Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : GRACE (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : University of Edinburgh — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2171524.0 €

When we search for a product, can we find, using a single query, top choices ranked by Google and at the same time, recommended by our friends connected on Facebook? Is such a query tractable on the social graph of Facebook, which has over 1.31 billion nodes and 170 billion links? Is it feasible to evaluate such a query if we have bounded resources such as time and computing facilities? These questions are challenging: they demand a departure from the traditional query evaluation paradigm and from the classical computational complexity theory, and call for new resource-constrained methodologies to query big graphs. This project aims to tackle precisely these challenges, from fundamental problems to practical techniques, using radically new approaches. We will develop a graph pattern query language that allows us to, e.g., unify Web search (via keywords) and social search (via graph patterns), and express graph pattern association rules for social media marketing. We will revise the conventional complexity theory to characterize the tractability of queries on big data, and formalize parallel scalability with the increase of processors. We will also develop algorithmic foundations and resource-constrained techniques for querying big graphs, by ``making big data small''. When exact answers are beyond reach in big graphs, we will develop data-driven and query-driven approximation schemes to strike a balance between the accuracy and cost. As a proof of the theory, we will develop GRACE, a system to answer graph pattern queries on big GRAphs within bounded resourCEs, based on the techniques developed. We envisage that the project will deliver methodological foundations and practical techniques for querying big graphs in general, and for improving search engines and social media marketing in particular. A breakthrough in this subject will advance several fields, including databases, theory of computation, parallel computation and social data analysis.

Mots-clés : graph pattern queries,querying big graphs,tractability,parallel scalability,query evaluation,approximate query answering,unifying web search and social search,social media marketing
Projet ERC : C2Phase (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth system science
Entité participante : Karlsruhe Institute of Technology — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : KIT
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499548.75 €

Whether and where clouds consist of liquid water, ice or both (i.e. their thermodynamic phase distribution), has major impacts on the clouds’ dynamical development, their radiative properties, their efficiency to form precipitation, and their impacts on the atmospheric environment. Cloud ice formation in the temperature range between 0 and -37°C is initiated by aerosol particles acting as heterogeneous ice nuclei and propagates through the cloud via a multitude of microphysical processes. Enormous progress has been made in recent years concerning the understanding and model parameterization of primary ice formation. In addition, high-resolution atmospheric models with complex cloud microphysics schemes can now be employed for realistic case studies of clouds. Finally, new retrieval schemes for the cloud (top) phase have recently been developed for various satellites, including passive polar orbiting and geostationary sensors, which provide a good spatial and temporal coverage and a long data record. We propose here to merge the bottom-up, forward modeling approach for the cloud phase distribution with the top-down view of satellites. C2Phase will conduct systematic closure studies for variables related to the cloud phase distribution such as the cloud ice area fraction, its distribution as function of temperature and its temporal evolution, with a focus on Europe. For this, we will (1) use clustering techniques to separate different cloud regimes in model and satellite data, (2) explore the parameters and processes which the simulated phase distribution is most sensitive to, (3) investigate whether closure is reached between state-of-the art cloud resolving models and satellite observations, and how this closure can be improved by consistent and physically justified changes in microphysical parameterizations, and (4) use our results to improve the representation of mixed-phase clouds in weather and climate models and to quantify the impacts of these improvements.
Projet ERC : SynProAtCell (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Synthetic Chemistry and Materials
Entité participante : Technion – Israel Institute of Technology — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2500000.0 €

While advanced molecular biology approaches provide insight on the role of proteins in cellular processes, their ability to freely modify proteins and control their functions when desired is limited, hindering the achievement of a detailed understanding of the cellular functions of numerous proteins. At the same time, chemical synthesis of proteins allows for unlimited protein design, enabling the preparation of unique protein analogues that are otherwise difficult or impossible to obtain. However, effective methods to introduce these designed proteins into cells are for the most part limited to simple systems. To monitor proteins cellular functions and fates in real time, and in order to answer currently unanswerable fundamental questions about the cellular roles of proteins, the fields of protein synthesis and cellular protein manipulation must be bridged by significant advances in methods for protein delivery and real-time activation. Here, we propose to develop a general approach for enabling considerably more detailed in-cell study of uniquely modified proteins by preparing proteins having the following features: 1) traceless cell delivery unit(s), 2) an activation unit for on-demand activation of protein function in the cell, and 3) a fluorescence probe for monitoring the state and the fate of the protein. We will adopt this approach to shed light on the processes of ubiquitination and deubiquitination, which are critical cellular signals for many biological processes. We will employ our approach to study 1) the effect of inhibition of deubiquitinases in cancer. 2) Examining effect of phosphorylation on proteasomal degradation and on ubiquitin chain elongation. 3) Examining effect of covalent attachment of a known ligase ligand to a target protein on its degradation Moreover, which could trigger the development of new methods to modify the desired protein in cell by selective chemistries and so rationally promote their degradation.

Mots-clés : chemical protein synthesis,semi synthesis,protein delivery,ubiquitin delivery
Projet ERC : UPFLOW (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Earth system science
Entité participante : Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute — Pays : Portugal — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : IPMA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 987618.75 €

While downward mantle flow (subduction) is well constrained, a grand challenge in Earth sciences is to understand deep upward flow that cannot be explained by plate tectonics. The aim of UPFLOW is to develop an entirely new seismic imaging approach and to use it to constrain plume-like mantle upwellings at unprecendented resolution. Upward flow is critical for continental growth, for returning volatiles to the atmosphere and for producing Earth's largest melting events. These events coincide with major extinctions, supercontinent breakups and with changes in geodynamo behaviour. Seismology has come far by using travel-time and waveform (phase) information but has mostly ignored the amplitude information. Mantle plumes have just started to be robustly imaged, yet resolution is low and uncertainty quantification is lacking. I developed breakthrough seismic imaging methods based on big amplitude data, showing their strong resolution. With recent computing resources and explosion in datasets, it is now timely to use this unique expertise to lead a step change in observational seismology: rather than relying on pre-defined observables (e.g., travel-times), objective statistical techniques exploring the full richness of the data will be used to design observables that provide optimal constraints on Earth structure. I will lead a new off-shore experiment in the Azores-Madeira-Canary islands region, which is an under-studied natural laboratory comprising significant mantle upwellings that are poorly understood in general. The imaging technique to be developed will be applied to these new data and to existing data (Hawaii, Reunion) to obtain the sharpest ever images of mantle plumes along with their interdisciplinary interpretation. These results will have a major impact far beyond the study regions and across Earth Sciences (e.g., geology, geochemistry, geodynamics) since they will reveal ubiquitous, fundamental phenomena that control the global evolution of the planet.

Mots-clés : mantle plumes,seismic imaging
Projet ERC : FUN-PM (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : Université d'Orléans — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 45000.0 €

While modern societies are facing urgent challenges related to reduction of particulate matter emissions from transportation engines, recent discoveries on the extraordinary properties of carbonaceous functional nanomaterials have revealed opportunities associated with large-scale, flame-based synthesis of these otherwise unwanted combustion products. In both cases, our ability to study new, optimized solutions based on the specific industrial end-user needs is limited by the absence of theoretical tools able to accurately predict the fluid dynamics and the chemistry involved in nanoparticle formation. Indeed, current knowledge on this fascinating but complex process is still rather incomplete. The proposed research program, FUN-PM, will apply an innovative multi-disciplinary, multi-step approach in order to finally answer many unresolved kinetic questions concerning in particular: 1) formation and growth of molecular PAH precursors; 2) particle inception; 3) subsequent particle growth and oxidation. Each single step will be experimentally isolated taking full advantage of complementary conventional shock tube techniques and up-to-date synchrotron-based detection technologies coupled to a newly constructed high-rate repetition shock tube. If successful, the novel synchrotron-shock tube techniques will be utilized for the first time to obtain unique information on unknown key processes. The experimental results, with extensive theoretical ab-initio calculations on relevant PAH reaction pathways, will constitute the base for the development of a comprehensive, detailed chemical kinetic model for particle chemistry applied to Real Fuels. Such model will improve the prediction capabilities of current CFD codes for use in engine design, fuel reformulation, or industrial process optimization, with considerable benefits to the standards of living of European citizens, the environment, and the EU economy, towards the future of clean transportations and novel nanomaterials.

Mots-clés : combustion,pollution,engines,conventional and alternative fuels,nanoparticles,nanomaterial synthesis,pyrolysis,shock tube,ab initio calculations,chemical kinetic models,synchrotron light
Projet ERC : FUN-PM (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1448838.77 €

While modern societies are facing urgent challenges related to reduction of particulate matter emissions from transportation engines, recent discoveries on the extraordinary properties of carbonaceous functional nanomaterials have revealed opportunities associated with large-scale, flame-based synthesis of these otherwise unwanted combustion products. In both cases, our ability to study new, optimized solutions based on the specific industrial end-user needs is limited by the absence of theoretical tools able to accurately predict the fluid dynamics and the chemistry involved in nanoparticle formation. Indeed, current knowledge on this fascinating but complex process is still rather incomplete. The proposed research program, FUN-PM, will apply an innovative multi-disciplinary, multi-step approach in order to finally answer many unresolved kinetic questions concerning in particular: 1) formation and growth of molecular PAH precursors; 2) particle inception; 3) subsequent particle growth and oxidation. Each single step will be experimentally isolated taking full advantage of complementary conventional shock tube techniques and up-to-date synchrotron-based detection technologies coupled to a newly constructed high-rate repetition shock tube. If successful, the novel synchrotron-shock tube techniques will be utilized for the first time to obtain unique information on unknown key processes. The experimental results, with extensive theoretical ab-initio calculations on relevant PAH reaction pathways, will constitute the base for the development of a comprehensive, detailed chemical kinetic model for particle chemistry applied to Real Fuels. Such model will improve the prediction capabilities of current CFD codes for use in engine design, fuel reformulation, or industrial process optimization, with considerable benefits to the standards of living of European citizens, the environment, and the EU economy, towards the future of clean transportations and novel nanomaterials.

Mots-clés : combustion,pollution,engines,conventional and alternative fuels,nanoparticles,nanomaterial synthesis,pyrolysis,shock tube,ab initio calculations,chemical kinetic models,synchrotron light
Projet ERC : High-Risk-No-Gain (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Advanced grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : University of Twente — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 2475665.0 €

While most analog functions have been taken over by their digital counterparts, radio receivers today are complex analog electronic circuits. They include amplifier circuits to provide amplification of the weak antenna signals. Ideally the amplifiers provide linear gain, but unfortunately the amplifiers exploiting transistors are inherently nonlinear, causing fundamental problems if large unwanted signals are received simultaneously with weak desired signals. This is why a radio receiver is a complex combination of many analog circuits: filters, mixers and amplifiers are placed between the antenna and the analog-to-digital converter (ADC), making receivers bulky, expensive and consume a lot of energy. The breakthrough concept of this program is to completely refrain from active linear amplifiers and thus have no active linear gain in a receiver. This way we avoid the fundamental problems in amplifiers and we minimize the analog hardware between the antenna and ADC, thus drastically simplifying the radio architecture. This program aims at connecting the ADC to the antenna, with just a separation by a so-called “N-path filter”. As pioneered amongst others by myself, N-path filters are simple structures without amplification and have recently become popular for wireless applications after being “forgotten” for many decades. Research work will focus on: 1) an N-path filter antenna interface, with extreme selectivity; 2) an ultra-low-noise ADC being able to convert the unamplified antenna signal; 3) a digital reflector to reflect unwanted signals arriving at the antenna; 4) precise timing circuits with far-beyond state-of-the-art timing accuracy to clock the N-path filter. I will focus on two different application areas: high-end receivers for high data rates in a crowded spectrum and ultra-low power receivers for (battery-less) sensor networks. My goal is to design fully integrated receivers on a chip, without the bulky and expensive external components needed today.

Mots-clés : analog circuits,radio frequency circuits,cmos,transceivers,receivers,analog to digital converters
Projet ERC : MicroBar (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy
Entité participante : Centre national de la recherche scientifique — Pays : France — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : CNRS
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 345625.0 €

While murine hematopoiesis has been considered as resolved science, recent results using barcoding, which allows the tracing of single cells in vivo, clearly show that the topology of the murine hematopoietic tree needs revisions. In parallel, human hematopoiesis has been overlooked and is widely considered as following the same tree as in mice. To leverage our understanding of normal human hematopoiesis, tools for barcoding in humans are urgently needed. This research program seeks to meet this need by taking advantage of recent developments in next generation sequencing to provide an improved barcoding method for in vivo use in human. Our microsatellite barcoding method exploits the fact that microsatellites in various loci undergo length changes during cell division, to create a natural barcode for each cell, and reconstruct the overall differentiation tree using a phylogenetic algorithm. Our technique, which is highly detailed with respect to current versions of microsatellite barcoding, provides high dimensional characterization of the cells and will allow the inference of important properties such as new phenotypic markers and key molecular regulators. Therefore, we will provide insights into both cell lineage and the molecular mechanisms involved in differentiation. With this method, we will provide the first in vivo description of the human hematopoietic tree and identify new progenitors and key molecular factors involved in human hematopoiesis. This knowledge will allow us to test whether cells with different origins have different functions, a key question in immunology in particular during infection and inflammation, and it will help design ways of therapeutically manipulating the hematopoietic system. More generally it will impact our understanding of stem cell differentiation for which hematopoiesis is used as an exemplar.

Mots-clés : hematopoiesis,lineage tracing,single cell
Projet ERC : MicroBar (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Immunity, Infection and Immunotherapy
Entité participante : Institut Curie — Pays : France — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1154375.0 €

While murine hematopoiesis has been considered as resolved science, recent results using barcoding, which allows the tracing of single cells in vivo, clearly show that the topology of the murine hematopoietic tree needs revisions. In parallel, human hematopoiesis has been overlooked and is widely considered as following the same tree as in mice. To leverage our understanding of normal human hematopoiesis, tools for barcoding in humans are urgently needed. This research program seeks to meet this need by taking advantage of recent developments in next generation sequencing to provide an improved barcoding method for in vivo use in human. Our microsatellite barcoding method exploits the fact that microsatellites in various loci undergo length changes during cell division, to create a natural barcode for each cell, and reconstruct the overall differentiation tree using a phylogenetic algorithm. Our technique, which is highly detailed with respect to current versions of microsatellite barcoding, provides high dimensional characterization of the cells and will allow the inference of important properties such as new phenotypic markers and key molecular regulators. Therefore, we will provide insights into both cell lineage and the molecular mechanisms involved in differentiation. With this method, we will provide the first in vivo description of the human hematopoietic tree and identify new progenitors and key molecular factors involved in human hematopoiesis. This knowledge will allow us to test whether cells with different origins have different functions, a key question in immunology in particular during infection and inflammation, and it will help design ways of therapeutically manipulating the hematopoietic system. More generally it will impact our understanding of stem cell differentiation for which hematopoiesis is used as an exemplar.

Mots-clés : hematopoiesis,lineage tracing,single cell
Projet ERC : STRONG-Q (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Fundamental constituents of matter
Entité participante : Delft University of Technology — Pays : Pays-Bas — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TU Delft
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1499970.0 €

While quantum physics is one of the most successful theories in modern science, it remains a puzzle why we do not observe quantum effects in our macroscopic every-day life. Quantum theory in fact does not pose an inherent limit on the size and mass of a quantum system. The field of optomechanics has been established with the explicit goal of testing massive, macroscopic quantum states. Here, the radiation-pressure force is used to bring a mechanical oscillator into a quantum state by coupling it to light. Most current experiments are however limited by either the optical or mechanical quality of the mechanical system, which so far have prevented a true breakthrough. I will use two-dimensional photonic crystals on silicon nitride membranes to build a new generation of optomechanical systems, consisting of arrays of mechanical oscillators with high reflectivity and unprecedented mechanical quality. This will allow me to finally enter the single-photon strong coupling (SPSC) regime. This regime, which to date is far beyond experimental reach of any state-of-the-art system, will open up the possibility of true quantum experiments involving macroscopic mechanical objects. Preliminary experiments reveal that we can fabricate membranes of unparalleled optical and mechanical quality necessary for realizing STRONG-Q. A fundamentally new approach combined with our novel devices will allow me to access the SPSC regime. I will be able to study superradiance, single-photon blockade and non-Gaussian states, explore avenues for phonon lasing, and perform quantum experiments that were up to now impossible. As enabling technologies I will build an entangled-photon source and highly efficient photodetectors. With my expertise in (single-photon) quantum optics and optomechanics, and with TU Delft’s infrastructure as a leading institute in quantum technologies and microfabrication, the ultimate goal of this project to bring quantum physics into the macroscopic world is within reach.

Mots-clés : optomechanics,strong coupling,photonics,macroscopic quantum states,single photons,decoherence,microfabrication,photonic crystals,foundations of quantum physics