Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ESPCSS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The efficient coupling of a single electron spin to a single photon would represent a major milestone in our technological progress, and would lead to revolutionary advancements in communication and computation technologies exploiting quantum mechanical phenomena. Recently nano-scale `domes' of semiconductor known as quantum dots have emerged as the leading platform upon which this goal can be achieved; they can host localised electrons, and around them micro `pillars' can be grown which serve to channel photon emission. The catch, however, is that these are solid-state systems, and a quantum dot inevitably interacts with a large perturbing environment. The central question motivating this research is: How does the solid-state environment surrounding a quantum dot affect its interaction with light, and how can this environment be actively exploited to improve spin--photon coupling in these systems? Traditional approaches used to describe quantum dot--cavity systems are based on theories originally designed to treat atom--light interactions in free-space, and therefore inadequate to treat spins in solid-state systems beyond basic phenomenological descriptions. This research will go beyond these approaches by uniting the experienced researcher's expertise in modelling the optical properties of solid-state nanostructures, with the experimental expertise of Prof John Rarity, a world-leader in few-photon physics with a long history of demonstrating novel quantum phenomena. This research will provide a much-needed theoretical toolbox to model the optical properties of spins in a host emerging solid-state systems, and will pave the way towards scalable quantum optical communication and computation technologies

Mots clés : quantum dots, quantum optics, decoherence, open quantum systems

Participants :
- University of Bristol (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet NANOconfine (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) holds the prospect to mitigate carbon emissions and at the same time convert CO2 into valuable chemicals, preferably from renewable energy sources. Depending on the number of electrons transferred, a variety of oxygenates and hydrocarbons can be obtained with already high selectivity demonstrated for C1 and C2 products. However, for the CO2RR to molecules with three or more carbon atoms (C3+) such as n-propanol, the fundamental knowledge and key-strategies to yield these economically attractive high-energy-density products are still lacking. In NANOconfine we propose a novel concept for CO2RR electrocatalysis, a so-called “inverse catalyst nanoconfined architecture”, that enables trapping and enhanced C-C coupling of crucial reaction intermediates by deterministic control of the local homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical environment. Specifically, we target for beyond-state-of-the-art Faradaic Efficiency >50% towards n-propanol as high-value liquid product. In order to design the optimal electrocatalyst architecture, a systematical approach is proposed to study the following effects on the CO2RR mechanism and product formation: (1) the near neighbor effect of co-catalysts in close proximity, (2) the confinement of reaction intermediates in regular arranged SiO2 mesopores (2-10nm) and (3) the confinement and surface chemistry of different mesoporous oxide 3D networks (MgO, ZnO, TiO2). From this understanding, we will build a demonstrator consisting of a nano-patterned co-catalysts (e.g. Cu and Ag) which interchange their reaction intermediates through a mesoporous oxide network so that they can undergo coupling to higher carbon products at neighboring electrocatalyst sites. NANOconfine will provide fundamental insights on the CO2RR reaction mechanism towards C3+ products in order to push forward the state-of-the-art of this emerging research topic.

Mots clés : electrocatalytic co2 reduction, catalyst surface confinement, nano confinement of reaction intermediates, nano patterning, microfabrication, ordered mesoporous silica, mesoporous oxide networks

Participants :
- IMEC (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 178320.0 €
Projet ESNECO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is one of the most important non-invasive brain imaging tools in neuroscience and in the clinic, but surprisingly little is known about the features of neural circuit activity that give rise to the EEG. The challenge is to explain the functional and anatomical configurations, e.g., the neural interactions among different classes of cells, that produce the diverse spatial, spectral and temporal EEG features linked to cognition and neurological diseases. By means of an interdisciplinary approach, combing advanced theoretical modeling with state-of-the-art multiscale neurophysiology and interventional techniques, I will address the above challenge. I will develop rigorous mathematical tools to disambiguate the EEG and robustly interpret it in terms of specific neural features (e.g., firing rate). Such features are key elements in determining the microcircuit configuration and have been documented to contribute to brain disorders such as schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). First, I will develop neural network models that include the key components of cortical microcircuits. I will then turn these models into accurate EEG analysis tools by fitting them to empirical data to “invert”, or translate back, the EEG into an estimate of the neural parameters. In particular, I am interested in studying the relationship of the EEG with spiking activity and synchrony of excitatory and inhibitory populations. The experiments will record simultaneously EEG and intracortical neural activity in mice, combined with optogenetic tools that can determine the contributions of specific classes of cells and specific patterns of activity in cells to different EEG features. The analysis tools developed in this project will be used to infer neural circuit changes from EEG measures, which will produce substantial progress toward bridging the gap between EEG and neuron dynamics.

Mots clés : neocortex, network dynamics, spiking neural network, optogenetics

Participants :
- Italian Institute of Technology (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 171473.28 €
Projet NOMBIS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is one of the major challenges in microbiology and medicine today. Early identification of the pathogens causing an infection and the rapid identification of antibiotic resistance is critical to provide the most effective drugs to the patient and to avoid costly and inefficient treatments that can potentially lead to the development of further resistances. This project proposes application of nano-optomechanical disk resonators to face this challenge. We expect to achieve ultra-sensitive and ultrafast gene-based pathogen detection with subzeptogram (10-21g) mass resolution, beating current techniques. The development of arrays of 100s of microdrum devices per chip will weigh complementary DNA strands to those immobilized on the microdrum surface, so tens of different pathogens in a sample can be identified, along with antibiotic resistances, which are also marked by mutations. The devices will be challenged with a proof-of-principle application to identify sepsis-causing pathogens from blood samples and their resistance to the most commonly used antibiotics. The proposed devices provide a large binding area to reduce the analysis time while preserving extreme sensitivity, down to a few biomolecules (DNA strands). We will be able to screen for tens of different pathogens per chip, with sensitivity good enough to target early infection stages from a standard blood extraction. This multidisciplinary and intersectorial project promotes the collaboration of well-recognized academic research groups expert in the optomechanics field and in the development of novel biosensing tools, a clinical laboratory and an industrial partner, pursuing to generate greater economic and social impact; as well as a highly effective training program for the benefit of the researcher.

Mots clés : nanomechanical biosensors, optomechanics, nanomechanics, nanomechanical mass sensing, biosensors, microbiology

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 158121.6 €
Projet SuperCONtacts (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The emerging field of superconducting optoelectronics has the potential to impact future quantum processing, communication and encryption. Hybrid light-emitting diodes exhibit emission of entangled photons enhanced by the superconducting state, while novel superconductor (Su) based lasers and quantum light sources have been proposed. Despite the amount of research done in semiconductor (Se) p-n physics and superconductivity, the practical integration between these two field of research is poor mainly due to the weak control of high quality Se/Su interfaces. This project proposes to overcome these limitations with a new fabrication technique, based on the metallic diffusion of metals in Se nanowires (NWs), for the realization of atomically sharp Su/Se interfaces with an epitaxial relationship. Starting from a material search I will then investigate the Al (Tc~1K) diffusion into n-doped InAs NWs as well as V and Nb (all Tc>5 K) diffusion into InAs, Si, Ge and GAs NWs. The band structures and resulting contact types (Schottky or Ohmic) of the different material systems will be studied numerically and tested at cryogenic temperatures to find the best material combination. Doping of the nanowires will be tuned to demonstrate superconducting correlations in both p- and n-doped NWs, an essential step for the realization of superconducting diodes. Diffusion through in-situ (S)TEM heating experiments will allow me to control the Su/Se/Su junctions up to the ultimate limit of few nanometers. These ultra-short JJs will allow to enhance the superconducting correlations. Ballistic transport will be probed down to ultra-low temperatures (~10 mK). and the quantification of the mean free path and the quality of the interfaces will take place. By embedding these ultra-short JJs in a superconducting quantum interference device I will be able to control the intensity supercurrent as well as achieving ultimate magnetic-sensitivity ready for novel technological applications.

Mots clés : solid state diffusion, cooper pair injection, josephson junction, quantum dot

Participants :
- National Research Council (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 171473.28 €
Projet COEED (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The enduring fascination in anglophone research with the political culture of Elizabethan England has often served to occlude the fact that responses to the Tudor monarch were formulated across renaissance Europe. A pan-European range of dramatic texts bears witness to the anxiety and consuming interest which surrounded Elizabeth I. Such texts have often been neglected or referenced briefly as points of illustration. Moreover, these texts (where afforded any consideration) have most commonly been seen in terms of national traditions of literary production, rather than integrated into a Europe-wide vision of cultural debate and exchange. None of these texts has been considered in recent centuries for their theatrical potential or placed in close conversation with Elizabethan (or post-Elizabethan) literary production. This ambitious comparative project for the early modern period will be achieved through: close & comparative reading of primary texts; evaluative analysis of existing scholarship; consultation of host’s (Institute for Research on the Renaissance, the Neo-classical Age and the Enlightenment - Montpellier 3) and European archives; consultations with supervisor and advisory colleagues across Europe; engagement in performance-related events; e-networking with academic and non-academic audiences. In the course of this European project, Hiscock will: engage in a wholly transformative training in performance-based research and e-dissemination; produce cutting-edge research which embeds multilingual studies at the heart of early modern studies; disseminate research findings to a host of academic and non-academic audiences. This project engages tightly with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Programme by: providing professional training in key skills for the applicant, thus enabling him to access significant career progression; investing in wholly innovative interdisciplinary research; enabling international and inter-sector mobility for the applicant.

Mots clés : comparative renaissance early modern drama

Participants :
- Université de Toulouse (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 185076.0 €
Projet PROTOBAC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The engineering of artificial cellular systems (i.e. protocells) exhibiting rudimentary life-like properties, such as minimal metabolism, sensing or replication, gene expression and compartmentalization, represents the most suitable path to undertake to answer the important question on how inanimate systems can transition into proto-living manifestations of physical matter. However, most of the current protocell designs still lack the structural and organisational complexity required for them to perform advanced functions and behaviours. Instead of starting from non-living materials, the aim of this proposal is precisely to design and construction of complex multi-component protocells based on the controlled sequestration and disruption of compartmentalized living bacterial colonies. The result protocells will bound by an assemblage of bacterial membrane lipids and internally loaded with a large number of functionally active metabolic and genetic components. Furthermore, the structural and functional complexity of the bacteria-derived protocells will be increased by introducing several important biological organelles such as proto-nuclear, proto-mitochondria components and endomembrane system, which is expected to produce the first example of protoeukaryote. The previous expertise of the applicant in the field of biotechnology, synthetic biology and microbiology will be applied to the multidisciplinary and emerging field of protocells in which the hosting group of Professor Stephen Mann FRS at the University of Bristol has been pioneering over the last few years. The key outcome of the combined research efforts of the applicant and the Mann group will lead to the synthesis of bacteria derived protocells and develop their advanced forms capable of increased energy (metabolic) capacity and transduction, spatial segregation of genetic material (plasmids etc), and higher-order organization and processing.

Mots clés : protocell, bacteria, coacervate, synthetic biology, gene expression, metabolismprotoeukaryoteproto organelles

Participants :
- University of Bristol (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €
Projet BaskAtax (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The episodic ataxias are a group of hereditary conditions with recurring paroxysms of cerebellar dysfunction. They are rare; however they share important similarities to other more prevalent paroxysmal disorders such as migraine and epilepsy. The prototypic cerebellar cortex paroxysmal disorder is Episodic ataxia 1 (EA1), which is linked to dominantly inherited missense mutations in the Kv1.1 potassium channel subunit. Work from an animal model harbouring a human EA1 mutation reveals altered synaptic function at basket cell terminals in the cerebellar cortex. However how EA1 mutations affect basket cell regulation of Purkinje cell firing is unclear, possibly due to unforeseen changes in a specialized inhibitory structure called the pinceau. Furthermore the mechanism whereby local synaptic deficits extend to global cerebellar cortex network dysfunction during attacks of incoordination is unknown. This MSC research action aims to understand these processes using a combination of cutting edge in vitro and in vivo techniques. Using advanced electrophysiology techniques, I will assay basket cell pinceau function in mouse models of EA1, then using multi-photon and conventional microscopy I will map local basket cell microcircuits. Finally building on in vitro experiments I will assay candidate small molecule therapies in vivo, both with electrophysiology and with behavioural test of cerebellar coordination. The project allows me to train in state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo methods while drawing on my extensive background in neuropharmacology, biochemistry electrophysiology. This research action will also advance our understanding of paroxysmal neurological disorders and identify new therapeutic targets.

Mots clés : paroxysmal neurological disorder, episodic ataxia, basket cell, cerebellum

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet ERMADA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The estimated number of microbes on our planet outnumbers the stars of the Milky Way galaxy and their biomass exceeds that of all plants and animals. Out of the 10^12 microbial species, only around 10^4 have been cultured, less than 10^5 species are represented by classified sequences, and a staggering estimated 99% of these microorganisms remain taxonomically unknown. Metagenomic shotgun sequencing has emerged as the most prevalent way of studying and classifying microorganisms from various habitats whereas genome analysis can be used to uncover the functions of genes, enzymes and metabolic pathways in a microbial community. This painstaking effort is crucial to understanding Earth's biodiversity, as microbes play important roles in regulating the planet’s biogeochemical cycles through processes that govern nutrient circulation in both terrestrial and marine environments. In this proposal, we will employ cutting edge bioinformatics and machine learning algorithms to analyze and elucidate Earth’s microbial diversity. We will use deep neural networks trained by large volumes of metagenomic sequences as well as big data methods to process hundreds of terabytes of data and taxonomically classify all uncharacterized metagenomic samples, by identifying their origins and habitats. Going beyond the capacities of conventional sequence similarity and comparison analyses, neural network models can capture higher level, abstract defining features and patterns in metagenomic sequences. The aim of this study is twofold: i) to gain a deeper understanding of the composition and structure of the microbiome at different rank levels and lineages and ii) to provide a complete record of the planet’s present microbial diversity footprint. The latter can serve as a reference dataset for future studies pertaining to microbiome evolution due to climate change or other long-term environmental factors.

Mots clés : metagenomics, biodiversity, deep learning, neural networks, big data, microbiome

Participants :
- Alexander Fleming Biomedical Sciences Research Center (Grèce) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 247628.16 €
Projet HISTOLOC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

The evolutionary success of the most diverse group of land vertebrates, birds, largely lies in their ability to fly. Spectacular fossils have demonstrated that birds are paravian dinosaurs; the only representatives to survive the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Extinct paravians close to the dinosaur–bird transition show diverse skeletal and plumage morphologies, suggesting substantial variability in aerial skills. However, locomotor skills (e.g. running, flying) and related morphologies can change drastically through ontogeny in modern birds depending on the developmental strategy followed along the precocial (functional maturity at hatching, including various degrees of locomotor capability) to altricial (functional immaturity with embryo-like hatchlings) spectrum. This ontogenetic aspect of flight remains elusive in extinct bird-like dinosaurs, greatly encumbering research on flight origins. We aim to explore for the first time how bone tissue reflects precocial and altricial locomotor development, including the ontogenetic onset of powered flight, by studying limb bone shafts of growth series of modern birds, and apply these findings to bird-like dinosaurs. We will test correlation in a phylogenetic context between quantified limb bone histological traits and different developmental strategies in birds using thin sections and µCT data. These will provide a firm baseline for fossil inferences using the same approach and will generate a step-change in understanding the ontogenetic factor in the evolution of flight through the dinosaur to bird transition. The experienced researcher and hosts will bring together and integrate respective expertise in biology and palaeontology to deliver this highly innovative, timely, and multidisciplinary project that will broaden our view on how birds have mastered the skies for the last 150 million years.

Mots clés : comparative bone histology, birds, dinosaurs, flight evolution, precocial   altricial development, locomotor ontogeny, quantitative osteohistology, dinosaur, bird transition

Participants :
- University of Birmingham (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212933.76 €