give me the opportunity to further develop the research and supervision skills to become a future group leader.

Mots clés : biocatalysis, transaminases, carbon carbon bond formation, enzyme immobilization, protein engineering

Participants :
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187624.32 €
Projet ELECTROCARB (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are extensively studied as potential solutions to reduce rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Among all CCU technologies, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 using renewable energy has emerged as a promising technology for converting CO2 into useful chemicals and fuels. Especially, the utilisation of CO2 via electrochemical carboxylation is a green and promising route for the synthesis of important carboxylic acids. However, the current electrocarboxylation processes have two serious challenges: first, the use of sacrificial anodes requires regular replacement of these anodes thereby limiting operational time and increasing maintenance costs, and second, the current systems need specialized and expensive membranes. ELECTROCARB aims to overcome these challenges with an innovative membraneless electrolyser concept using non-sacrificial anodes for the synthesis of adipic acid via electrocarboxylation of 1,3-butadiene with CO2. The project is multi-disciplinary as it lies at the interface between electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering, including computational fluid dynamics modelling, electrode development, cell construction, scaling up, and techno-economic analysis. ELECTROCARB will have a significant scientific and societal impact as findings from this project will play a pivotal role in the development of other green electrocarboxylation processes. Moreover, the proposed work is in line with the EU strategy for the sustainable development goals of “climate action” and thus contributes to the enhancement of EU scientific excellence. The project will advance my future career by providing multidisciplinary skills along with management, leadership, and entrepreneurship related skills through my non-academic placement.

Mots clés : electrocarboxylation, carbon dioxide, electrochemistry, electrochemical engineering, process modelling, green chemistry

Participants :
- Hightechxl group b.v. (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 218895.04 €
Projet TPnCs_for_QIT (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

A phononic crystal (PnC) is an engineered metamaterial designed to control the propagation of mechanical waves (phonons). In PnCs, a periodic variation of material properties, e.g. stiffness, mass, or strain, gives rise to a phononic band structure, similar to the electronic band structure in solids. By adjusting the lattice parameters of the PnC, one can open a phononic band gap and engineer localised ‘defect modes’ with ultra-high mechanical quality factors (Qs), enabling state-of-the-art optomechanics and hybrid quantum systems (e.g. transduction or mechanical memory). While promising for quantum information technology (QIT), these systems are currently limited to fixed frequencies and lack dynamic control of Qs and coupling, constraining their utilisation and scalability. In this work, we will develop a dynamically tunable phononic platform based on a suspended silicon nitride membrane. This platform will allow us to realise analogues of fundamental solid-state physics phenomena for mechanical excitation, which we will harness for QIT. Specifically, through dynamic strain engineering, we will control the position and size of the phononic band gap – down to completely closing it. This change in hierarchy/topology in the band structure can be seen as the mechanical analogue to a metal-insulator transition (mMIT). Based on this we will realise a reconfigurable mechanical quantum memory (at 5 GHz; compatible with 1550 nm fibre optics) with an erase function capability. The successful completion of this project will significantly impact quantum optomechanics, introducing a new experimental ‘knob’ – comparable to gating in electronic systems. This will open the door for a large range of experiments and unlock the full potential of phonons for QIT. The researcher Jan N. Kirchhof is in a unique position to realise this project given his background in nanomechanics and phononics, which matches perfectly with the quantum optomechanics expertise of the host group at TUD.

Mots clés : phononic crystal, nanomechanics, quantum information technology, quantum memory, solid state physics, mechanical phase transition, silicon nitride

Participants :
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 217076.16 €
Projet FTMcQED (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Superconducting circuits have become a leading platform for quantum computation and simulation due to their scalability and the precise control provided by Josephson junctions (JJs), their fundamental nonlinear element. Despite significant progress, several fundamental questions about their theoretical modelling remain unresolved, including how to accurately describe their behaviour across different energy scales. In particular, key issues involve understanding the spectra of quantum macroscopic circuit variables (e.g. the flux difference across a JJ), and the relationship between classical and quantum dynamics in long-distance superconducting networks. Resolving these open questions is crucial for understanding quantum many-body phenomena and for the design of distributed chiral networks. The FTMcQED project will address these challenges by focusing on two main areas. First, I will tackle the long-standing debate over extended vs. compact variable descriptions of flux and charge variables in superconducting circuits and explore its implications for many-body quantum systems (e.g., dissipative quantum phase transitions). This involves developing a geometrically and topologically consistent quantisation method to derive canonical quantum Hamiltonians for superconducting circuits, while properly accounting for parasitic effects. Second, I will construct modular, effective models for nonreciprocal, dissipative superconducting networks (e.g., waveguide QED) using electrical engineering techniques. To achieve these objectives, I will employ a combination of advanced analytical and numerical methods, enabling a systematic investigation of collective topological effects in both discrete and continuous models. This project aims to contribute to the fundamental understanding and development of new quantum devices, including broadband quantum-limited amplifiers and detectors, as well as novel families of superconducting qubits with enhanced noise suppression.

Mots clés : superconducting circuits, circuit quantum electrodynamics, topological geometrical properties, quantum dissipative phase transitions, waveguide qed, blackbox models, electrical engineering

Participants :
- Université technique de Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 202125.12 €
Projet OUTCOME (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : TERMINATED

Host-parasite communities compose networks of interacting individuals of different species. These communities are constantly coevolving, i.e. reciprocal selective pressures. Coevolution produces ecological changes, such as dynamics in demographies or in the distribution of interactions. Such ecological changes may feedback to drive further evolution in the communities. However, coevolutionary research usually focuses on isolated host-parasite pairs, assuming that the ecological effects can be ignored. Similarly, ecological studies argue that coevolution is not fast enough to affect ecological processes. Hence, the reciprocal effect, or eco-evolutionary feedback, is generally ignored by both evolutionary and ecological studies when evaluating host-parasite interactions. These assumptions possibly lead us to inaccurate understanding of the processes driving host-parasite communities and ecosystem dynamics in general. I aim to infer and predict coevolutionary outcomes in communities of several host and parasite species from host-parasite interaction networks and demographic histories. I will develop a unique combination of coevolutionary footprints in whole-genome sequences with dynamic network analysis (i.e. the network changes the distribution of interactions according to selected genotypes over time). I will use theoretical models and simulated data to link population genetics with interaction establishment and specificity at the ecological community level. Using the theoretical models, I will finally build statistical inference tools to infer and predict changes in real-world ecosystems based on empirical genome and network data. OUTCOME brings together studies on genomic coevolution (Prof Tellier, TUM), eco-evolutionary dynamics in empirical communities (Dr Möst, UIBK), and communities as complex networks (Dr Llopis-Belenguer). It will result in an enriching two-way transfer of knowledge and a complete development of the candidate as an independent researcher.

Mots clés : community ecology genomes

Participants :
- Université d'Innsbruck (Autriche) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université technique de Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
Projet SUPERSET (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The soaring demand for energy and use of fossil fuels has resulted in the release of vast amount of greenhouse gases and climate change. Developing photoelectrochemical devices for solar fuel production is one of the strategies to address these issues. The use of photosynthetic proteins as photoactive components could potentially generate highly efficient biophotoelectrodes built exclusively from earth-abundant elements, leading to a step change in sustainable solar fuel production. The extreme electron transfer rates, quantum efficiency and large charge separation of the photosynthetic protein complex photosystem 1 delivers the high energy electrons needed for CO2 fixation or H2 evolution in Nature. However, coupling electron transfer between electrodes and photosystem 1 to catalytic processes remains challenging because charge recombination of the reduced electron acceptors with the oxidized form of the electron mediators or with the electrode surface is typically faster than catalysis. The overarching aim of SUPERSET is to demonstrate for the first time the concepts of kinetic barriers and fast hole refilling through electron hopping for preventing charge recombination in scalable biophotoelectrodes and thus enable CO2 reduction and H2 production with semiconductor-free devices. Toward this aim, my specific research objectives will include: (1) Design electron acceptors based on anthraquinones to limit recombination at the electrode by taking advantage of their PCET square scheme mechanism; (2) Modify the surface of electrode by self-assembled monolayers to build a charger barrier to prevent the charge recombination of the reduced electron acceptors with the electrode; (3) Design Osmium/Cobalt-based electron donors with extremely fast electron transfer to enable the refilling of the hole produced by photosystem 1 before recombination takes place; (4) Combine the electron donor and electron acceptor to be channeled to an enzyme for CO2 reduction or H2 production.

Mots clés : redox polymer, biohybrid devices, photoelectrochemical cells, biocatalysis, hydrogenase enzymes, co2 reduction, hydrogen production

Participants :
- Université Paris Cité (France) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université technique de Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
Projet ReversE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Redox enzymes catalyze numerous biological processes that are also relevant for a variety of applications, including energy conversion, biosensing, and electrosynthesis of complex molecules. The intrinsic lability of enzymes that gradually lose catalytic activity over time, however, restricts their operational half-life for practical large-scale application of this sustainable and incredibly energy-saving system. Moreover, enzymes are nanometer-sized macromolecules, that must be properly aligned with the electrode surface for efficient electron transfer and substrate access to the active site regardless of the electron transfer mechanism, direct or mediated, which typically necessitates laborious procedures. The goal of this Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship project is to develop a reversible immobilization approach that can attach enzymes on an electrode surface in a defined orientation and permit their controlled release on demand upon stimulation (ReversE). This will be accomplished by capitalizing on a gold (Au)-binding peptide fused to [FeFe]-hydrogenase as the model enzyme to have the dual functionality of orienting enzymes on the Au electrode surface in a precise manner to support efficient electron transfer and substrate access to the active site, as well as allowing the bound Au-binding peptide fused enzymes to be released by electrochemical or chemical stimuli and replaced with fresh enzymes when the catalytic activity is reduced to a predetermined value. This will open up the possibility for enzyme regeneration which will be groundbreaking in the context of sustainable deployment of enzyme‒electrode systems.

Mots clés : enzyme immobilization, protein engineering, bioelectrocatalysis

Participants :
- Université technique de Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
Projet LiPEGS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

This action aims to deliver innovative Lithium (Li)-operated gas sensor devices. The low-power (i.e., low-temperature), low-cost, fast-response miniaturized gas sensor will monitor gas pollutants based on fast ion-conducting Li-based chemistries, originally developed for next-generation energy storage systems. It remains surprising that despite their high conductivity and stability, Li-garnet Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) solid electrolytes were mostly first integrated as large-scale ceramics in solid-state batteries, with their integration in sensors to replace classic oxygen conductors lagging behind. The fast ion-conduction characteristics of Li-based materials unlock the possibilities of cost-effective, low-power, multi-sensing arrays with a fast response, new sensing-electrode chemistries and an expanded scope of gases. The applicant will develop and implement a cheap and scalable ceramic processing concept of a fully Li-based sprayed sensing device operating at low temperature to assure a transition of research to society. This project will contribute to the major driving force behind EU's mission, finding a low-carbon energy solution to minimize pollution effect on global health and the environment, by providing tools for toxic gas sensing which will a) consume less energy and b) enable distributed sensing. Where sensing and power supply start to synergize, new opportunities for multifunctional devices based on similar chemistry (e.g., Li-garnet) to store energy or detect gasses, are emerging simply by the choice of electrodes and electrochemistry. The synthesis, chemical requirements, processing, and electrochemical characteristics upon gas sensing, vital for future sensor-nose technology and hardware in mobile commercial applications, remain unclear and are south to be pioneered through this action.

Mots clés : gas sensors, ceramics, li electrochemistry, spray pyrolysis

Participants :
- Université technique de Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €