Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ARMAVen (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Armenian merchants, translators, and brokers were critical actors in the global trade of luxury goods between Asia and Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They were able to move and settle in cities across Europe with relative facility, facing comparatively fewer political barriers than Jewish or Muslim traders due to their status as a Christian-majority trading group. However, the current historiographical picture of these communities in Western Europe has not adequately illustrated or understood the complexity of what ‘trading community’ really meant for Armenians, and other mobile minorities; it often assumes a level of cultural cohesiveness within these groups. How should we understand the concept of community when it is shaped by circumstance, conducted over distance, formed of both transient and settled members, and interacts with the host environment? This project investigates this question by a comparative analysis of the Armenian communities of early modern Amsterdam and Venice, and the un-explored mercantile networks between them. New archival research redresses the historiographical neglect of these two communities and their connection to shed new light on the conceptual and practical formation of trading community. Integrating the theoretical paradigms of social and spatial mobility, and crossing the disciplines of history, sociology, and human geography will advance a new nuanced concept of minority community from the early modern period to the present.

Mots clés : 17 18th centuries merchants trade political negotiation cultural identities trading diaspora minority communities

Participants :
- Université de Leyde (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187624.32 €
Projet SoMiCoop (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The question how to increase cooperation behavior to encounter current societal challenges is an ongoing research endeavor in several empirical disciplines, such as behavioral economics, social psychology and beyond. Classic nudging approaches modify the situation in a way that the decision maker is slightly influenced in her decision, though maintains complete freedom of choice, as is the case when modifying the default. This comes at the downside, however, that in ultimate consequence, every decision would need to be nudged. In SoMicoop, I present a new and generalized approach, focusing on daily-life kindness as a form of low-cost cooperation. Until recently, the investigation of low-cost cooperation in social psychology and behavioral economics has largely been neglected. I aim to close this gap, investigating whether and how low-cost cooperation can actually be used to increase costly cooperation. Having shown in preparatory studies that low-cost cooperation can be trained and that it is related to high-cost cooperation, I aim to investigate how low-cost cooperation can be internalized in such a way so that it spills over to costly cooperation. Utilizing cutting-edge methodologies (i.e., eye-tracking and experience sampling) allows me to investigate underlying cognitive processes and boundary conditions, how and when trained low-cost cooperation generalizes to high-cost cooperation. Most importantly, I validate the results of trained low-cost cooperation outside the laboratory (i.e., via experience sampling). This yields an important scientific contribution that can have important implications for how we aim at promoting cooperation in the lab and in daily life.

Mots clés : cooperation behavior in social dilemmas, social mindfulness, pro sociality, social preferences, cognitive processes

Participants :
- Université de Leyde (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187624.32 €
Projet SENSiTRANS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Stimuli-responsive transmembrane anion transport proteins are essential for cellular life due to their implication in important biological functions. Supramolecular systems with analogous properties have been developed, however, most of them rely on the use of damaging UV light. SENSiTRANS is an ambitious and multidisciplinary project aimed at activation of anion transporters using visible light by means of a sensitization strategy. The project focuses on the employment of photosensitizers able to trigger isomerization of stiff-stilbene based receptors in the lipid bilayer, allowing activation of passive transmembrane transport. In addition, insertion of the photosensitizer in a vectorial manner into the lipid bilayer will be explored towards light-driven active transport. The project will result in i) the development of a new strategy to control transmembrane transport with transformative impact in the field of molecular photoswitches and anion receptor chemistry, ii) preparation and growth of the fellow towards a fully independent academic career (the new scientific research skills, complementary soft skills and scientific connections she will acquire will provide her with the necessary competencies to access an academic position at an European institution), and iii) benefit from her multidisciplinary scientific background and her scientific network by the hosting group.

Mots clés : transmembrane transport, molecular switches, anion binding, photochromism

Participants :
- Université de Leyde (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187624.32 €
Projet CIFS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The advent of continuous monitoring has transformed the treatment of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, offering real-time information on their blood sugar levels. Nevertheless, the advancement of continuous monitoring biosensors (CMB) for additional biomarkers beyond glucose is impeded by the slow dissociation kinetics of numerous recognition elements utilised in CMB, resulting in time lags and erroneous determination of concentrations. This proposal aims to address this universal problem in continuous monitoring by shifting the focus to the kinetic programming of biosensors. In particular, my goal is to develop a novel and universal sensing architecture that will enhance the performance of CMB by accelerating the binding and unbinding events between a bioreceptor and its analyte. To this end, I will leverage my foundational work on nature-inspired regulatory strategies to implement the induced fit (IF) strategy in CMB. This innovative approach has the potential to markedly enhance the performance of CMB for a diverse array of sensing applications, facilitating more precise and rapid monitoring of biomarkers in a multitude of clinical settings. This fellowship built on my background in fundamental chemistry, leveraging my experiences in exploring new concepts for biosensing using DNA-based models and combining that with the recognized expertise in synthetic biology, protein engineering, and biosensors of Prof. Maarten Merkx at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e, Netherlands). In addition to the research component, this fellowship will provide me with transferable skills that are essential for a successful academic career, including proposal writing, student supervision, leadership, and event organization. The research opportunities and professional development offered by this fellowship would be invaluable in helping me establish myself as an independent and successful principal investigator.

Mots clés : antibody based sensors, continuous monitoring, induced fit, kinetic programming, lucos

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

Wax esters (WEs) are neutral lipids of major industrial importance, used as components of lubricants, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Large-scale production of WEs is based on chemical processes, which utilize mainly petroleum-derived feedstocks and generate hazardous waste. With diminishing fossil reserves, demand on industrial raw materials and predicted effects of global warming, there is a strong need for alternative bio-based production of WEs from renewable resources.  Since WE synthesis requires only two enzymes: fatty acyl reductase (FAR) and wax synthase (WS), metabolic engineering approaches enabled WE production in genetically modified plants, bacteria and yeast. Interestingly, to date there are no reports on establishing WE synthesis in oleaginous microalgae, which due to fast growth rate and high oil content are strong candidates for the WE-producing platforms. Among them, a green alga Monoraphidium neglectum is a particularly promising species due to its favourable fatty acid profile.  The main goal of the project is to establish WE production in M. neglectum using genetic engineering and its further enhancement via optimisation of culture conditions or/and further modification of lipid metabolism. In the first stage of the project, I will develop a vector toolkit for efficient gene expression in M. neglectum. Then, I will use the toolkit to introduce different combinations of FARs and WSs to microalgae cells. I will also investigate whether WE accumulation in M. neglectum can be modulated by stress conditions. Finally, the cultures of WE-producing transgenic microalgae be scaled up to verify their productivity and WE yield. In parallel, I will test several strategies to boost WE production by modification of carbon flux in a model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and use the most successful ones to further modify M. neglectum. The outcome of this project will be a valuable contribution to the future development of new strategies to produce WEs.

Mots clés : microalgae, metabolic engineering, wax esters, fatty alcohols

Participants :
- Université de Bielefeld (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 189687.36 €
Projet camPEconomies (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The camPEconomies project explores a crucial aspect of the campization of the refugee accomodation in Europe that has not yet been addressed in literature: the multiple and intertwined economic relations that develop in and around refugee camps. The research will be conducted through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies drawing from an interdisciplinary approach - my postgraduate studies on Economic and Urban Development, my Phd on social and cultural geography, and my long lasting research interest around migration and gender. An in depth fieldwork research will be take place in two refugee camps in the Balkan Route, the camp of Shisto in Greece and of Obrenovac in Serbia. The aim is to analyze economic and social relations in multiple and interlocking socio spatial scales: from (a) the funding of the camps by institutional actors, to (b) the socioeconomic relations connecting the camp to surrounding areas and to (c) the grassroots economic practices of refugees. Apart from disseminating this original research within academic community (publications, conferences, an educational toolkit) the project aims to intervene in the level of policy making (Policy Report, open online event). Still, following the principles of Open Science and as the discussion around refugee camps is also a public discussion the project will develop an innovative strategy to communicate both the research process (research blog, podcasts) and the results (interactive maps, public discussions) to wider audiences. The supervisor, Prof. Dr. Manuela Bojadžijev, is a professor in the Institute of European Ethnology and a founding member of the Berlin Institute for Empirical Integration and Migration Research (BIM) both based in Humboldt University in Berlin where the project will be hosted. Prof. Bojadžijev is an expert in migration studies and has a profound experience in supervising and managing research projects.

Mots clés : migration, asylum, refugee camps, social geography, economic geography, 

Participants :
- Université Humboldt de Berlin (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 173847.36 €
Projet RePortFlows (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

How can policy tools and actions facilitate the sustainable development of the port-city regions to mitigate negative externalities of port activities, improve logistics efficiency, and help a more sustainable integration of the port in the hinterland and urbanised spaces, also considering the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic? The worldwide shock of the 2020 Beirut Blast has directed public attention towards the challenges of the close relationship between ports, maritime-related activities, and their cities and regions. Abundant literature already exists on port geography and port city development. Yet, the question of facilitating sustainable port expansion and city development in a limited space remains unanswered. We need more in-depth exploration of how global flows running through ports reshape the built environment. In the RePortFlows project, the definition of the ‘port-city-region’ is inspired by considering cities and regions as, constantly, dependant on and composed of complex networks, large associations, and identities, rather than fixed spatial territories marked by clear margins. Considering the current challenges, such as globalisation, climate change, migration, digitalisation, and the pandemic, I will investigate the spatial planning, transport and sustainability-related issues and questions in Rotterdam and Genoa. I will use interdisciplinary and context-specific definitions and typologies, moving beyond traditional port-city studies (WP1 Glossary and taxonomy). I will apply multi-method and data-driven approaches to map and analyse the ‘spaces of flows’, generated by flows from the sea to the hinterland and vice versa (WP2 Atlas). I will propose tailored policy tools to integrate the transport and socio-economic potentials with the spatial and social realities (WP3 Toolbox). The outcomes of this research will be communicated and disseminated, supporting open science practices (WP4).

Mots clés : maritime transport and port logistics activities

Participants :
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 203464.32 €
Projet PSGHCERB (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Almost 75% of the EU's existing residential building is energy inefficient. However, currently, only about 1% of the existing residential building is renovated each year. Although some studies have considered using shallow geothermal to provide heating/cooling to promote the deep energy-saving renovation of existing residential buildings, there is still a small-scale and low renovation rate in practice. The main reasons include residents' lack of cooperation, high investment costs, unawareness of technology, low subsidies, ineffective incentives, lack of motivation from technology & services suppliers, low-profit margins, market & institutional barriers, etc. This project aims to develop an efficient incentive mechanism of promoting shallow geothermal heating/cooling for existing residential buildings (SGHCERB) to improve its low energy-saving renovation rate in the EU. First, this project will investigate the potential cooperation willingness, and driving forces of different stakeholders (i.e., governments, technology & services suppliers, and householders) for promoting SGHCERB from a European perspective. Then, this project will develop a novel multi-agent behavioral game model that can satisfy all involved stakeholders to achieve win-win cooperation. This model will form this basis for the efficient incentive mechanisms that can simultaneously promote SGHCERB and achieve the benefits balance for different stakeholders. In addition, this project will provide specific policy optimization suggestions for local governments to improve the overall implementation efficiency of SGHCERB in accordance with local conditions. This project will help to speed up the EU in achieving CO2 emission target proposed in the Climate & Energy Framework for 2030.

Mots clés : incentive mechanism game model policy suggestions shallow geothermal exisiting buildings energy saving renovation

Participants :
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 203464.32 €
Projet ThioBioCat (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are crucial for public health. However, their synthesis is often challenging due to the high complexity of modern drug molecules. In particular, APIs need to have well-defined chirality as opposite enantiomers can have dramatically different biological effects. Yet, the synthesis of chiral centres is often challenging and toxic metals as well as harsh reaction conditions are often required. Enzymes on the other hand can often achieve unmatched enantioselectivities while also avoiding such environmentally unfavourable conditions. While several biocatalytic strategies for the synthesis of chiral alcohols and amines, have been developed few such strategies exist for the synthesis of chiral thiols and thioethers, despite 20% of all APIs containing sulfur. In the project described herein, I will be developing biocatalytic approaches for the synthesis of thiols and thioethers by exploring promiscuous activities of classes of enzymes widely used in industry. This will expand the tools available for their synthesis and open up new routes and new chemical space for the synthesis of APIs, and improve the sustainability. While working with Dr Caroline Paul in the Biocatalysis group at TU Delft, I will receive training in handling nicotinamide- and flavin-dependent oxidoreductase enzymes as well as specialist computational tools for enzyme engineering, while providing my experience in high-throughput screening and chemical synthesis. I will have the opportunity to co-supervise Bachelor, Master, and PhD students, and attend several key conferences. This will allow me to further develop the necessary scientific and teaching skills that are required for leading my own research group.

Mots clés : biocatalysis, asymmetric synthesis, chiral thiol, enzyme catalysis

Participants :
- Université de technologie de Delft (Pays-Bas) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 187624.32 €
Projet ActiveFovea (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Human vision is sharpest in the central 5.5 degrees of the visual field (the fovea) and becomes increasingly blurry towards the periphery. In everyday situations, we frequently execute large-scale eye movements called saccades to inspect objects of interest with high-acuity foveal vision. Despite its crucial importance for human perception, foveal vision is surprisingly understudied, particularly in the actively moving observer. Perhaps most detrimental to its study is the simple assumption that foveal vision is saturated and uninfluenced by ongoing motor processes; much like the lens of a microscope, visual perception in the center of gaze is presumed to reflect the ground truth of our environment. Nonetheless, I have previously demonstrated that right before a saccadic eye movement, defining features of the eye movement target (such as its orientation content) are predictively enhanced in foveal vision, resulting in substantial modulations of visual perception in the area of highest acuity. ActiveFovea builds on these findings by combining several cutting-edge methodologies, namely human psychophysics, high-precision Dual-Purkinje-eyetracking, primate electrophysiology and eye-head-tracking in a 360° display environment, under a common aim: transforming our understanding of foveal vision from a passive recipient of high-acuity input to a dynamic and predictive component of active perception. In four work packages, and with the involvement of leading experts in the field, ActiveFovea will investigate the spatiotemporal and featural properties of premotor foveal perception in different species and across different body movement types. Ultimately, we hope to establish foveal vision as a research area well worth investigating and aim to provide a seminal knowledge base that will guide future studies for years to come.

Mots clés : visual perception, active vision, eye movements, saccades, psychophysics, foveal vision, pre saccadic attention, predictive remapping

Participants :
- Université de Rochester (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 300169.44 €
- Université Humboldt de Berlin (Allemagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 401232.0 €