Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet PADOVA (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Upcoming gravitational wave (GW) surveys will detect thousands of resolved events, and possibly the stochastic GW background, with multiple surveys across the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum providing complementary cosmological and astrophysical datasets. As GW and EM surveys probe the same realization of the underlying matter density field, multi-probe analyses which fully take into account statistical correlations between all probes are expected to provide significantly more information than that carried by the individual probes. In this action I will develop the theoretical understanding and tools required to perform multi-probe GW analyses involving data from GW, Cosmic Microwave Background, and Large-Scale Structure surveys, while receiving top-class training from world experts at the University of Padova. I will develop a pipeline to robustly carry out such analyses on real data, conduct a detailed investigation of fundamental physics scenarios which these analyses can probe, and provide the first applications to real data. In doing so, I will open new windows onto the evolution of the Universe, the origin and growth of fluctuations, the nature of dark matter and dark energy, the behavior of gravity on cosmological scales, and the origin of black holes, while developing novel tools to arbitrate cosmic tensions. This action will unleash the full power of multi-probe GW cosmology, establishing such analyses as a precision cosmological tool, and developing methods which will form the backbone of these analyses for years to come. Successful completion of this project will establish me as a world leader in precision GW cosmology, while delivering a huge contribution towards maximizing the scientific output and return for a major part of Europe’s investment in cosmology and astrophysics.

Mots clés : gravitational waves, cosmic tensions

Participants :
- Université de Padoue (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 188590.08 €
- Université de Trente (Italie) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet QuLowD (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Understanding the propagation of light and how it interacts with matter is important in many areas of science and technology. While photons are ideal carriers of information due to their lack of mutual interactions, the ability to induce large optical non-linearities in optical media opens up exciting perspectives for fundamental research and quantum information applications. Interfacing light with individual quantum emitters has made it possible to reach remarkably strong non-linearities on the level of individual photons, which can generate correlated quantum states of light. Structured systems of regularly arranged emitters offer a unique platform with enhanced coherent light-matter coupling and highly suppressed photon losses. However, recent work has so far mostly been limited to the study of linear optics. QuLowD will explore the quantum nonlinear optics of structured emitter arrays in two complementary systems: arrays of ultracold atoms in optical lattices and arrays of long-lived excitons in twisted multi-layer structures of quantum materials. The ambition of QuLowD is to contribute to our theoretical understanding of emergent photon interactions in such novel optical interfaces from the regime of few interacting photons to the many-body physics under strong optical driving. Through close collaborations between two research group led by Thomas Pohl at TU Wien, and associated groups at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITP) and the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), QuLowD seek to combine concepts from quantum optics and atomic physics as well as theoretical solid-state physics to advance the understanding of both of these systems. In particular, I will investigate few-body physics of exciton arrays in 2D quantum materials, develop methods to explore the many-body physics of atomic arrays and investigate strongly interacting polaritons in twisted multi-layer structures.  Beyond the scope of the fellowship, QuLowD will contribute to the advancement of future quantum information applications based on light-matter interfaces.

Mots clés : quantum optics, light matter interaction, open quantum many body systems, ultracold atomic lattices

Participants :
- Université technique de Vienne (Autriche) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 199440.96 €
Projet DEEP (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The study of giant earthquakes and tsunamis is essential in modern hazards assessment. However, these natural disasters have a long recurrence time, and instrumental as historical records are inadequate to reduce uncertainties in hazards predictions. Submarine paleoseismology is a novel approach that combines sedimentology and marine geology to identify, describe and date earthquake deposits. Its strength relies on covering much longer periods than instrumental or historical catalogues. Recent technological advances have allowed to correlate homogenite-turbidite deposits (HmTu) with seismic and tsunami events. Along the Japan Trench, the oceanographic cruise IODP 386 drilled and cored the deepest HmTu records in the scientific ocean drilling history. DEEP will use these unique seismic and tsunami sediment archives to 1)estimate their long-term recurrence time, 2) reduce epistemic uncertainties in hazards assessment and 3) provide the most complete on-and-offshore catalogue of giant events over several thousands of years. I will develop tools to unravel prehistorical events using an innovative multiproxy approach using micro-X-ray computed tomography (XCT) images, physical and geochemical properties along with marine geophysical datasets and chronostratigraphic correlations. Integration with onshore records will produce the first database of its kind for Japan and other high-risk areas worldwide, improving knowledge on seismic cycles and reducing the data uncertainties used by scientists and decision-makers. The governments need these crucial tools to take the necessary measures to protect their population and infrastructures. DEEP will result in a clear three-way-transfer of complementary skills in between myself (deep-marine sedimentary processes), the host institution (geological hazards assessment) and the partner institution (submarine paleoseismology). I will develop new skills in micro-XCT, computational merging, earthquake modelling and geohazards assessment.

Mots clés : marine geology paleoseismology

Participants :
- Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 268025.28 €
- Université du Québec (Canada) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet SPOTTED (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

With the advancement of techniques to grow high-purity, single-crystal synthetic diamonds and due to extreme physio-chemical characteristics and ultra-wide bandgap (5.47 eV) nature, diamond has been considered the next-generation material for high power, high temperature and high-frequency electronics, quantum computing, sensing, and communication applications. Observing the temperature-independent conductivity and the possibility of generating excessive hole carrier concentrations and spin-orbit coupling (SOC) generated by electron acceptors, a systematic investigation on the prospects of spin-polarized transport in 2D hole gas (2DHG) formed at transfer doped hydrogen-terminated diamond surfaces is vital. Spotted will investigate the strength of spin-orbit coupling(SOC) in transfer doped diamond via magnetotransport studies and study the possibility of spin injection and spin-polarized transport through Hanle measurements and Rashba-Edelstein Effect, respectively. We will also attempt to reduce the carrier scattering due to electron acceptors immediate to the 2DHG that may cause spin-depolarization by applying 2D-hBN between the transfer dopants and the diamond surfaces. Besides, using time-domain THz spectroscopy, the spin-dependent density and momentum scattering time of charge carriers (2DHG) will be unraveled (with and without 2D h-BN) to shed light on the spin asymmetry of 2DHG during the scattering process. These studies are expected to raise a lot of research in the future, and the realization of spin-polarized transport in diamond wafers offers a robust materials system for spintronics devices and enables faster yet efficient microelectronic devices that are operable even in extreme environments.

Mots clés : ultrawide bandgap semiconductors, diamond, 2d hole gas, transfer doping, spintronics, spin polarized transport, thz spectroscopy

Participants :
- Université Johannes-Gutenberg de Mayence (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
Projet SDD-AGE-MS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

In living systems, biological processes are orchestrated by proteins organized into dynamic assemblies. Cells regulate protein assembly and disassembly through various mechanisms, with subcellular compartmentalization playing a critical role in creating a microenvironment that control biological reactions. Notably, not all compartments rely on membranes for segregation; biomolecular condensates, for example, are membraneless organelles formed through a network of multivalent interactions. While noteworthy progress has been made in identifying the proteins partitioning in biomolecular condensates and understanding the forces driving phase separation; how proteins interact forming assemblies within condensates remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap is primarily due to the lack of system-wide approaches capable of effectively characterizing condensates, which are often low in abundance, large, dynamic, and highly heterogeneous. In this study, we introduce SDD-AGE-MS, an innovative proteomics method designed to characterize the architecture of condensates. By integrating SDD-AGE, an electrophoretic technique commonly used to visualize SDS-resistant high molecular weight assemblies, with mass spectrometry (MS), we aim to map the migration profiles of SDS-resistant proteins and link them to protein assemblies. This project will make significant contributions on multiple levels: (i) conceptually, by unveiling and resolving sub-assembly organization of condensates; (ii) methodologically, by introducing a system-wide approach for characterizing high molecular weight assemblies in cells; and (iii) translationally, by providing insights into the mechanisms driving condensate formation and their transition to pathological aggregates, as observed in neurodegenerative diseases.

Mots clés : proteomics, protein condensates, protein aggregates, method development

Participants :
- Université Johannes-Gutenberg de Mayence (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 217965.12 €
Projet TEMPOS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Understanding how galaxies form and evolve in the Universe is a key, long-term goal of Astrophysics. In this regard, our Galaxy provides unique insights because, due to its proximity, detailed galactic properties can be resolved that can unravel its formation history. For this reason, the international community and in particular European countries have made large investments in observational resources to perform Galactic research during this and the following decades (for example the Gaia mission and a number of ambitious spectroscopic surveys like WEAVE and 4MOST, among others). The extraordinary wealth of data is facilitating an unprecedented leap forward to uncover the origin and evolution of our Galaxy, with important implications for deciphering the physical processes governing galaxy evolution in general. In the last decade, there has been important progress in the understanding of the chemodynamic and accretion history of the Milky Way, in which the RR has played a visible role. There is, however, an important caveat in observational analysis: the lack of a methodology to derive precise stellar ages for large, unbiased samples of stars. Without the temporal dimension it is difficult to interpret observed Galactic stellar properties in terms of the processes that led to the current configuration of the Galaxy. This proposal aims to develop and exploit a novel methodology to derive precise age distributions for Milky-Way (MW) stellar populations. These age distributions will be combined with the chemo-dynamical information provided by the huge spectroscopic datasets and analyzed using chemical evolution models. Altogether, this information will provide key strong constraints to evaluate theoretical models of galaxy formation and evolution, thus approaching the study of our Galaxy through a comprehensive observational and theoretical approach.

Mots clés : milky way, galactic archaeology, galaxy formation and evolution models, cosmological simulations, near field cosmology, stellar evolution, stellar populations, stellar spectroscopy, gaia

Participants :
- Université de La Laguna (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 165312.96 €
- Université nationale autonome du Mexique (Mexique) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet PROTO-BACT (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : TERMINATED

Broad interest is devoted nowadays to filling the breach between biology and chemistry in order to comprehend the frontier between living and non-living systems. In this context, protocells are autonomous and self-sustained entities fabricated from scratch, which may exhibit one or more characteristics of actual cells. This project aims at synthesizing cyanobacteria mimics capable of producing H2 and formaldehyde from visible light, water, and methanol. The active material for photosynthesis shall be a semiconducting heterojunction based on BiVO4 and Rh-doped SrTiO3-Pt for Z-scheme photocatalysis. The photocatalyst shall be contained within functional protein-polymer protocell membranes referred to as proteinosomes. These photosynthetic protocells will then be chemically programmed to self-assemble into the first autonomous and photosynthetic biofilm-like material (BFM). The careful three-dimensional design of the BFM, consisting in a combination of mechano-passive, mechano-active and photocatalytic layers of specialized proteinosomes, will allow an emergent and unprecedented photo-mechano-chemical transduction. Therefore, the BFM will be able of an autonomous and self-regulating behavior out of equilibrium. This proposal pushes forward the borders of bottom-up synthetic biology via a nice interdisciplinary interaction with semiconductor photochemistry. Furthermore, an alternative and sustainable route to the production of green fuels is provided, which brings an original solution to the current planetary energetic crisis.

Mots clés : self regulation, photoactuators, soft robotics

Participants :
- Université de Trieste (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet CPQM (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Quantum mechanics suffer from a fundamental internal inconsistency problem usually denoted as "measurement problem". Many attempts have been made to solve it and, among them, spontaneous collapse theories are a promising way to do it. The main idea of such theories is to modify the fundamental dynamics described by quantum mechanics in such a way that this modification is practically negligible for microscopic systems but becomes more and more important with the mass of the system, providing a consistent way to describe every system ranging from microscopic to macroscopic. However, more than forty years after the introduction of spontaneous collapse models, we still do not have a satisfying relativistic spontaneous collapse model, i.e., a spontaneous collapse model compatible with special relativity in the same (or similar) way that quantum field theory makes standard quantum mechanics compatible with special relativity.  The two most important spontaneous collapse theories are the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber (GRW) and the Continuous Spontaneous Localization (CSL) models. The former associates spontaneous collapse to particles while the latter introduces a fundamental noise disturbing the Schrödinger dynamics of fields. Our goal is to tackle the problem of developing a relativistic collapse theory on the basis of a new kind of spontaneous collapse model proposed by the applicant in a recent publication, where it is shown that this new model behaves consistently with the GRW and CSL models in the non-relativistic regime. In this new model, collapses are not a process inherent to the particles (or fields) but to spacetime itself. By treating spacetime in a relativistic way and exploiting the formalism of quantum field theory, we hope to develop a complete relativistic spontaneous collapse model. Any advancement in this sense, even partial ones, would represent a breakthrough in the field of "Foundations of Physics".

Mots clés : spontaneous collapse models, relativistic spontaneous collapse models, foundations of physics, measurement problem, born s rule, wavefunction collapse

Participants :
- Université de Trieste (Italie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 172750.08 €
Projet MHWadapt (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are prolonged extreme oceanic warm water events, which can have devastating impacts on coastal ecosystems. The observed and projected future increase in MHW’s intensity and frequency is a growing threat for island societies that strongly depend on oceanic conditions and resources. MHWs cannot be prevented, but their socio-economic impacts could be limited with sustainable adaptation strategies. Such adaptation will only be efficient if guided by inclusive, place-based but scalable knowledge on the vulnerability of different groups of coastal resource users. I will use the theory of Gender Equity and Social Inclusion to develop a comprehensive understanding of values for nature, nature’s contributions to people (NCP) and anthropogenic capitals to support sustainable climate change adaptation. MHWadapt has three objectives: to (1) understand the relationship between decisions regarding adaptations and values for nature and NCP; (2) identify and characterise the anthropogenic capitals that underpin coastal resource users decisions; and (3) to gain in-depth knowledge of the feedback loops between values for nature, anthropogenic capitals and NCP co-production with climate change adaptation. MHWadapt differs from existing approaches that concentrate on top-down or natural science based approaches to climate change adaptation which overlook that social and ecological outcomes are interdependent and cannot be understood separately. Using novel methods (e.g., photo-voice, participatory GIS) in study areas in New Caledonia and Fiji, I will develop place-based, yet scalable scientific and transformative knowledge. The implementation of MHWadapt will draw on my skills in social science and the host’s research excellence on MHWs, including their ongoing fieldwork in my study regions. This setup ensures a theoretical and empirical foundation for my research and a forum for communicating my results to non-academic actors in the South Pacific and Europe.

Mots clés : sustainability science, social ecological systems, nature s contribution to people, values for nature

Participants :
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 195914.88 €
Projet SOADOPP (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Since the prophetic vision of the German scientist Emil du Bois-Reymond in 1877 that put forward the hypothesis of the chemical nature of synaptic transmission, a large number of biochemical, genetic and neuro-physiological studies have revealed all the components that are involved in synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis. This complex action-potential-triggered process, in which the entry of calcium ions (Ca2+) into the presynaptic compartment induces a milliseconds-fast fusion of neurotransmitter-containing SVs with the presynaptic plasma membrane (PM), requires a number of so-called presynaptic proteins playing different roles. To date, despite all the knowledge acquired about presynaptic proteins, the question how they carry out this fast process remains unanswered. Recently, it was hypothesized that the presynaptic proteins are organized in specific supramolecular arrangements and do cooperate to achieve this remarkable feat. However, the study of presynaptic protein arrangement and functioning at nanometer isotropic scale is challenging, and decades of research were unable to resolve this phenomenon. In this project, I plan to study the three-dimensional supramolecular structures of the presynaptic proteins during SV exocytosis at nanometer isotropic resolution, and its structural dynamics on the nanometer length scale with microsecond temporal resolution. For this purpose, I will combine the super-resolution technique Single-Molecule Metal-Induced Energy Transfer (smMIET), developed by the host group, with the single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) methods of DNA-PAINT and MINFLUX. The overall importance of this proposal in understanding the Ca2+-triggered SV fusion is that it is essential to understand how synapses and ultimately the brain work, and all derived knowledge and applications that comes with it.

Mots clés : presynaptic proteins, regulated exocytosis, neurotransmitter release, smmiet, dna paint, minflux

Participants :
- Université de Göttingen (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
- Université de Wurtzbourg (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €