Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-erc-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet ERC : hipQCD (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Fundamental constituents of matter
Entité participante : University of Oxford — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1497016.0 €

The discovery of the Higgs boson at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) marked the beginning of a new era for particle physics. For the first time, we may have an experimentally tested and theoretically coherent picture of fundamental interactions, valid up to very high energies. A thorough exploration of the Higgs sector, to ascertain whether or not the new particle behaves as predicted by the Standard Model is now paramount. Such an investigation is extremely challenging, and it requires absolute control over many complex Higgs signal and background processes. The goal of hipQCD is to develop innovative techniques for highest precision theoretical predictions at colliders, and to apply them for a wide range of high impact Higgs phenomenological studies at the LHC. hipQCD addresses the major Higgs production and decay channels. Its main objectives are 1. to provide realistic predictions at ultimate accuracy for the main Higgs production and decay channels, by developing cutting-edge fully differential predictions at the third order in QCD perturbation theory for Higgs production in gluon and vector boson fusion and for Higgs decay to b quarks; 2. to allow for precise and reliable Higgs characterization studies at very high energy scales, by developing novel techniques to tackle multi-loop amplitudes in extreme kinematics configurations; 3. to significantly improve our description of Higgs production in association with other Standard Model particles, by performing groundbreaking investigations of key 2 → 3 reactions at higher orders in perturbation theory. hipQCD involves different areas of particle theory, ranging from multi-loop amplitude computations to the study of soft/collinear structures in QFT to comprehensive Higgs LHC phenomenology. Besides their crucial impact on Higgs physics, its results could also be applied to a broader range of phenomenological studies and will be essential to fully profit from existing and future collider data.

Mots-clés : pqcd,higher orders,higgs
Projet ERC : LexsemLexcat (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Social Sciences and Humanities
Panel : The Human Mind and Its Complexity
Entité participante : University of Manchester — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1993869.0 €

The distinction between the major lexical categories of noun, verb and adjective figures into myriad linguistic generalizations and has been a center of gravity in the study of language since antiquity. Notwithstanding their importance, lexical categories are poorly understood (see e.g., Baker & Croft 2017). Outstanding is whether there are generalizations about the meanings words in the major categories have. Many have claimed there are, and proposed theories linking meaning and category, in a one to one fashion. Such theories have been criticized, however, in light of clear counterexamples, and consequently the search for a universal link between meaning and category is perceived by many to have been unsuccessful (see von Fintel & Matthewson 2008). This project recasts the search for a link, in the spirit of recent work (Francez & Koontz-Garboden 2017: Chapter 5), not as one for a one-to-one mapping, but for constraints on meaning induced by category. The project targets a domain where the set of relevant meanings is small, but where there is variation in category: property concept sentences—sentences like (1) He is very clever, whose main predicate is an adjective or, (2) akwai shi da waayoo `He is very clever (lit: He exists with cleverness; Hausa; Newman 2000:179)', whose main predicate is not an adjective, but is translated by a sentence whose main predicate is an adjective in languages with a large class of them. Although (1) and (2) have the same meaning, their component parts do not. Recent work shows that the words in property concept sentences that introduce the descriptive content (clever in (1), waayoo (2))--property concept words--vary in meaning, not just in category (Dixon 1982). With three postdocs, this project draws on a 200 language typological survey and in-depth fieldwork to examine the crossclassification of meaning and category in property concept words to shed light on the semantic nature of nouns, verbs, and adjectives generally.

Mots-clés : formal semantics,lexical categories,adjectives,property concepts
Projet ERC : iMove (Horizon 2020, appel 2017, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Neuroscience and Disorders of the Nervous System
Entité participante : Hebrew University of Jerusalem — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : HUJI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1570000.0 €

The drive for rewards controls almost every aspect of our behavior, from stereotypic reflexive behaviors to complex voluntary action. It is therefore not surprising that the symptoms of neurological disorders that interrupt reward processing, such as those stemming from drug-abuse and depression, include deficits in the capacity to make even simple movements. Accordingly, how do rewards drive and shape movements? The brain uses two major subcortical networks to drive behavior: the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. Both areas are essential for the control of movement as damage to either structure leads to severe motor disabilities. Research on the basal ganglia has highlighted their importance in the control of reward-driven behavior-but how the reward information interacts with sensorimotor signals to drive the motor periphery is unknown. By contrast, research on the cerebellum has focused primarily on how sensory error signals are used to optimize motor commands but has mostly ignored the modulatory factors that influence behavior, such as reward. My goal is to unify research on the basal ganglia and cerebellum in order to understand how the computations underlying the influence of reward on action are implemented in the brain. I hypothesize that rewards drive and shape the motor commands in both subcortical networks, albeit with differing behavioral functions. While in the basal ganglia, information about reward is used to mediate selection between multiple actions; I predict that, in the cerebellum, reward potentiates movements to drive more accurate behavior. I will use the monkey smooth pursuit eye movement system as a powerful model motor system to study the neural mechanisms by which reward influences motor processing. I will combine the use of novel behavioral paradigms together with novel application of neural recording and optogenetic stimulation in primates to probe activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum.

Mots-clés : eye movements,basal ganglia,cerebellum
Projet ERC : CLC (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Computer science and informatics
Entité participante : Tel Aviv University — Pays : Israël — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : TAU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1265750.0 €

The efficiency of cryptographic constructions is a fundamental question. Theoretically, it is important to understand how much computational resources are needed to guarantee strong notions of security. Practically, highly efficient schemes are always desirable for real-world applications. More generally, the possibility of cryptography with low complexity has wide applications for problems in computational complexity, combinatorial optimization, and computational learning theory. In this proposal we aim to understand what are the minimal computational resources needed to perform basic cryptographic tasks. In a nutshell, we suggest to focus on three main objectives. First, we would like to get better understanding of the cryptographic hardness of random local functions. Such functions can be computed by highly-efficient circuits and their cryptographic hardness provides a strong and clean formulation for the conjectured average-case hardness of constraint satisfaction problems - a fundamental subject which lies at the core of the theory of computer science. Our second objective is to harness our insights into the hardness of local functions to improve the efficiency of basic cryptographic building blocks such as pseudorandom functions. Finally, our third objective is to expand our theoretical understanding of garbled circuits, study their limitations, and improve their efficiency. The suggested project can bridge across different regions of computer science such as random combinatorial structures, cryptography, and circuit complexity. It is expected to impact central problems in cryptography, while enriching the general landscape of theoretical computer science.

Mots-clés : cryptography,computational complexity
Projet ERC : BeePath (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Life Science
Panel : Environmental Biology, Ecology and Evolution
Entité participante : University of Ulm — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1857780.0 €

The emergence of novel transmission routes is likely to have profound impacts on the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases, with potentially dramatic effects on host populations. This might be particularly drastic when transmission changes from direct to vector-borne transmission, where prevalence and virulence are expected to increase. Despite its importance for disease control, we lack empirical and theoretical understanding of this process. The emergence of Varroa destructor in honeybees provides a unique opportunity to study how a novel vector affects pathogen ecology and evolution: this ectoparasitic mite is a novel vector for Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), a disease linked to severe increases in hive mortality. To study the fundamental evolutionary ecology of emerging vector-borne diseases, I will exploit a unique natural experiment, the presence of Varroa-free island refugia, to test how this novel vector affects epidemiology and evolution in the field. I will adapt cutting-edge single molecule sequencing to guide controlled lab experiments by viral evolution in the wild, establishing novel reverse genetics approaches in DWV to test causal links between phenotypic and molecular evolution. Like all emerging diseases, DWV is a multi-host pathogen that also infects wild bee species not infested by Varroa, such as bumblebees. This raises an additional question, highly relevant for zoonotic diseases: does this specialist honeybee vector impact disease in wild bee populations? I will model the impact of vector acquisition and evolving pathogens on host populations and test potential prevention and mitigation strategies to safeguard these crucial pollinators. This system will not only provide fundamental insights into the evolutionary ecology of disease, but is also of immediate applied importance: bees are key pollinators of crops and wildflowers, and halting population declines facilitated by infectious disease is crucial for food security and biodiversity.

Mots-clés : vector,transmission,virulence,emerging diseases,pollinators
Projet ERC : BEAMOLED (Horizon 2020, appel 2019, Proof of concept grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Systems and communication engineering
Entité participante : Kiel University — Pays : Allemagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : CAU
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 150000.0 €

The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0 as well as the drive for point-of-care biomedical diagnostics is accompanied by a strong need for measuring physical, chemical and biomedical status data in real time with cost-efficient and low-maintenance sensors. With optical measurement techniques being widely employed, miniaturized optical sensor devices are highly promising. Light emitting diodes based on organic semiconductor materials (OLEDs) are experiencing a rapid market growth – in particular in the area of displays. Organic emitter materials may be tailored to any emission wavelength in the visible wavelength range. In addition, cost-efficient fabrication techniques are being developed, for example, based on roll-to-roll fabrication. These properties make OLEDs also very promising for sensor applications. As part of the ERC Starting Grant PhotoSmart (N°307800) we developed an OLED matrix as on-chip light source for switching light-sensitive “smart” surfaces for biosensor applications. OLED matrix devices for sensors require OLEDs with directional emission. We propose to fabricate OLED devices on top of a nanostructured fluorescence waveguide layer and a spacer layer. Wide-angle OLED light emitted is absorbed in the fluorescence layer. By appropriate choice of the fluorescence layer regarding absorption spectrum and emission profile of the photoluminescent emitters, efficient conversion of excitation light to emission into the waveguide is achieved. The design of the nanostructure allows the tailoring of the narrow-angle emitted beam characteristics. Within this project, we seek funds to support validation of our approach for the sensor application, to carry out evaluation of market needs, and to review IP with the goal to start a spin-off company.

Mots-clés : organic light emitting diode,oled,photonic crystal,diffractive optical element,fluorescence,sensor
Projet ERC : SPA4AstroQIT (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Starting grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Universe sciences
Entité participante : University of Oxford — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1991678.0 €

The emerging technology of superconducting parametric amplifiers (SPAs) can achieve quantum-limited sensitivity over broad bandwidth, by utilising the wave-mixing mechanism in a passive nonlinear transmission medium. They are compact, easy to fabricate with planar circuit technology, have ultra-low heat dissipation, and can be integrated directly with other detector circuits. Their performances are far superior to the state-of-the-art high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) amplifier, and they can operate from radio to THz frequencies. Therefore, they could potentially revolutionise almost every kind of microwave, millimetre (mm) and sub-millimetre (sub-mm) instrumentation: from observational astronomy to quantum information experiments. Their deployment as readout amplifiers could improve the heterodyne receiver sensitivity significantly, and enable the construction of large bolometric arrays. Their large bandwidth, high power handling and quantum-noise performance could have profound effect on quantum computing architecture, improve the fidelity to process hundreds of quantum bits (qubit). They can be used as front-end high frequency amplifiers operating at THz frequencies, which is hard to achieve with HEMT technology. In this proposal, I aim to develop: 1) ultra-broadband readout amplifiers for mm/sub-mm astronomical receivers and qubit experiments, which would enable the construction of large pixel-count system; 2) front-end amplifiers at mm frequencies for heterodyne receivers and B-mode Cosmic Microwave Background experiments; and 3) parametric frequency down-converter with positive conversion gain to replace Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) as ultra-low noise heterodyne mixer for large array application. The successful development of these programmes not only could transform the mm/sub-mm instrumentation in the future, but could also have huge impact on many other fields such as telecommunications, medical and quantum computing technology.

Mots-clés : nonlinear physics,electromagnetism,thin films,signal processing,high frequency technology,micro and nano  electronics,interstellar medium,formation and evolution of galaxies
Projet ERC : BacterialCORE (Horizon 2020, appel 2018, Synergy grants)
Entité participante : Hebrew University of Jerusalem — Pays : Israël — Rôle : CO-PI
Acronyme de l'entité : HUJI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 6384741.0 €

The enormous versatility of bacteria enables the formation of multi-species communities that colonize nearly every niche on earth, making them the dominant life form and a major component of the biomass. Exchange of molecular information among neighboring bacteria in such communities, as well as between bacteria and proximal eukaryotic cells, is key for bacterial success. Yet, the principles controlling these multicellular interactions are poorly defined. Here we describe the identification of a bacterial protein complex, herein termed CORE, whose function is to traffic cytoplasmic molecules among different bacterial species, and between pathogenic bacteria and their human host cells. The CORE is composed of five membrane proteins, highly conserved across the entire bacterial kingdom, providing a ubiquitous platform that facilitates both intra- and inter-kingdom crosstalk. Our preliminary data support the idea that the CORE acts as a shared module for the assembly of larger apparatuses, executing this universal molecular flow among organisms. We propose to elucidate components, structure and biogenesis of the CORE machinery, operating during bacteria-bacteria and pathogen-host interactions. We further aim to provide an unbiased-global view of the extent and identity of cytoplasmic molecules traded via CORE including metabolites, proteins and RNA, and to reveal the criteria determining the specificity of the transported cargo. Furthermore, we intend to decipher the impact of CORE-mediated molecular exchange on bacterial physiology and virulence, and devise anti-CORE compounds to combat pathogenic bacteria. This study is expected to transform the way we currently view bacterial communities and host-pathogen interactions. We anticipate these findings to lead to the development of creative strategies to modulate, predict and even design bacterial communities, and lay the foundation for new and innovative approaches to fight bacterial diseases.

Mots-clés : bacteriology,bacterial host interaction,injectisome,flagella,enteropathogenic e  coli,bacterial infection,bacterial communities,bacterial interspecies interaction,epec
Projet ERC : EpiMech (Horizon 2020, appel 2015, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya — Pays : Espagne — Rôle : PI
Acronyme de l'entité : UPC
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1989875.0 €

The epithelium is a cohesive two-dimensional layer of cells attached to a fluid-filled fibrous matrix, which lines most free surfaces and cavities of the body. It serves as a protective barrier with tunable permeability, which must retain integrity in a mechanically active environment. Paradoxically, it must also be malleable enough to self-heal and remodel into functional 3D structures such as villi in our guts or tubular networks. Intrigued by these conflicting material properties, the main idea of this proposal is to view epithelial monolayers as living engineering materials. Unlike lipid bilayers or hydrogels, widely used in biotechnology, cultured epithelia are only starting to be integrated in organ-on-chip microdevices. As for any complex inert material, this program requires a fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationships. (1) Regarding their effective in-plane rheology, at short time-scales epithelia exhibit solid-like behavior while at longer times they flow as a consequence of the only qualitatively understood dynamics of the cell-cell junctional network. (2) As for material failure, excessive tension can lead to epithelial fracture, but as we have recently shown, matrix poroelasticity can also cause hydraulic fracture under stretch. However, it is largely unknown how adhesion molecules, membrane, cytoskeleton and matrix interact to give epithelia their robust and flaw-tolerant resilience. (3) Regarding shaping 3D epithelial structures, besides the classical view of chemical patterning, mechanical buckling is emerging as a major morphogenetic driving force, suggesting that it may be possible design 3D epithelial structures in vitro by mechanical self-assembly. Towards understanding (1,2,3), we will combine a broad range of theoretical, computational and experimental methods. Besides providing fundamental mechanobiological understanding, this project will provide a framework to manipulate epithelia in bioinspired technologies.

Mots-clés : cell and tissue mechanics,epithelia,computational mechanics,poroelasticity,fracture,buckling,biomimetic materials,mechanobiology,biomembranes
Projet ERC : iNanoEOR (Horizon 2020, appel 2014, Consolidator grants)
Domaine scientifique : Physical Sciences and Engineering
Panel : Products and processes engineering
Entité participante : University of Leeds — Pays : Royaume-Uni — Rôle : PI
Type d'entité : Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire
Financement ERC de l'entité : 1958733.0 €

The era of finding “easy oil” is coming to an end, and future supply will become more reliant on fossil fuels produced from enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process. Many EoR methods have been used, including mechanical, chemical, thermal and biological approaches, but there are still 50~70% of the original oil trapped in reservoir rocks after the primary and secondary recovery. NanoEOR, i.e, injecting nanoparticles (NPs) together with flooding fluids, is an emerging field. However all proposed applications are based on pre-fabricated NPs, which encountered enormous problems in NP stabilization and transport under reservoir conditions. This project proposes a revolutionary concept, iNanoEOR: in-situ production of NPs inside the reservoir for enhanced oil recovery. Rather than pre-manufacturing, dispersing and stabilizing NPs in advance, NPs will be produced in the reservoir by controlled hydrothermal reactions, acting as sensors to improve reservoir characterisation, or as property modifiers to effectively mobilize the trapped oil. This project will validate the innovative iNanoEOR concept by answering three questions: i) how the concept works? ii) what kind of NPs should be produced that can effectively mobilize trapped oil? iii) what are desired NP properties to allow them flow through a reservoir? Three work programs are designed, and a number of breakthroughs beyond state-of-art research are expected, which include i) proof-of-concept of the innovative iNanoEOR, ii) developing a new methodology for temperature measurement inside a reservoir, iii) revelation of the influence of NPs on EOR under reservoir-like conditions, iv) understanding the controlling factors in NP transport at different scales. The project will not only contribute directly to iNanoEOR, but also transfers the PI’s expertise in nanomaterials and multiphase flow into oil and gas sector and underpin many NP-related subsurface applications, which currently is non-existing in the Europe.

Mots-clés : nanoparticles,nanosensor,enhanced oil recovery,wettability