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

Networks are all around us and hugely affect us: the neurons in our brain, COVID-19 spreading through the population, or computer viruses attacking digital infrastructure via computer networks. Experts estimate that in the US alone, their government faced costs over 13.7 billion dollars due to cyberattacks in 2018. Insight into the structure and vulnerability of computer networks can help strengthen our defences against cyberattacks, reducing future cost and disruption. Analysing mathematical models of real-world networks can provide such insight. The abstract level of mathematics also makes such analyses widely applicable in various settings like hacking of computer networks and viral pandemics. Most networks change over time. They grow, shrink, and gain and lose connections, like neural plasticity, friendships made and lost, and computers breaking down. Many mathematical models, however, do not incorporate such realistic dynamics of evolving real-world networks. They only allow for network growth, not for removal of nodes and connections. This creates a gap between the theoretical knowledge and the practical use thereof. I aim to close this gap by analysing properties of two models for real-world networks that incorporate realistic dynamics: Preferential attachment with vertex and edge removal and first-passage percolation on weight-dependent random connection models. The outcomes of this research can influence policy discussions around protecting digital infrastructure and our response to viral pandemics, tying in with the European Commission’s current priorities regarding digitalisation and health within NextGenerationEU. The research through training provided within this fellowship will provide me with leadership skills and more experience in writing grant proposals and supervising students. Combined with its scientific training, it will help me solidify my potential as an early-career researcher and obtain a tenure-track position at a top European university.

Mots clés : random graphs, preferential attachment graphs, spatial random graphs, first passage percolation

Participants :
- University of Augsburg (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet UBImmune (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of multiple cancer types in the last decade. Nonetheless, non-small cell lung cancer and triple-negative breast cancer exhibit only restricted response to immune checkpoint blockade. Especially in advanced tumor stages, clinical options are limited and novel approaches to enhance anti-tumor immune responses are needed. The immune checkpoint family member B7H3 (PD-L3) is frequently upregulated in cancer cells. Studies have shown that B7H3 promotes tumor growth in a cancer-cell autonomous fashion and inhibits immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Despite being an important clinical target, its posttranslational regulation and functional interactors on T cells are poorly understood. The proposed project aims to identify novel approaches to target B7H3 by harnessing the ubiquitin system and to identify B7H3’s interactors on human T cells with the objective of enhancing clinical treatment options for cancer patients. My experience in solid tumor biology and anti-tumor immunity, paired with the host lab's expertise in studying the ubiquitination system, will be a great catalyst for the proposed project enhancing its likelihood of success. This fellowship will allow me to conduct cutting-edge research at the Center for Translational Cancer Research of the University Clinics rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a renowned research institution with a well-recognized supervisor Prof. Bassermann, allowing me to expand my international network, scientific skills as well as leadership and management skills. Ultimately, this fellowship will be a tremendous stepping stone in my scientific career. It will bring me closer to my goal of becoming an independent researcher working at the interface of cancer biology, protein biochemistry, and cancer immunology, where I can put my own projects into practice, and train the next generation of international scientists.

Mots clés : cancer immunology, ubiquitin, crispr screens

Participants :
- Université technique de Munich (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
Projet SuBStrAte (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Amide bond formation is fundamental to the synthesis of a wide array of amide-containing drugs. Conventional methods for amide synthesis typically rely on stoichiometric activating agents that are harmful to the environment and less sustainable. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more efficient, selective, and sustainable methods for amide synthesis. This project addresses these challenges by designing a novel bio-organocatalytic cascade reaction for the stereoselective synthesis of amides, including chiral amides, by integrating biocatalytic and organocatalytic strategies. The proposed method exploits the high chemo- and stereoselectivity of ω-transaminases (ω-TAs) for the synthesis of chiral amines from carbonyl compounds, in conjunction with a newly developed direct amidation method using choline chloride (ChCl) as a green catalyst. This project will thus deliver an innovative platform for the direct transformation of carbonyl compounds into amides in a one-pot process. Adhering to green chemistry principles, the method eliminates the need for hazardous reagents and solvents, while employing mild reaction conditions and renewable catalytic systems. Additionally, microwave-assisted heating is utilized to accelerate the reaction rate, enhance yields, and reduce energy consumption. The bio-organocatalytic cascade will significantly reduce the number of steps, reaction time, and resource consumption compared to traditional methods. It will also be scaled up to demonstrate potential for industrial applications. In summary, this interdisciplinary project combines expertise in biocatalysis, organocatalysis, microwave-assisted synthesis, and analytical chemistry to deliver a viable solution for sustainable amide synthesis, which is critical in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Mots clés : enzymatic cascades, chemo biocatalytic cascades, organocatalysis, biotransformations, asymmetric synthesis

Participants :
- Université d'Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 217076.16 €
Projet The disease facTOR (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

In close proximity, plants can sense each other’s presence via a decrease in the red to far-red light ratio (low R:FR) in the nearby surroundings. Low R:FR perception by phytochrome photoreceptors triggers strong and rapid elongation growth allowing plants to grow taller than their neighbors and reach better lit areas. This process, known as shade avoidance is mostly orchestrated by the growth hormone auxin. However, although low R:FR promotes elongation growth, it compromises plant defense against pathogens by dampening defense hormone signaling; a phenomenon referred to as shade-induced susceptibility. Furthermore, I recently found that plants exposed to low R:FR conditions accumulate glucose, which accelerates pathogen development in plants tissue. Yet, the involvement of primary metabolism in regulating the shade-induced susceptibility remains to be explored. In eukaryotes, the TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR) kinase is a master growth regulator integrating the cell energy and carbohydrate status to regulate growth and defense responses. In plants, TOR activity is promoted by auxin and glucose, both strongly induced by low R:FR. Interestingly, I also found TOR gene expression to be induced by low R:FR in a recent RNA-seq study. In this project, I will study if and how low R:FR regulates TOR signaling to promote growth at the expense of defence. I will use genetic and chemical approaches to (I) identify the spatiotemporal dynamics of TOR gene expression and TOR protein activity in response to shade in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, (II) identify the dependency of shade-induced auxin levels and sugar accumulation on TOR dynamics and (III) characterize potential links between TOR signaling and defense hormone signaling. The gained insights will be instrumental for understanding how plants use shade signals to balance growth and defense responses and will help to engineer new pathogen-resilient crop varieties, which can be grown optimally at high densities.

Mots clés : target of rapamycin shade avoidance auxin signalling soluble sugars plant defence plant growth

Participants :
- Université de Fribourg-en-Brisgau (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet STEM (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Crop trait instability, particularly under climate change, poses a significant challenge to global food security. Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly recognized as key contributors to this instability. Paramutation, an epigenetic phenomenon where one silenced inducing allele heritably silences its homologous active sensitive counterpart, leads to unstable traits across generations. Despite its implications for breeding, the mechanisms underlying paramutation remain largely elusive. Recent findings from the host lab suggest that specific DNA methylation and histone modification patterns play central roles in this process. Building on these insights, this project investigates how these epigenetic modifications influence paramutation, using the maize booster1 (b1) gene as a model. The project is structured into two main objectives: First, I will investigate the hypothesis that inactive DNA flanking the sensitive b1 allele facilitates its silencing by the inducing b1 allele. If true, when exposed to the inducing allele, DNA methylation will spread from the inactive flanking DNA into the active b1 sequences, triggering their silencing. To test this, I will generate detailed DNA methylation profiles during key developmental stages using the novel Cas9-targeted long-read sequencing (nCATS) method. Second, I will explore the relationship between DNA methylation and repressive histone modifications, focusing on the order in which these epigenetic marks are established during paramutation. I will also employ the novel dCas12a-SunTag-TET1-system to specifically demethylate the flanking inactive regions of the active b1 allele, and assess its impact on paramutation. These approaches will advance our understanding of paramutation and provide clues on how to stabilise desirable crop traits. This project is a critical step toward my goal of becoming an independent researcher, by deepening my expertise in epigenetics, advanced lab techniques and crucial transferable skills.

Mots clés : unstable traits, crop plants, paramutation, dna methylation, histone modifications, epigenome engineering, nanopore sequencing

Participants :
- Université d'Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 232916.16 €
Projet INSPIRE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

This project focuses on developing and implementing an automated organic electrosynthesis process of cyclopropane rings. Electrochemical (EC) methods, which often suffering from passivation phenomena, will be applied in a continuous-flow microreactor integrated into a global chemical robot, addressing critical challenges in the field of synthetic chemistry. Cyclopropane rings are vital intermediates in organic synthesis, yet their scalable production via green and efficient methods remains underdeveloped.  This study aims to optimize EC cyclopropanation with the aid of machine learning algorithms (e.g., Bayesian optimization) to refine reaction conditions and minimize electrode passivation. The key objectives include: (i) optimizing reaction parameters to maximize yields, conversion rates, and selectivity, (ii) implementing advanced machine learning tools to address and mitigate fouling—a major barrier to EC process scalability—and, (iii) developing robust numerical models to enable the scaling up of EC reactions.  The integration of machine learning with EC flow synthesis is expected to enhance reaction efficiency and reproducibility, creating a framework for the systematic screening of reactions and mechanisms, thus reducing the manual experimental time required by traditional optimization methods. The EC microreactor, implemented within automated continuous-flow platforms, will facilitate dataset generation, real-time control over reaction dynamics, and material production, pushing the boundaries of electrosynthetic methodologies.  The ultimate goal is to establish a versatile, high-throughput approach for synthesizing cyclopropane rings and other high-value molecules, paving the way for significant advancements in sustainable synthetic strategies and expanding the potential of EC processes in organic chemistry.

Mots clés : electrosynthesis, flow chemistry, automated platform, chemical reactor robotization, reaction optimization, passivation limitation, online chemical process analysis

Participants :
- Université d'Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 232916.16 €
Projet MeerSHOCKS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The origin of Galactic cosmic rays is a persistent and fundamental open question in modern astrophysics. Gamma-ray observations have in the past five years suggested young massive stellar clusters as prominent cosmic ray accelerators but remain unable to provide smoking gun evidence for this scenario. Specifically, the exact sites, acceleration physics, and power sources of cosmic ray production in such clusters are unknown and unquantified. Building on revolutionary developments in radio telescope capabilities to overcome these limitations, I will explore novel MeerKAT and Australian Square Kilometre Array Precursor observations to, for the first time: (i) directly locate the shock sites of cosmic ray acceleration in three massive clusters; (ii) measure the microphysical properties of the acceleration process using stellar bow shocks as pristine, isolated testbeds; and (iii) obtain the most complete measurements of the power reservoir in massive star winds in these clusters. This three-step approach will confirm young massive stellar clusters as cosmic ray accelerators, reveal the exact acceleration scenario for the first time, measure currently unconstrained but essential physical properties for cluster modelling (large scale and local magnetic fields, acceleration efficiencies, cumulative stellar wind power), and lay the foundation for synergies between planned future radio and gamma-ray telescopes. I will openly distribute all analysed radio images and analysis tools developed in this Action to facilitate open science and maximize their impact as a training tool for the astrophysical community. I will furthermore develop an interactive high-school engagement module based on the analysed MeerKAT data. Performing this work at the UvA, I will simultaneously acquire the research, management, and supervision training that will complete my transition into a fully rounded research group leader.

Mots clés : massive stars

Participants :
- Université d'Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187624.32 €
Projet ELATE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

I propose the project ELATE (Evolution of galaxies in LArge-scale strucTurEs) to be carried out at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen (RUG; Groningen, the Netherlands), under the mentorship of Prof. Reynier F. Peletier. ELATE aims to significantly enhance our understanding of the role of the environment in shaping galaxies by exploring all regions in the large-scale structure. The main scientific goals are to (i) robustly define the true location of galaxies in the Fornax-Eridanus complex; (ii) identify the processes responsible for their morphological transformation in the LSS; (iii) provide a comprehensive view of the growth of this supercluster, which will serve as a precursor for future studies concerning the evolution of galaxies in the cosmic web. The workflow of this project is a combination of computer science, observational astrophysics, and cosmological simulations, thereby bridging the gap between these fields to maximise scientific output. The objectives will be addressed by: (i) employing novel tools to define filaments of the Fornax-Eridanus complex from the 2MASS redshift survey and study their structure and overall galactic properties in 3D; (ii) detect low-surface brightness features in the outskirts of galaxies from the Dark Energy Survey multi-band deep images, using recently developed tools and thereafter map the assembly history of galaxies in the Fornax Supercluster. My supervisor, Prof. Peletier at the Kapteyn Institute, is an expert in studying galaxy evolution and interdisciplinary techniques and will guarantee the success of this project, with his strong network in Groningen and Europe. Given my expertise in deep photometry and technical skills to execute this project and along with the prospective training that this MSCA-EF will bring, I will be competent to lead future research groups of my own, paving the way for ground-breaking scientific results with upcoming surveys (e.g. Euclid, Rubin LSST)

Mots clés : galaxies photometry galaxies formation galaxies evolution galaxies clusters galaxies groups

Participants :
- Université de Groningue (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187624.32 €
Projet RedSwiMot (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Artificial molecular machines can not only exploit rotary or linear molecular motion to perform useful functions, but can also elucidate the operational principles of Nature´s biomolecular analogues, which underpin a myriad of crucial biochemical processes. Electrochemically controlling these systems is a particularly promising approach to achieve a high degree of (spatial) control, reusability, sustainability and ease of interfacing with existing electrical (nano)technologies and can furthermore be utilised in solid materials or gels. In spite of these advantages, they remain considerably underexplored. In this MSCA-PF action, we aim to address this challenge in developing redox-driven conformational switches based on the overcrowded alkene bisthioxanthylidine (BTX). As a result of their synthetic adaptability, and versatile multistate switching properties, redox-driven BTX rotors are ideally suited to complement, or even surpass, the ubiquitous light-driven overcrowded alkene motors, particularly in opaque and interfacial environments. In order to develop this capability we propose the first systematic investigation into both the fundamental redox-switching properties of BTX derivatives and also, for the first time, demonstrate their utility in various proof-of-principle applications, including switchable ion-recognition and stimuli-responsive interfaces. This work will furthermore lay the foundation for the development of the first, true unidirectional-redox driven overcrowded alkene motors, a long sought-after, but thus far elusive, goal. These pioneering efforts will not only provide invaluable insights into the operational principles of redox switches, and molecular machines in general, but will also pave the way towards their exploitation in numerous industrial, biomedical and environmental applications, especially where light-driven systems are not applicable.

Mots clés : electrochemistry, surface modification, artificial molecular machines, redox switches, overcrowded alkenes, bisthioxanthylidenes, monolayers, ion recognition, wettability

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

Multimedia content is indispensable in our society, necessitating effective content management. A critical aspect of this is assessing the similarity between two multimedia items like images, videos, and documents. LUSt's mission is to pioneer a universal similarity function capable of precisely measuring similarity across a broad spectrum of multimedia domains and tasks. Diverging from traditional problem-specific approaches prevalent in current literature, LUSt adopts a novel strategy. LUSt plans to break down multimedia items into their constituent parts, including image regions, video frames, and text sentences. Subsequently, a foundational model will be trained on input data comprising part similarities across various multimedia items. This strategic choice yields a universal input space with multiple advantages. Firstly, it promotes seamless collaboration across different domains and tasks, facilitating joint training and mutual enhancement among tasks, which will be further enriched through multi-task learning techniques. Secondly, it streamlines the integration of synthetic data during training, a key ingredient for large-scale training of a foundational model. The model architecture is grounded in transformer-based deep learning modules and will be fortified by pioneering positional encodings rooted in kernel methods. These positional encodings empower us to effectively manage the differing part topologies encountered across diverse domains -- a formidable challenge in itself. The work program commences by focusing on a single domain and task but is thoughtfully designed for extensibility. The ultimate goal is creating a foundational model capable of accommodating all modalities -- visual, audio, text -- and supporting a broad range of similarity types, including uni-modal, cross-modal, and multi-modal scenarios. LUSt's commitment to universality will be thoroughly validated through comprehensive benchmarking, spanning numerous tasks and domains.

Mots clés : similarity learning, multimodal learning, foundational model, positional encoding, self supervised learning, deep learning, computer vision

Participants :
- Université technique de Prague (Rép. Tchèque) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 150438.72 €
- Université d'Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €