Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : NEPA (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : Institute of Science and Technology Austria — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : ISTA
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1054631.54 €

A key challenge in biological and soft-matter physics is to identify the principles that govern the organisation and functionality in non-equilibrium systems. Living systems are by definition out of equilibrium and a constant energy input is required to assemble and disassemble the molecular machinery of life. Only out of equilibrium, can proteins assemble to form functional sub-cellular structures, bind cells into dynamic tissues, and form complex biological machines. Our understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying robust protein assembly in driven systems is far from complete. Here I propose to develop a computer-simulation based framework to discover the physical principles of non-equilibrium protein assembly in biological or biomimetic systems. I will focus on systems where chemical gradients and active mechanical forces control protein assembly pathways and morphologies, and in which protein assembly far from equilibrium performs mechanical work. The particular case studies that I will investigate include mechanosensitive protein channels, fibrils of mechanical proteins, and active elastic filaments that remodel cells. As I aim to uncover generic design rules, my simulation model will only retain essential information on the shape and interaction of the assembling proteins needed to capture the complexity of the assembly. Using such minimal models, the simulations will be able to reach experimentally relevant time and length-scales, and will make quantitative predictions, which will be validated against data obtained by my experimental colleagues. The proposed programme will deliver an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control the emergence of function in protein assemblies driven far from equilibrium. This knowledge should enable us to program or reprogram assembly phenomena in living organisms, and will provide principles that will guide the design and control of functional biomimetic assemblies and bio-inspired nano-machines.

Mots-clés : protein assembly,nucleation,coarse grained computer simulations
Projet ERC : IdrSeq (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Integrative Biology: from Genes and Genomes to Systems
Entité participante : UK Research and Innovation — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UKRI
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1998126.0 €

A large fraction of any eukaryotic genome (>40%) encodes protein segments that do not adopt a defined tertiary structure. These proteins or regions are called intrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPs/IDRs). IDRs are enriched in critical functions such as transcription and signaling, and have been linked with numerous diseases including neurodegeneration and cancer. In contrast to structured regions, the molecular principles behind the sequence-function relationship of IDRs remain poorly understood. We propose to identify functional IDRs and discover genes that regulate their function using yeast as a cellular model. We will develop and apply a targeted, high-throughput approach called IdrSeq. This technology exploits next generation sequencing to simultaneously assay vast libraries of sequences (~millions) that code for IDRs by coupling IDR sequence (genotype) to a selectable function (phenotype) and identifying functional variants through a selection experiment. Specifically, using IdrSeq, we aim to identify and characterize IDRs in a cellular context that can (Aim 1) activate transcription, and discover genes that regulate IDR mediated transcription (Aim 2) influence protein stability, and discover genes that regulate IDR mediated half-life (Aim 3) form higher-order assemblies and discover genes that regulate assembly formation The unique feature of this proposal is its integrative vision of synthetic & systems biology, structural biology, cell biology, genetics, experiments and computation to establish a discovery platform to study IDRs in a cellular context. Since IdrSeq is modular and scalable, it can be readily extended to investigate a broad range of IDR functions, and adapted to other organisms. Elucidating the principles of sequence-function-gene relationship of IDRs holds enormous potential for synthetic biology. The discovery of genes that regulate IDR function has direct implications for human health by revealing novel therapeutic targets.

Mots-clés : intrinsically disordered proteins
Projet ERC : CIVICS (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Individuals, Markets and Organisations
Entité participante : Norwegian School of Economics — Pays : Norvège — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : NHH
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1117684.75 €

A large social science literature tries to describe and understand the causes and consequences of crime, usually focusing on individuals’ criminal activity in isolation. The ambitious aim of this research project is to establish a broader perspective of crime that takes into account the social context in which it takes place. The findings will inform policymakers on how to better use funds both for crime prevention and the rehabilitation of incarcerated criminals. Criminal activity is often a group phenomenon, yet little is known about how criminal networks form and what can be done to break them up or prevent them from forming in the first place. Overlooking victims of crime and their relationships to criminals has led to an incomplete and distorted view of crime and its individual and social costs. While a better understanding of these social interactions is crucial for designing more effective anti-crime policy, existing research in criminology, sociology and economics has struggled to identify causal effects due to data limitations and difficult statistical identification issues. This project will push the research frontier by combining register datasets that have never been merged before, and by using several state-of-the-art statistical methods to estimate causal effects related to criminal peer groups and their victims. More specifically, we aim to do the following: -Use recent advances in network modelling to describe the structure and density of various criminal networks and study network dynamics following the arrest/incarceration or death of a central player in a network. -Obtain a more accurate measure of the societal costs of crime, including actual measures for lost earnings and physical and mental health problems, following victims and their offenders both before and after a crime takes place. -Conduct a randomized controlled trial within a prison system to better understand how current rehabilitation programs affect criminal and victim networks.

Mots-clés : economics of crime,victimization,social interactions,causal inference
Projet ERC : Brillouin4Life (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Condensed matter physics
Entité participante : European Molecular Biology Laboratory — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : EMBL
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1999289.0 €

A long-standing aim in the life sciences is to understand development and morphogenesis, i.e. how organismal shape is encoded by the genome and how cellular mechanics are involved in its execution. Lately, investigations have started to focus on the mechanical properties of the involved multicellular compartments, and the interwoven mechanical - molecular interactions at the cellular scale. While molecular components can routinely be visualized with fluorescence microscopy, assessing the mechanical properties of living cells with similar spatio-temporal resolution in a non-invasive fashion has long been an open challenge. Recently, a new type of optical elastography, namely Brillouin microscopy (BM), has emerged as a non-destructive, label- and contact-free technique which can probe visco-elastic properties of materials with diffraction-limited resolution in 3D. Yet, despite ongoing improvements, virtually all current implementations suffer from very low speed, high phototoxicity, and difficulties in quantification, thus prohibiting meaningful investigations in the life sciences. In this interdisciplinary proposal, my group will develop unique and innovative optical imaging technologies based on BM to overcome its current drawbacks and to establish it as a revolutionary tool for live tissue and cellular biophysics studies. In particular, we will work towards a highly-multiplexed BM with selective-plane illumination to maximize speed, resolution and depth penetration, while minimizing photodamage (Aim 1). At the same time, we will combine BM with other imaging modalities that will allow us to obtain correlative datasets and to accurately quantify the measured mechanical properties (Aim 2). We will then apply these methodological advancements together with fellow biologists to study the role of elasticity in tissue morphogenesis and self-organisation, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the role of biomechanics in developmental biology (Aim 3).

Mots-clés : microscopy,bio imaging,brillouin scattering,mechano biology
Projet ERC : CAPSEL (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Proof of concept grants)
Entité participante : Universidade Nova de Lisboa — Pays : Portugal — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : NOVA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

A low cost and efficient cellulose aluminium polymer multi-ions solid electrolyte (CAPSEL), with ionic conductivity in the range of 1-3 mS/cm, has been produced by a simple process which enables thin and large area battery production. An electrolyte with inherent potential towards Al based batteries and posterior commercialisation. CAPSEL may represent a good alternative to Li based batteries as Al is an abundant, cheaper and less reactive metal compared to Li. The formulation of CAPSEL can be easily adapted to other ions, such as Na and Li. Furthermore, a solid electrolyte can solve many of the safety risks existing in commercially available batteries, in addition to allowing a significant reduction in their size and weight. We expect this project to give an important contribution towards a new class of highly efficiency batteries whose disposal route offers no environmental impacts. This is only possible because of its biodegradable polymeric binder and cellulose as major constituents of the electrolyte. Therefore, CAPSEL can follow conventional recycling routes of paper after the batteries' end-life cycle. CAPSEL also enables the power supply of low-cost and large area disposable applications like e-paper, smart labels and smart packing. The Proof-of-Concept is a unique opportunity to focus on further exploitation of the developed solid electrolyte whilst at the same time concentrating efforts towards the compilation of a suitable product data sheet verified by an independent laboratory - a crucial step prior to engaging with potential investors/partners for either production or commercialisation.

Mots-clés : solid electrolyte,aluminium ions,high conductivity,temperature stability,low cost,simply process,environmental friendly
Projet ERC : HyBurn (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : German Aerospace Center — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : DLR
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1996135.01 €

A major impediment to the economic viability of carbon-free renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power is an inability to effectively utilize the power they generate if it is not immediately needed. One option to address this is to use excess generator capacity during off-peak demand periods to produce hydrogen (H2), a high energy-content, carbon-free fuel that can be mixed with natural gas and distributed to end-users via existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, where its energy content is recovered via combustion in conventional gas-turbine (GT) power plants. H2-enrichment, however, dramatically alters the combustion dynamics of natural-gas and its effect on turbulent flame dynamics, combustion stability and pollutant formation in GT combustors is not well enough understood today for this scenario to be safely implemented with existing power plants. The objective of this study is to facilitate Europe’s transition to a reliable and cost-effective energy system based on carbon-free renewable power generation. It will accomplish this by developing advanced laser measurement techniques for use in high-pressure combustion test facilities and using them to acquire the data necessary to develop robust predictive analysis tools for hydrogen-enriched natural gas combustor technology. This data will analyzed in close collaboration with the simulation and modelling teams and used to rigorously test and validate combustion models and predictive analysis tools currently under development.

Mots-clés : turbulent flame,combustion,laser diagnostics,gas turbine,hydrogen enriched natural gas,turbulence flame interaction,thermoacoustics,plif
Projet ERC : MORE-TEM (Horizon 2020, appel 2020, Synergy grants)
Entité participante : University of Vienna — Pays : Autriche — Rôle : CO-PI
Acronyme de l'entité : Univie
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 8204403.0 €

A major mission of condensed-matter physics is to understand material properties via the knowledge of the energy vs. momentum (q) dispersion and lifetime of fundamental excitations. Unfortunately, none of the available techniques can be applied to emerging nanomaterials: inelastic x-ray scattering & electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in reflection lack the spatial resolution whereas EELS in transmission electron microscopy lacks the needed combined spatial, energy & q-resolution. In MORE-TEM, we develop a new spectrometer enabling to map excitations q-resolved with 0.01 Å-1 resolution and q-averaged down to atomic level, at unprecedented 1 meV energy resolution and at variable temperature between 700K & 4K. This breakthrough is possible by bringing together our synergy group with complementary skills in electron microscopy, electron optics, experimental & theoretical spectroscopy. This opens the so-far unexplored possibility to investigate dispersion and lifetime of phonons, plasmons & excitons in nanomaterials including (organic) molecules, 1D nanotubes, 2D materials, heterostructures & nanocrystals in minerals with a few nm of lateral resolution on samples as thin as an atomic monolayer. Mapping out the spatial and q-landscape of primary excitations will allow us to gain control on quantum phases, like charge-density waves and superconductivity, to engineer new materials for energy (e.g. batteries), (opto-)electronic devices in (organic) electronics, and to model the physical and chemical properties of natural geological systems. This will hugely impact a wide range of applications in physics, chemistry, engineering, as well as in environmental-, geo- & material science. MORE-TEM not only implements features of a large scale facility on a cheaper table-top instrument, but it also pushes q-resolved spectroscopy to the realm of the nanoscale, providing thus a fundamentally new & unique infrastructure for the characterization and optimisation of nanomaterials.

Mots-clés : eels,nanospectrosocopy,electron optics,energy,momentum dispersion of quasiparticles,phonons,plasmons,excitons,hierarchical quantum matter,graphene,nanotubes,2d materials,heterostructures
Projet ERC : DEChriM (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The study of the human past
Entité participante : MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society — Pays : Norvège — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1718980.0 €

A massive corpus of unedited archaeological sources collected over the last two decades from the deserts of Egypt, by far the richest available for the fourth century, sheds a radically new light on Christianity in Egypt. Building on this new dataset, DEChriM reassesses phenomena and developments that are defining for Egypt's Christianisation, such as the chronology and dynamics of the evangelisation, the role played in this process by imperial legislation and institutions, the balance between rural and urban Christian communities, the social and cultural profile of the conveyors of Christianity, strategies for negotiating Christian identity, etc. Grounded in the archaeological record, DEChriM addresses also key issues relating to material culture through, among others, producing a catalogue of fourth-century Christian archaeological material (monuments and artefacts), providing absolute dates and occupation sequences for the most significant monuments, systematising chrono-typologically fourth-century Christian architecture, producing a long overdue catalogue of the ceramic production of the fourth century in Egypt or drafting. As suggested already by the pre-treatment of the corpus, the picture of fourth-century Egyptian Christianity emerging from this mass of data shifts the paradigm with which operates the historiography of late antique Egypt. Whilst deconstructing the prevailing metanarratives on fourth-century Christian Egypt, the project aims for hypercontextualised regional micro-narratives valid for some regions of Egypt, but potentially relevant for or extrapolable to other provinces of the Late Roman Empire. An inter- and trans-disciplinary collective endeavour calling upon a variety of disciplines, methods and techniques, DEChriM constitutes the first in-depth regional study in fourth-century Christian archaeology.

Mots-clés : early christianity,conversion,western desert of egypt,late roman empire,roman army,early christian art,papyrology and ostracology,coptic epigraphy,absolute dating,saharan trade
Projet ERC : NEWFAMSTRAT (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems
Entité participante : University of Bath — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1963716.72 €

A mountain of evidence fails to account for gender inequalities in employment, earnings and unpaid work predicted by partnership and parenthood, leading scholars to deem the hoped-for gender equality revolution “stalled.” We argue the revolution continues, but pockets of progress are only located when unpacking within-gender differences in effects at individual, couple, and employer levels. This research advances state-of-the-art by revealing how sources and outcomes of gender inequalities predicted by partnership and parenthood vary among women and among men in Finland, Germany, and the UK, three countries with contrasting gender, labor market, and welfare regimes. The “shape” of family-related gender stratification is mapped in each country through four comparative subprojects answering the following questions: 1) What does variation in partnership or parental bonuses or penalties across women’s and men’s earnings distributions tell us about within-gender differences in the sources of economic inequalities in all three countries? 2) What do within-gender differences in the impact of unpaid domestic work on family-related earnings premiums or penalties in Germany and the UK tell us about the tradeoff between paid and unpaid work effort? How does the impact of household equity in paid and unpaid work on couple stability vary across the earnings distribution? 3) How does possible British, Finnish, and German employer gender discrimination in hiring vis-à-vis parenthood vary across job skill levels? 4) What is the contribution of employer discrimination to gender-class earnings inequalities predicted by partnership and parenthood in Finland and Germany? Data include several existing national panel and linked employee-employer panel datasets to be analyzed with cutting-edge fixed-effects semi-parametric techniques, as well as new primary data to be gathered on real-time employer hiring decisions via coordinated field correspondence studies.

Mots-clés : social exchange,gendered divisions of labor,family stability
Projet ERC : BACCO (Horizon 2020, appel 2016, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmos de Aragón — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : Partner
Acronyme de l'entité : CEFCA
Type d'entité : Recherche
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

A new generation of galaxy surveys will soon start measuring the spatial distribution of millions of galaxies over a broad range of redshifts, offering an imminent opportunity to discover new physics. A detailed comparison of these measurements with theoretical models of galaxy clustering may reveal a new fundamental particle, a breakdown of General Relativity, or a hint on the nature of cosmic acceleration. Despite a large progress in the analytic treatment of structure formation in recent years, traditional clustering models still suffer from large uncertainties. This limits cosmological analyses to a very restricted range of scales and statistics, which will be one of the main obstacles to reach a comprehensive exploitation of future surveys. Here I propose to develop a novel simulation--based approach to predict galaxy clustering. Combining recent advances in computational cosmology, from cosmological N--body calculations to physically-motivated galaxy formation models, I will develop a unified framework to directly predict the position and velocity of individual dark matter structures and galaxies as function of cosmological and astrophysical parameters. In this formulation, galaxy clustering will be a prediction of a set of physical assumptions in a given cosmological setting. The new theoretical framework will be flexible, accurate and fast: it will provide predictions for any clustering statistic, down to scales 100 times smaller than in state-of-the-art perturbation--theory--based models, and in less than 1 minute of CPU time. These advances will enable major improvements in future cosmological constraints, which will significantly increase the overall power of future surveys maximising our potential to discover new physics.

Mots-clés : n body simulations,galaxy clustering