Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet FuSeGC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Generalized complex geometry unifies complex and symplectic geometry, two important research areas in modern pure mathematics. While generalized complex (GC) structures in full generality are not yet well-understood, a number of important results from complex or symplectic geometry have already been extended to these more general structures. Further, complex and symplectic geometry are intimately related to each other via mirror symmetry, a conjectured duality between certain complex and symplectic manifolds discovered in theoretical physics in the context of string theory. This duality has been proven in special cases. For this project I propose an approach to extend homological mirror symmetry to certain subclasses and examples of GC manifolds, centred around three objectives: (O1) Quantify the effect of stable GC compactifications of Landau-Ginzburg mirrors of del Pezzo surfaces on their Fukaya category. (O2) Construct a Wrapped Fukaya category for oriented surfaces with log symplectic structures. (O3) Develop and study a notion of 'holomorphic families of Fukaya categories'. In particular in the case of (O1) and (O3), the construction of a Fukaya-type category would immediately suggest mirror partners for certain classes of examples, the first extension of mirror symmetry to the GC context. During my PhD, I proved foundational results on Lagrangian-type submanifolds with boundary of stable GC manifolds, which naturally arise in examples and are candidates for objects of Fukaya-Seidel-type categories of stable GC manifolds. As an MSC fellow, I would profit from world-leading expertise on symplectic geometry and Fukaya categories at my third-country host institution, while bringing in expertise on the novel research area of generalized geometry. I am looking forward to expanding my own skills in instruction and supervision through a mini course on generalized complex geometry and a Master's thesis project at my EU host KU Leuven.

Mots clés : generalized complex geometry, mirror symmetry, symplectic geometry

Participants :
- KU Leuven (Belgique) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 266425.92 €
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet CodeDEMO (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Generation of high volumes of construction and demolition waste (CDW) is seriously problematic from environmental, economic and societal perspectives. Furthermore, CDW is generally managed by the proposition of low-tech recycling applications which are costly, energy-inefficient and unsustainable. Within the scope of the current project, a new construction paradigm composed of pre-fabricated large-scale elements produced with 100% recycled “green” materials out of CDW that can be easily assembled/disassembled according to a cradle-to-cradle design approach is proposed. Current project will not only propose completely “green” solutions on materials’ basis but also on structural basis by developing geopolymeric (cement-free) concrete mixtures, ingredients of which will be obtained completely from CDW and large-scale structural components that will be easily demountable without creating extra waste and consuming too much energy. The action will also develop and enhance the research fellow’s transferable skills necessary for thriving his career in a flourishing area that underpins innovative technological development across a range of diverse disciplines and will make a marked impact on know-how exchange of interdisciplinary research expertise, breaking the common trend in construction industry and strengthening the ties among researchers/engineers who work on construction materials and structural aspects.

Mots clés : construction and demolition waste  cdw, geopolymer, waste management, environmental, sustainability, training, transferable skills, entrepreneurship, commercialization, research

Participants :
- University of Bradford (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet LINKER (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Genes and their corresponding pathways form networks that regulate various cellular functions that are critical in tumor development. These networks, coined Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs), define the regulatory relationships among genes and provide a concise representation of the transcriptional regulatory landscape of the cell. Further, different phenotypes can lead to activation of different functional pathways by different global rewiring of the underlying GRNs. To uncover such transcriptional rewiring, in this project I will further advance and optimize a recent efficient computational method developed by myself, coined LINKER, aiming at uncovering GRNs from RNAseq data; and given those networks, develop efficient differential network analysis methods that will shed light into the regulatory rewiring associated with phenotype. As one of the key goals of this proposal is the translation of computational methods to advance clinical cancer knowledge, I will work with the hosting group to apply LINKER to uncover the transcriptional rewiring associated to hematological malignancies. Specifically, I will apply LINKER in a stepwise model first on available RNA-seq data from multiple myeloma and acute myeloblastic leukemia, and second to primary data from patients with these diseases provided by the hosting supervisor. Rewired GRNs between MM and normal BM plasma cells and between leukemic blast and normal hematopoietic progenitor cells, potentially implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease, will be functionally validated by state of the art gain and loss of function technologies (CRISPR/cas9). As data provided by the host institution includes clinical follow up from patients we will also examine the prognostic value of our identified GRN. I envision that LINKER will provide additional novel insights to our understanding of the key rewiring associated with these malignancies, increased by our ability to translate the discovered biomarkers to patient treatment.

Mots clés : computational biology, transcriptomics, epigenetics, gene regulation, biostatistics, machine learning, hematological malignancies, cancer genetics

Participants :
- University of Navarra (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 172932.48 €
Projet NanoMuSiC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Genetically identical cells observed as a population can be significantly heterogeneous when studied individually, and this heterogeneity can change the behavior of entire cell populations. In particular, some trace elements play important roles in cell processes. Classical analytical methods to measure (trace) elemental composition in cells (naturally present or taken up by them, e.g. nanoparticles) provide information only about the average of the cell population thus disregarding important cell-to-cell variances. In this context, single-cell inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry has been gaining special attention to evaluate elements and nanoparticles as well as multiparameters in single cells. However, our currently available information and quantitative data on multielemental composition and uptake of toxic elemental species and metal oxide nanoparticles in single cells are still scarce. NanoMuSiC project will develop new sensitive and accurate analytical methods based on the coupling between a microdroplet generator to the state-of-the-art inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometry for multielement quantification and for evaluating the uptake of elemental species and metal-based nanoparticles in single cells. These methods will be applied to proof-of-concept ecotoxicological applications employing diatoms (single cells) and environmentally relevant elemental species and nanoparticles. Through these developed methodologies and results, the NanoMuSiC project will provide new insights on cellular elemental composition and elemental species-cell and nanoparticle-cell interactions. Besides, they will support further investigations of effects and potential risks of elemental species and nanoparticles to the environment and human health, two relevant issues within EU Commission priorities for 2019-24, e.g. European Green Deal strategy to protect the environment and human health by cutting pollution.

Mots clés : single cell icp tof ms, multielemental information, nanoparticles, new ecotoxicological testing tools

Participants :
- Federal Institute For Materials Research and Testing (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 131104.8 €
Projet DNA-Rep-EM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Genome duplication is essential for cell proliferation. Errors in the mechanisms that control DNA replication can cause genomic instability and lead to the development of genetic diseases and cancer. In vitro reconstitution of DNA replication with purified yeast proteins has helped uncover important mechanisms of DNA replication. How changes in protein structure regulates function during key events in origin activation and replisome progression, such as melting of the DNA duplex upon CMG helicase assembly, or the mode of binding of Pol alpha during primer synthesis remain unknown. To date, structural studies have focused on imaging artificially isolated replication complexes using simplified DNA substrates to understand DNA unwinding and replisome architecture. To truly understand the mechanisms that control DNA replication, future structural studies must not only visualise isolated complexes, but also reconstituted reactions. To address this issue, I will integrate single-particle cryo electron-microscopy (cryo-EM) with sophisticated biochemical approaches to image origin-dependent DNA replication reactions in vitro on native DNA substrates. To do so, I will establish short origin-containing DNA substrates that permit loading of a single bidirectional replication fork, allowing large numbers of protein bound origins to be visualised within a single field of view. Initially, I will investigate how the structure of duplex DNA changes upon CMG formation during origin activation. Next, I will examine the molecular mechanisms of primer synthesis after origin activation using both cryo-EM and in vitro DNA replication reactions. Finally, I will capture and image synthesising intact replisomes at near atomic resolution. By visualising entire DNA replication reactions instead of isolated replication complexes at high resolution, we will gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that permit the eukaryotic replisome to function during genome duplication.

Mots clés : dna replication, replisome, cryo em, in vitro reconstitution, helicase, polymerase

Participants :
- The Francis Crick Institute (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 224933.76 €
Projet HiMIN (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Genome instability is a hallmark of cancer and is caused by the accumulation of DNA damage. Genome integrity is preserved by DNA repair machineries that operate on a chromatin substrate where DNA wraps around histone proteins. Interestingly, point mutations in histone H3.3 in particular have been identified as drivers of tumorigenesis. Beyond their impact on gene expression, some of these mutations were recently shown to inhibit homologous recombination-mediated repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in human cells (K36M mutation) and to contribute to replication fork stability in yeast cells (G34R mutation). Furthermore, H3.3 histones are deposited de novo at sites of DNA damage in human cells. These findings call for a more systematic characterization of the impact of H3.3 mutations on genome instability. We hypothesize that H3.3 point mutations may alter the cellular response to DNA damage, thus leading to malignant transformation. Here, we propose to test this hypothesis through a set of complementary approaches in human cell lines. We will initially examine whether H3.3 mutations affect histone deposition at DSBs and at damaged replication forks and chromatin relaxation at DSBs. Next, we will evaluate whether H3.3 mutations affect DSB repair and replication fork stability and repair, ultimately inducing genome instability. We will then evaluate the potential clinical applications of our results by testing whether H3.3 mutations may in turn impact drug sensitivity. These complementary research angles should help understanding whether H3.3 oncogenic mutations affect genome integrity independently of their impact on gene expression, providing new molecular bases for their oncogenic potential. This work might ultimately identify druggable defects that confer chemotherapeutic sensitivity to H3.3 mutated tumors, thus providing a proof-of-principle for potential targeted therapies.


Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 118880.25 €
Projet SCGA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Mathematics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Geometry studies higher-dimensional curved spaces. We can describe these spaces by equations, but the only case where we have any hope to use them for calculation is when the equations are polynomials. The resulting spaces are the objects of algebraic geometry, which are called varieties. Although these objects have been studied for a long time, there are still lots of crucial open problems: If we are given a variety, can we embed it in other well-known varieties? For instance, can we find a ''nice'' surface which contains a given curve? If yes, how many such surfaces exist, and can we characterise them via some of the geometrical properties of the curve? The geometric information of varieties can be encoded in algebraic objects, known as derived categories. Inspired by ideas in string theory, Bridgeland introduced the notion of stability conditions on derived categories. This topic has been highly studied due to its connections to various fields in mathematics and physics, and lots of ideas and techniques have been developed in the area. Now is the time to employ the whole spectrum of modern tools in derived categories and stability conditions to solve so far intractable geometrical problems. My recent work proves that deformation of stability conditions and varying stability status of an object (wall-crossing phenomenon) are powerful new techniques for solving long-standing geometrical problems, that do not appear to involve derived categories. Surprisingly, stability conditions and wall-crossing truly provide the right context for studying those problems. The main goal of this research programme is to draw upon ideas and tools in algebra, geometry and mathematical physics to describe some outstanding geometrical problems in terms of derived categories and stability conditions, and then apply wall-crossing techniques to solve those problems.

Mots clés : derived categories, stability conditions, algebraic geometry of curves and surfaces, donaldson thomas theory

Participants :
- Université Paris-Saclay (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet THERM (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2018)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Geothermal represents a promising energy source to satisfy the growing energy needs with only minimal environmental impacts. To develop and test new technologies for energy production and storage in geothermal reservoirs, deep understanding of heat transport in fractured media is critically needed. The THERM project focuses on the investigation of heat transport and associated thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes occurring during the lifetime of a geothermal reservoir. Fractured reservoirs, such as those found in enhanced geothermal systems, are characterized by a strong hydraulic and transport complexity coming from the fractures’ surface roughness, from their arrangement in networks, and from the interaction of the fractures with the surrounding rocks. As a result, the characteristics of the hydro-thermal flow which occurs when a cold fluid is injected into a hot fractured rock mass are controlled by fracture network discontinuities and properties of fracture surfaces themselves. While progresses have been made in characterizing and modeling subsurface heterogeneity in flow and solute transport processes, the effects of multi-scale subsurface heterogeneities on heat transport remains an open question. I propose new 3D fully coupled physical-based numerical models at different scales associated to state-of-the-art field experiments to develop a quantitative understanding of complex coupled processes occurring along fluid-rock interfaces during fluid circulation in geothermal systems. The main objectives are (i) to characterize the combined effect of fracture-scale and network-scale heterogeneity on flow and heat transport phenomena, and (ii) to design new field experiment to jointly measure the integrated THM behavior of fractures. Thanks to THERM, the ER will receive a unique multidisciplinary scientific training by Rennes 1 University that will reinforce significantly her expertise for future research activities and open new perspectives for career.

Mots clés : hydrogeology, geothermal energy, fractured media, heat transport, heterogeneous porous media

Participants :
- Université de Rennes (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 196707.84 €
Projet Lingua (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

German early Romanticism is known as one of the most important intellectual movements in Germany around 1800. Almost unknown, however, is the fact that the early Romantics developed an avantgarde theory of language. With my project, I pursue two objectives: (1) I will give the first written account of this theory by describing its emergence, development, and main ideas. (2) I will then demonstrate the relevance of these ideas for contemporary philosophy and sciences. The early Romantic theory of language is based upon the concept of the universality of language. As language structures our perceptions and emotions, it also constitutes our knowledge, comprising thus all parts of human existence – sciences, arts, society. Consequently, the early Romantics considered the function of language with regard to such different matters such as truth, personality, political and social processes, education, poetry. Moreover, they began to study language as a phenomenon in its own right, thereby establishing historical-comparative grammar as a new linguistic method. It seems as if this extended perspective on language can be applied on several problems that contemporary sciences are dealing with: e. g. intersubjectivity, identity, transformational grammar, artificial intelligence etc. In most of these sciences, particularly in natural sciences, a communication model is dominating which explains language as a mere exchange of information between a sender and a receiver. Only recently, it has been realized that this concept of language is insufficient. While modern sciences tend to reduce language to its logical functions, the early Romantics theorized about and experimented with ambiguous, paradoxical, or even contradictory figures that classical logic is unable to deal with. Instead of a static, closed frame, they favoured a highly exploratory and open thinking. It is very important to recover these ideas and offer an epistemological alternative to prevailing scientific models.

Mots clés : german early romanticism, philosophy of language, history of ideas

Participants :
- University of Copenhagen (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 212194.8 €
Projet DesignEng (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Germany fell 76,400 engineers short in 2011. Britain falls short 55,000 engineers every year. Such deficits adversely affect Europe’s R&D, patent filings, and tech production. Failure to attract women exacerbates the crisis. Europe urgently needs diverse engineers who can work collaboratively and creatively. Why does engineering struggle to attract students when architecture courses fill with women and men? Education experts (Boyer and Mitgang) say architects learn in more hands-on and effective ways than engineers. Which techniques can be transferred to make engineering more compelling? This project will generate new understandings of how students develop knowledge-production skills. While receiving crucial training at University College London, Prof Chance will investigate overlaps between epistemology (a field that asks “What is knowledge? How is it made and verified?”) and design thinking (“How is knowledge made and used in the process of design?”). She will collect data in four European countries—evaluating the role of design projects in the learning, epistemological development, and retention of students—with a focus on women’s experiences. Overall objectives are to: (1) develop and promote better ways to teach and support STEM students; (2) help transform engineering into a more diverse and creative field; and (3) investigate questions surrounding the theme: To what extents do design projects influence the cognitive and epistemological development of undergraduates in engineering and architecture? The approach draws from Dr Chance’s unique multidisciplinary skill set and state-of-the-art: (1) practices in architecture education, (2) research in engineering education, and (3) theories of student development. She will produce mixed-methods research in a ground-breaking field, new/pilot-tested assignment briefs and a special focus journal to help revolutionize engineering teaching, and outreach/communication to crucial audiences.

Mots clés : epistemic cognition, design thinking, stem education, phenomenology, engineering education, engineering education research, student development theory, epistemological development, architecture

Participants :
- University of London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €