Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet Q-LAMP (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

The precise measurement of phononic properties of materials is crucial for the emerging physics and next-generation technologies. With the ever-growing study of phononic many-body physics, the need for precise phonon measurement has become increasingly important. Quantum lock-in measurement techniques offer a promising avenue for future phonon detection, boasting significant advantages such as ultra-high resolution, heightened sensitivity, and the capability for concurrent measurement of amplitude, frequency, and phase. In this project, I propose innovative quantum lock-in amplifier phonon detector (Q-LAMP) for phonon detection for the first time and plan to experimentally demonstrate their effectiveness in simultaneously measuring phonon phase, frequency, and amplitude. I plan to use Q-LAMP to measure topological localized states in phononic crystals and can also be employed for detecting weak microwaves. The quantum lock-in amplifier developed in this project will pushing both phononics physics and wireless communication to new stage. This interdisciplinary training scheme is designed to enhance Ruihuan's expertise in quantum optics, fortifying his skills and helping him establish a research career in Europe. It covers component design and implementation, theoretical analysis, mathematical modelling and applications. To assist Ruihuan in attaining professional maturity and broadening his exposure to academic and industrial collaborations, he will receive training on intellectual property management, funding and proposal writing, commercialization, supervision and teaching. Secondment in academic host, with Prof. Martijn Wubs (DTU, Denmark) is arranged to pursue scientific objectives, enriching Ruihuan's learning experience, expanding his network in Europe and maximizing the impact of research and training on the EU society and industry.

Mots clés : phonon, quantum lock in, microwave, nv centers

Participants :
- Université Aalto (Finlande) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 199694.4 €
- Université technique du Danemark (Danemark) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet SYMBIOLOSS (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Evolutionary outcomes are constrained by lineage history. Episodes of drastic shifts in selection, as in cases of radical environmental change, often lead to the loss of traits that were once essential. While the loss of such traits may narrow niche breadth, it also creates opportunities for adaptive innovations. Whether trait losses are compensated by novel adaptations, and the extent to which similar outcomes evolved independently in unrelated lineages is largely unknown. In this project, I will investigate this problem by capitalizing on the recurrent loss of mutualism in land plants. Mutualism with soil microorganisms is ancestral in land plants, and provides plants with facilitated access to nutrients. Instances of secondary loss of mutualism are often linked to novel resource acquisition strategies, such as carnivory or parasitism. Some lineages, however, including vascular and non-vascular plants, have not undergone drastic niche shifts, and yet have largely diversified across the ecological space over time after losing mutualism. In this project, I will use comparative genomics and experimental approaches to test the hypothesis that mutualism abandonment was associated with adaptive genetic changes that compensated for the loss of mutualism. To determine whether the loss of mutualism operated as a source of selection on functions formerly facilitated by the mutualistic association, I will identify gene family expansions and genomic signatures of adaptive evolution that preceded and followed mutualism abandonment. I will then experimentally test this hypothesis in a comparative framework using closely related mutualists and non-mutualists of the liverwort genus Marchantia in conditions expected to differentially affect fitness according to mutualism status. This work will determine how novel adaptations evolve following the loss of a widely conserved trait, and reveal the extent to which similar outcomes originate in lineages with widely different histories.

Mots clés : mycorrhizae, symbiosis, evolutionary ecology, land plants

Participants :
- Université de Toulouse (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 211754.88 €
Projet RPTM (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : SIGNED

How do you nurture democracy in a republic? Today, as republics around the world are straining under the pressures of authoritarianism, this question becomes almost overwhelmingly urgent. In helping to draw the blueprints for United States republicanism, Thomas Jefferson gave his answer in temporal terms: the U.S. would remain democratic as long as each generation was given power to “repair” the Constitution to suit their era, but also the obligation of handing on that document, with the entire republic, in a peaceful and timely manner to the next generation. This pattern of generational succession, which Jefferson believed would prevent any one generation from permanently stamping their likeness on the country, became essential to nineteenth-century Americans’ socio-political outlook: to be a truly democratic republic, they believed, required living in this new temporal order, which has yet to be identified by scholarship and which I am calling “republican time.” The goal of my research project, executed under the co-supervision of Hélène Quanquin and Hélène Cottet (University of Lille, France), is to investigate the relationship between republican time and the workings of democracy in nineteenth-century America. I will accomplish this goal through a program of close reading of American literature, informed by theories of political science, history, race, and gender and sexuality.

Mots clés : literary criticism, political science, gender theory, race studies, philosophy

Participants :
- Université de Lille (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195914.88 €
Projet IDEA (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2024)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Chemistry
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots (QDs), are promising materials for a wide range of applications, including optoelectronics (display devices), optical bioimaging, solar cells and photocatalysis. Nevertheless, many QDs, such as CdS, contain toxic elements. ZnO or ZnS are environmental-friendly alternatives but their use is limited by their wide band gap, which prevents the absorption of visible light. Heterostructures made of ZnO core with ZnS shell (ZnO@ZnS) represent a promising solution to reduce the band gap. They can be prepared by sulfidation of ZnO nanocrystals. Nevertheless, mastering their design requires to control their defects, and notably the O and S vacancies, which are assumed to facilitate the exchange of O2− and S2− anions during sulfidation reaction. The IDEA project aims at determining the structure and the concentration of defects in ZnO@ZnS heterostructures through the development of advanced solid-state NMR experiments. Since the isotopes found in Zn(O,S) nanocrystals (17O, 67Zn and 33S) are extremely challenging to detect by NMR (quadrupolar nuclei with low gyromagnetic ratio and low natural abundance), we will develop innovative solid-state NMR methods relying on ultra-high-field NMR (up to 28 T), dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), low-temperature (down to 30 K), and spin labelling strategies. The obtained NMR data for ZnO@ZnS heterostructures in combination with DFT calculations will provide unique information on the structure of their defects (vacancies, O/S substitution), their amount and distribution between the core and surface regions. These novel insights will be crucial to optimize the optoelectronic properties of these quantum dots in a rational way. Furthermore, this project will equip with unique research and outstanding competences, which will lay the foundation of my future career as a highly qualified scientist capable of starting an independent career.

Mots clés : semiconducting nanocrystals, solid state nmr, quantum dots, high magnetic fields, dnp, nqr, dft, defects

Participants :
- Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (France) — Partner, associated partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 226420.56 €
- Université de Lille (France) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet BioXtinct (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Social Sciences and Humanities
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Human-caused biodiversity loss, including the extinction of a broad range of species, has dramatically increased over the years, with enormous repercussions on ecosystems worldwide. However, present-day species extinctions are only the latest stage in a considerably longer-term sequence stretching far back into the Holocene, when several extirpation events occurred in the prehistorical and historical eras. A remarkable case is the extinction of the last endemic small mammals of Corsica and Sardinia: while the large vertebrate fauna extinction occurred soon after the first human arrival (ca. 12,000 years ago), the small endemic mammals vanished much later, between the late prehistoric and Roman periods (8th c. BC–5th c. AD), precisely at the moment when colonial agents as Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans expanded and intensified trade networks. Although the disappearance of these species has been linked to anthropogenic causes, it remains uncertain whether this event occurred in both islands simultaneously as the result of a single, rapid cause or as a result of several interrelated causes. This project attempts to redress this imbalance and establish a new empirical framework by integrating cutting-edge analyses (GMM, DMTA, and direct 14C dating) with the abundant but underutilized archaeozoological record of the Tyrrhenian islands. This project will focus on three of these islands’ most emblematic species—the pika Prolagus sardus and the rodents Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) henseli and Rhagamys orthodon—as proxies to investigate the mechanisms and effects of past human-induced environmental changes and how this is interconnected with the colonial and cultural exchange evidenced in the historical and archaeological records. Integrating archaeozoological data with other source materials is not only crucial to develop richer and more nuanced view of past cultural practices but also can help to elucidate innovative solutions of the ongoing extinctions.

Mots clés : zooarchaeology, western mediterranean, corsica, sardinia, late iron age, roman period, radiocarbon, 3d dental microwear, geometric morphometrics, island archaeology, extinction

Participants :
- Université de Poitiers (France) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 211754.88 €
Projet SLEEPCHANGE (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Sleep is ubiquitous in the animal kingdom and serves essential biological functions, yet, sleep incurs substantial costs in terms of increased vulnerability to predators and reduced time for acquiring resources. How sleep is regulated by ecological factors (e.g., predation) and expressed in the natural world is highly understudied, more so in non-model taxa of reptiles and amphibians. Further, sleep can be comparatively and mechanistically understood through the lens of environmental change processes such as biological invasion and urbanization. In this study, we propose to examine the degree of lability in sleep trait expression of reptiles and amphibians under environmental change and how adaptive these responses are. We will employ a comprehensive suite of electrophysiological and behavioural measures of sleep and quantify responses to, i) increased exploration during rapid population expansion of early stage biological invasion, ii) reduced predation-risk during biological invasion, iii) novel stressor of night light due to urbanization. The project will break new grounds in terms of quantification of sleep in non-model taxa using state-of-the-art technology alongside behavioural measures, application of an eco-evolutionary framework to sleep research, and understanding the role of global change processes in shaping sleep in the animal kingdom, thereby generating insights into the regulation and expression of sleep in the natural world. Through the project, the researcher will learn neurophysiological techniques of sleep quantification from the host and use novel technology developed by the collaborator. The host's distinguished academic record, domain expertise in sleep electrophysiology of reptiles and amphibians, and large research network make him uniquely qualified to transfer expertise to the researcher and help him build an interdisciplinary skillset and become an innovative academic in the field of sleep ecophysiology research.

Mots clés : electrophysiology, electroencephalogram, biological invasion, urbanization, anti predator, sleep ecology

Participants :
- Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195914.88 €
Projet ANCoDy (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

In the brain, cells called astrocytes are as abundant as neurons, but are much less understood. Over the recent years, we have begun to appreciate how closely astrocytes support the development and function of synapses, the proposed substrate of memory. One emerging function of astrocytes is their direct involvement in learning and long-term memory. Indeed, astrocytic activity is affected in major brain disorders that affect memory, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The overarching aim of this fellowship is to study how astrocyte-neuron coordinated activity relates to learning and memory. I propose that astrocyte-neuron activity dynamics are shaped by learning over days to support memory formation. To test this hypothesis, I will use state-of-the-art microscopy and genetically encoded fluorescent proteins, both available in the host laboratory, to record the activity of large numbers of neurons and astrocytes while mice are trained in a perceptual learning task over days. In this way, I will be able to see how neurons and astrocytes change their activity in response to learning. I will then manipulate the activity of astrocytes using clever genetic tools and light, while the mice are being trained, and monitor the effects of this manipulation on the activity of neurons and memory performance. This step will allow me to establish causal links between astrocyte activity and memory. Finally, I will use modern statistical learning techniques to explore the contribution of astrocytes and astrocyte-neuron interactions to the computational capacity of the brain. This proposal capitalizes on my strong expertise in rodent behaviour and data analysis, my knowledge and strong interest on how experience shapes brain activity, and the established microscopy and genetic techniques in the host laboratory. Overall, this project will allow me to acquire new skills and knowledge in microscopy and astrocyte biology, and generate testable hypotheses for my future research.

Mots clés : astrocytes, learning and memory, calcium imaging, activity dynamics, longitudinal

Participants :
- Université de Copenhague (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 230774.4 €
Projet SHIELD (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Genome editing has triggered a revolution with stark implications in life science. Recently, a new gene-editing technique CRISPR-Cas has become dominant in laboratory conditions. The first step in a targeted genome modification requires the CRISPR-Cas nuclease to generate a specific DNA double-strand break (DSB). Eukaryotic cells repair the DSBs by the fast but potentially mutagenic Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ), and by the accurate Homology Directed Repair (HDR) pathways. Gene editing techniques exploit the HDR to modify the DNA to the desired sequence. Usually, it is the NHEJ that repairs the DSBs. That presents a threat of introducing mutations and limits gene editing efficiency and use in medical applications. Moreover, even after entering the HDR pathway, an unclear mechanism involving protein 53BP1 and Shieldin complex blocks the pathway from progressing. My goal is to decipher the 53BP1-Shieldin induced block and then assess Shieldin pathway as a possible therapeutic target to increase the frequency of HDR after CRISPR-Cas cleavage. The objectives include: 1. Reconstitution of the Shieldin pathway in mammalian HEK293 and insect Hi5 cells 2. Structural characterization of the protein assembly at DSBs by electron microscopy and mass spectrometry 3. Biochemical analysis of the relation between DSB repair and Shieldin pathway In general, the findings can be applied to enhance any gene-editing technique involving a generation of DSBs. Importantly, the results will provide a base for a long-awaited revolution in personalized medicine. The host laboratory of Prof. Montoya already focuses on improving the properties of the Cas nucleases by means of structural biology and the Shieldin project fits right in their research portfolio. Developing the project will boost my career as new skills in structural biology, including protein electron microscopy, will complement my previous expertise in protein-protein interaction and crosslinking mass spectrometry studies.

Mots clés : shieldin complex, crispr cas, cryoem, dna double strand break repair, nhej, hdr, cst complex, dna resection, dna repair pathway choice

Participants :
- Université de Copenhague (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 230774.4 €
Projet ODeLiCs (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2021)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Photonic quantum devices promise a scalable way to realize real-world applications of quantum communication and computation. An integral part of this vision comprises utilizing cluster states, i.e., a type of highly entangled multi-qubit state which provides the fault tolerance needed in almost all quantum protocols. I plan to demonstrate the first on-demand multi-photon cluster state source. Although the realization of an efficient cluster state source has been a long-standing challenge, recent improvements in quantum dot spin control and the collection efficiency in photonic crystal waveguides have made this ambitious goal feasible. I will use a recently established technique to prepare and cool the nuclear spins surrounding the quantum dot. Cooling down the nuclear spins will improve the electron spin dephasing time by 20 folds to 50 ns, which corresponds to above 99% spin rotation fidelity. To improve the photon collection efficiency, I will utilize a one-sided photonic crystal waveguide which provides a near-unity coupling to a single waveguide mode. Moreover, I will use an inverse design method to improve the chip-to-fiber coupling efficiency to above 90%. The cluster state generation will be implemented with a time-bin protocol, which entangles the quantum dot spin states with the emission time of single photons. Using realistic experimental parameters, the estimated three-photon cluster state fidelity in this protocol is above 80%. The project will achieve a cluster state production rate at 5 orders of magnitude higher than the current state-of-the-art devices. The successful demonstration of an on-demand cluster state source is a critical step towards scalable and practical photonic quantum architecture.


Participants :
- Université de Copenhague (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 214934.4 €
Projet GWnucleus (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2022)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Physics
Statut du projet : CLOSED

To date, the mechanisms that trigger the formation and gravitational wave (GW) coalescence of compact-object (CO, black holes, neutron stars, white dwarfs) binaries are still unknown. Two main formation scenarios have been proposed, primordial and dynamically-formed binaries, but both appear in tension with data. Galactic nuclei are a promising nursery for GW merger events, because of their high stellar density and the presence of a central massive black hole (MBH). Numerical simulations represent an ideal tool to model COs in galactic nuclei, but the current literature misses several key features which are needed to fully capture the complex physics involved. The GWnucleus project aims at filling this gap, by answering to the question: how do galactic nuclei shape the properties of gravitational waves (GW) sources? I will achieve this goal by developing an innovative hybrid Monte-Carlo/N-body model for simulating COs in galactic nuclei, at the Theoretical Astrophysics group of the Niels Bohr International Academy (NBIA), led by Prof. Martin Pessah. This novel framework will finally provide a complete understanding of GW progenitors' evolution in galactic nuclei, and establish a new theoretical model to interpret (present) and predict (forthcoming) GW observations.

Mots clés : gravitational waves, galactic nuclei, few body dynamics, gravitational few body problem

Participants :
- Université de Copenhague (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 230774.4 €