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

The development of controlled drug delivery systems has been extensively investigated to improve the therapeutic efficacy of conventional drug products. The control over biodistribution and pharmacokinetics is critical to enhance the efficacy and minimizing the side effects of therapeutic agents. An on-demand drug delivery system for precise control over the release time and the quantity of drugs is needed which has not been studied comprehensively and remains to be explored. Piezoelectric materials provide a superior platform for the electrically controlled drug delivery system due to their ability in converting mechanical forces to electric potentials through the direct piezoelectric effect. The importance of this project is the contribution of the piezoelectric effect on drug loading and release. This project proposes the mechanoresponsiveness of piezoelectric electrospun nanocomposite fibers for drug delivery applications. The novelty of the project is adding two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric nanofillers to the composite to enhance piezoelectric efficiency which leads eliminating additional post-treatment processes (poling) reducing fabrication complexity and cost. The large surface area inherent to nanomaterials, fiber’s porosity, together with the transformative piezoelectric properties, allow electrospun fiber to be a drug delivery platform driven by the piezoelectric effect. The drug release quantity will be tuned by a mechanical stimulus in in-vitro conditions. This project will demonstrate the utility of piezoelectric nanocomposite electrospun fiber for mechano-responsive controlled drug release and its potential for in-vivo applications in a facile manner in the future. Ten years of experience and knowledge in functional fibers that come to this project by the applicant will strengthen the KU Leuven lead in smart fibers based on piezoelectric materials for a wide range of applications not only in biomedical applications but also in wearable technology.

Mots clés : piezoelectric, 2d ferroelectric nanofiller, fiber spinning, drug delivery, smart fiber, electrospinning, sensor

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191760.0 €
Projet RELINEU (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Several lipids and lipid-derived molecules play crucial roles in regulating brain function, affecting synaptic activity and plasticity, cerebral blood flow regulation, and neuroinflammatory processes. Outside of the central nervous system, the hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) mediates the actions of catecholamines, glucagon, and insulin on lipolysis. While HSL is present in the brain, its role in brain lipid metabolism remains unknown. Recent findings from the host lab demonstrate that HSL is abundant in neurons and enriched in synapses. Additionally, genetic deletion of HSL in mice leads to memory impairment when exposed to aging or metabolic stress (e.g., high-fat diet feeding). Suggested mechanisms by which HSL deletion leads to brain dysfunction include the production of eicosanoids and endocannabinoids, and control over energy metabolism and neurovascular coupling. However, the mechanisms regulating HSL activity in neurons remain unknown. We propose here that HSL is a relay between neuronal activity and the production of bioactive lipids that control brain physiology. This pioneering project aims to explore the physiological regulation of neuronal HSL and its neurophysiological implications in neuronal cells. The research will be conducted at Lund University, supervised by Dr. João Duarte, combining his expertise in brain metabolism and behavior with my background in biochemistry and cell biology. This project holds immense potential for advancing our understanding of brain lipid regulation and its relevance to brain function.

Mots clés : neurochemistry, cell signaling, bioactive lipids

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 222727.68 €
Projet enQnet (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Hybrid quantum systems couple together multiple distinct physical degrees of freedom. They are essential to the quantum technological revolution as, for instance, the light-matter coupling provides a way to transfer information from electronic to optical systems or vice versa. They also allow studying fundamental physics of quantum information.  I propose a theoretical project involving hybrid quantum networks consisting of coupled photonic and electronic systems. It will lead to a state-of-the-art blueprint for a quantum simulator and a set of new tools for understanding quantum mechanical entanglement in practice.  Currently, there are efforts to build quantum computers and simulators. These systems are often based on superconducting circuits or trapped ions with one type of a system: a qubit which is a two-level system. However, simulating modes with multiple levels, optical or vibrational systems for example, is inefficient with qubits. This project aims to provide novel theoretical tools for a hybrid quantum network that would fare better because it already contains optical modes. The theoretical tools developed combine condensed matter physics and quantum optics including phase-space methods.  I tackle the scientific objective in the following way: First, I focus on specific light-matter interactions of quantum dots and microwave cavities. I look into the smallest possible network of a quantum dot coupled to two cavities. In this simple network, I characterize the non-classical and non-local correlations of the two cavities, their entanglement, by studying the cross-correlations of the photons emitted by the cavities. Second, I expand the network by connecting quantum dots to the two cavities. This allows seeing the propagation of entanglement from the cavities to the terminating quantum dots. Finally, I extend the investigations to large hybrid networks which I will use for quantum simulation and to find new effective descriptions of entanglement propagation.


Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 206887.68 €
Projet XUVPM (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

This project “Extreme ultraviolet ptychographic microscopy” (XUVPM) aims at improving the robustness and resolution of multispectral extreme ultraviolet (XUV) ptychography by realizing novel types of high divergence structured illumination in XUV spectral range. In this microscope, two-color generation of high-order harmonics from an industrial grade femtosecond laser will be employed to create structured illumination with controllable degree of orbital angular momentum (OAM) to be combined with ptychography. The high-repetition rate and high-average power femtosecond laser source will be temporally compressed with pulse post-compression and then split into two beams, the weaker beam is used to generate the second harmonic in a nonlinear crystal. This forms a two-color interferometer where each arm contains a spatial light modulator (SLM) to individually imprint OAM into each beam. Both beams are directed and focused into a noble gas jet in a non-collinear scheme to obtain high-order harmonics with controllable OAM. The OAM-HHG beam consisting of multiple harmonic orders is focused onto the sample by two toroidal mirrors in Wolter configuration. The sample is scanned transversely and at each scan position a CCD camera records the diffraction pattern. The generated XUV radiation will be optimized for its divergence and spatial properties, where the OAM can be controlled by the settings of the individual SLMs for the two generating colors.  The fundamental research on the described illumination technique will offer a chance to investigate the resolution limit of tabletop XUV microscopy, which further can address imaging science challenges associated with, e.g., the fabrication, synthesis, and integration of next-generation quantum and semiconductor devices. The work is supported by two experienced supervisors from complementary fields, covering the whole spectrum of the proposed project.

Mots clés : high harmonic generation, extreme ultraviolet, orbital angular momentum, ptychography, structured illumination

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 206887.68 €
Projet CHyAMera (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Europe’s transition to a decarbonised energy system, as outlined in the EU Green Deal, will radically transform how the EU generates, distributes, stores, and consumes energy. It will require virtually carbon-free power generation, increased energy efficiency, and the deep decarbonisation of transport, buildings, and industry. Europe is further boosting its green hydrogen ambitions to secure energy independence following the global geopolitical tensions and market instability. The current need to decarbonise our economy makes the search of new methods crucial to use chemicals, such as ammonia, that can be produced and employed as carbon-free (COx) hydrogen carrier. Dr. Milan Vukšić (applicant) will design and additively manufacture a modular, monolithic, multiscale ceramic catalytic reactor for magnetically heated COx-free hydrogen production with the fully electrified decomposition of ammonia. The project will be carried out at the Institute Jozef Stefan and the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia, under the supervision of Dr. Aljaž Iveković, Prof. Andraž Kocjan, and Prof. Blaž Likozar as consequence of a high level of interdisciplinary work. In contrast to the established stereolithography process, where ceramic filler particles are bound by a polymeric binder, the proposed project aims to form polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) structures by photopolymerisation of pre-ceramic polymers (PCPs) followed an additional heat treatment (pyrolysis) in collaboration with the TU Wien, supervised by Prof. Thomas Konegger. The main research focus will be on the additive manufacturing of ceramic catalytic reactor components with magnetic functionality induced by the in-situ formation of magnetic nanoparticles. The final goal of the project is to demonstrate the viability and advantages of the proposed approach for technical innovations and improvements in end systems that can use ammonia fuel.


Participants :
- Institut de Chimie (Slovénie) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Lithoz gmbh (Autriche) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université technique de Vienne (Autriche) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Institut Jožef Stefan (Slovénie) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 155559.36 €
Projet SPECTRA (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

It is nowadays well known the urgent need of cheap, green and efficient catalysts able to convert greenhouse gases into more valuable and recyclable hydrocarbons. In this context, magnetocatalysis is an extremely promising field: in the last few years, a growing number of researchers discovered enhanced performances for electrocatalytic reactions in ferromagnetic materials. The majority of these studies report empirical results, and a satisfactory explanation of the mechanism ruling the spin effects is not well understood, mainly due to the lack of suitable experimental techniques. Regarding thermocatalytic reactions (such as CO oxidation or CO2 hydrogenation), studies on the effects of applied external magnetic field and intrinsic magnetic order on the activity and selectivity of magnetic catalysts are almost completely missing. This project aims to systematically unveil the mechanisms ruling the spin effects in catalytic solid/gas reactions; for the first time, we will simultaneously characterize the magnetic and electronic properties of the single chemical species constituting spinel ferrites catalysts during different solid/gas reactions in operando conditions, with and without the presence of an applied magnetic field. This will be possible through the development and application of a reaction cell that will allow to perform Soft X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism experiments in operando conditions: this will be done modifying the pre-existing operando Soft X-Ray NEXAFS reaction cells developed at the APE-HE beamline of Elettra Synchrotron. The cell will be installed at the SPECIES beamline of MAX IV Synchrotron and the measurements will be conducted exploiting the available circular polarized Synchrotron Radiation. Together with complementary techniques and offline catalytic tests, we will investigate the fundamental aspects of solid/gas magnetocatalysis, building the basis for the development of an innovative green and cheap new type of heterogeneous catalysis

Mots clés : synchrotron radiation, soft x rays, operando spectroscopy, magnetocatalysis, spin catalysis, x ray magnetic circular dichroism, co2 hydrogenation, co oxidation, spinel ferrites

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 252180.0 €
Projet FDQKit (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Majorana bound states (MBSs) are exotic quantum states with nonlocal and nonabelian properties, making them a novel phenomenon in condensed matter physics and a promising basis for quantum information technology. A platform based on double quantum dots coupled to a superconductor was developed to address disorder-related challenges in realizing MBSs that plague other set-ups. Proposed by the supervisor, this approach produces poor man's Majorana bound states (PMMs) and is now one of the most promising paths toward realizing MBSs. However, under realistic conditions, PMMs are not fully identical to topological MBSs. The goal of this project is to theoretically investigate the use of Floquet engineering methods—specialized techniques for controlling quantum systems through fast periodic driving—to assess the Majorana character of PMMs in QD-based platforms. By combining the supervisor's expertise in PMMs with the fellow’s background in Floquet engineering, the action aims to achieve breakthroughs in understanding and manipulating these elusive quantum states. Specifically, the project will develop new ways to measure the similarity of PMMs to true topological MBSs. Furthermore, it will establish innovative protocols for performing nonabelian exchange operations, which are essential for proving the exotic properties of PMMs. The project’s success will be supported by collaborations with leading theoretical and experimental research groups. By the project's conclusion, the theory aims to have established a new benchmark for analyzing PMMs in QD-based platforms and lay the groundwork for first experimental demonstrations of nonabelian physics with a potentially large impact for future quantum technologies. The fellow will be taken to a leadership position in the field of topological quantum systems, with excellent future career prospects.

Mots clés : nonequilibrium dynamics, floquet engineering, open quantum systems

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 252180.0 €
Projet MULTIOpStruct (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Due to unmitigated global warming, the EU has suffered unprecedented heatwaves in 2022 resulting in over 12,000 deaths and Europe's worst drought in 500 years. This is attributed to the heavily fuel-dependent construction and transportation sectors - collectively responsible for around 60% of EU's greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. The chief reason lies in these industries' over-reliance on legacy/outdated component architectures, with limited life-cycles and non-optimal functional performance. Consequently, there is an urgent ecological-societal need and associated research challenge for tailoring alternative optimized composite structures that are sustainable, eco-friendly and suited for commercial deployment. MultiOpStruct aims to deliver an integrated design environment capable of addressing these concerns by adopting a highly inter-disciplinary methodology inspired by the “material-by-design” outlook; and greatly expanding the current state-of-the-art by coordinating cutting edge research. On the modelling side, the work will develop a novel, rapid and high-fidelity physics-based method custom fit for analysing such complex components. On the design side, the project will deliver the first ever Hybrid Multiscale-Artificial Intelligence Topology Optimization toolbox for multifunctional lightweight Additively Manufactured (AM) Composite structures with increased durability and thermal-vibro-acoustic isolation; and decreased net-costs. This will reduce fuel dependency and associated emissions - and subsequently alleviate problems induced by climate change, e.g., glacier retreat. These goals are strongly aligned with the Circular Economic Action Plan, European Green Deal and Fit for 55 policy. For succesful completion, the proposed research plan brings together an enthusiastic and talented researcher with expertise in computational mechanics with an interdisciplinary team of internationally recognized research groups in applied mechanics and Additive Manufacturing.

Mots clés : model order reduction, multiscale, topology optimization, data driven methods

Participants :
- Université du Luxembourg (Luxembourg) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 175920.0 €
Projet Pressure-Jump NMR (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The pioneering work of the Bax/Anfinrud groups saw the development of a pressure-jump system that could reliably, and reversibly, change the pressure of an NMR sample by 2.5 kbar in under 5 milliseconds. The development of the system is currently at a point where tens of thousands of pressure jumps can be performed before maintenence is required, which has opened the door to acquisition of multidimensional NMR datasets, with convolution of pressure and time as a readily-manipulable dimension. This cutting-edge technique is only currently available to a couple of NMR groups in the USA. This project seeks to establish the novel field of pressure-jump NMR within Europe. Initially there will be an implementation phase, followed by further development of pressure-jump NMR methods to investigate aggregation prone and phase separating biological systems. Pressure-jump NMR allows for direct observation of: protein folding pathways, protein aggregation kinetics, phase separation behavior, and both structural and dynamic information about proteins (or small molecules) in a phase-separated or aggretated state and presents the opportunity to re-define the role of NMR in structural biology and biophysical chemistry.

Mots clés : pressure jump nmr, protein aggregation, liquid liquid phase separation, protein folding

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 217381.68 €
Projet BrackAdapt (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Ongoing climate change leads to rising sea levels and changes in local precipitation volume and regularity which will reshape estuarine ecosystems across Earth. As current climate change dramatically alters estuarine ecosystems, fish populations must adapt to the novel environment, or they will go extinct. Understanding how past environmental changes led to genomic adaptations is the key to predicting the adaptive potential of fishes facing ongoing climate change and could be the difference between protecting and losing locally adapted biodiversity. Perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pike (Esox lucius) are two freshwater fish species inhabiting freshwater ecosystems across the northern hemisphere. Nevertheless, in the Baltic Sea, which is the world’s largest estuary, each species have developed brackish water ecotypes capable of thriving at salinities exceeding their internal salinity. This requires fundamentally different cellular functions and is lethal to non-adapted freshwater individuals. However, their evolutionary histories and functional genomic adaptations are unknown. Through deep sequencing of brackish water and freshwater ecotypes of perch and pike, Project BrackAdapt aims to identify the demographic and evolutionary history of each species. The project will identify genomic regions under selection for salinity tolerance and investigate whether genomic adaptations to environmental changes are parallel in function, time and space within and between species. The training and project management experience I will gain during the project will be a stepping-stone for my career to advance and make me an independent researcher.

Mots clés : genomics, adaptation, brackish water, teleost, perch, pike, baltic sea

Participants :
- Université de Lund (Suède) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 222727.68 €