Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Emulating Nature: Reaction Diversity and Understanding through Asymmetric Catalysis (ENOLCAT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2017-06-30
Duration (months): 69.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1497005.0
EU funding (EUR): 1497005.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The remarkable way that Nature prepares complex natural products has always been a source of inspiration to scientists, stimulating the development of new synthetic methods and strategies, as elegantly demonstrated by biomimetic approaches to total synthesis. Similarly, the performance and specificity of enzymes, perfected though evolution, offer ideals of selectivity and specificity that synthetic chemists aspire to. This proposal aims to develop an internationally leading research programme inspired by Nature’s ability to selectively generate diverse products from simple materials with exquisite levels of regio- and enantiocontrol. We aspire to synthetically emulate the elegant behaviour of Nature’s building blocks, such as co-enzyme A, in their ability to generate synthetic diversity (such as polyketides and alkaloids) from a simple and common starting material. Using this blueprint, we intend to selectively control the synthesis of a diverse range of bespoke stereodefined carbo- and heterocycles from readily available starting materials using simple man-made catalysts. We specifically aim to develop new strategies within the field of organic catalysis, focused upon the development of methods for the in situ catalytic generation of chiral ammonium enolates from carboxylic acids and their employment in catalysis. We also propose to develop a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of these processes. In preliminary work we have delineated a simple and efficient approach to this problem by employing chiral isothioureas as asymmetric catalysts, and we aim to build on the insight provided by these studies to develop this powerful concept into a generally applicable synthetic strategy.

Keywords: lewis base catalysis,organocatalysis,tandem catalysis,enolate generation,isothiourea
Molecular Networks with precision Terahertz Spectroscopy (MONTES)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Countries involved: Austria
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1471200.0
EU funding (EUR): 1471200.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Terahertz frequencies match the vibrations between large functional groups in molecular networks from macromolecules, nano-droplets to proteins. If we are able to measure these oscillations we can decipher the structure and the long-range interactions in large molecular systems. This yields a precise fingerprint of the molecule that is highly useful for sensitive trace analysis. However, despite of a lot of research in the field, high precision spectroscopy in the former terahertz gap for isolated large molecular networks has not been developed yet. In this project I will develop the necessary tools to measure terahertz transition frequencies in large, mass-selected molecular systems with high resolution. For this purpose a cryogenic radiofrequency ion trap will be coupled to a terahertz resonator cavity. This will allow excitation of a dilute sample of molecular ions in well-defined internal quantum states with single-frequency terahertz radiation. My vision is to achieve high spectral resolution and single-ion sensitivity for almost arbitrarily large molecular systems in the terahertz regime which will initiate a new field for molecular spectroscopy. To explore the potential of the newly-developed methods, I propose to study molecular networks of fundamental importance in chemistry, biology and astronomy. Vibration-tunneling dynamics will be studied in water cluster ions. Torsional motion of biological chromophores and its role in the quenching of the fluorescent state will be investigated. And the spectral signatures of molecules that are promising candidates for detection in the interstellar medium will be determined.

Keywords: precision terahertz spectroscopy,cryogenic ion trap,buffer gas cooling,action spectroscopy,molecular and cluster ions,laboratory astrophysics
Quantum Optics with Spins in Solid State: The Power of Ensembles (SOLIDSPINQOPT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-02-01
End date: 2017-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1500000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1500000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Quantum states of optical pulses can be controlled with great accuracy, and in solid state precise control over quantum states of spins has been achieved. Conversion of such optical quantum states into spin quantum states, and vice versa, is highly relevant for quantum information science, but appears to be more challenging. This proposal aims at a study of such quantum-state conversion, and at developing it into a fast and robust technique with high fidelity. The project builds on the established idea that spins in semiconductors provide a promising system for such research, but pioneers two innovations. A key ingredient is to use ensembles of electron spins, instead of the more widely studied case of an individual spin in a quantum dot. Using ensembles gives access to strong interaction between spins and highly-directional optical fields in a robust manner, without a need for high-finesse cavities. This is vital for the second innovation, which is to use projective measurement with quantum optical techniques as a robust tool for preparing very pure correlations between quantum states of spins and optical pulses. The correlations originate from spin-flip Raman transitions at the single photon level, and this approach also gives access to studying entanglement between spins that are separated by a large distance. During this project, the same quantum optical techniques will be used for time-resolved probing of the loss of quantum coherence, and initialization experiments aimed at preparing the solid-state environment in a state that yields longer spin coherence times. The experiments use donor-bound electron spins in GaAs where spin decoherence is mainly due to interaction with fluctuating nuclear spins in the host lattice. The project includes a new approach for pumping these fluctuations away. Work with donor-bound electrons in ZnSe, where the lattice has nuclear spin zero, explores how the single nuclear spin of the donor can act as a long-lived quantum memory.

Keywords: quantum decoherence,quantum entanglement,quantum communication,spin coherence in semiconductors,dynamical nuclear polarization,semiconductor optics
Flexible object manipulation based on statistical learning and topological representations (FLEXBOT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Countries involved: Sweden
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2017-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1398720.0
EU funding (EUR): 1398720.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A vision for the future are autonomous and semi-autonomous systems that perform complex tasks safely and robustly in interaction with humans and the environment. The action of such a system needs to be carefully planned and executed, taking into account the available sensory feedback and knowledge about the environment. Many of the existing approaches view motion planning as a geometrical problem, not taking the uncertainty into account. Our goal is to study how different type of representations and algorithms from the area of machine learning and classical mathematics can be used to solve some of the open problems in the area of action recognition and action generation. FLEXBOT will explore how how topological representations can be used for an integrated approach toward i) vision based understanding of complex human hand motion, ii) mapping and control of robotics hands and iii) integrating the topological representations with models for high-level task encoding and planning. Our research opens for new and important areas scientifically and technologically. Scientifically, we push for new way of thinking in an area that has traditionally been born from mechanical modeling of bodies. Technologically, we will provide methods plausible for evaluation of new designs of robotic and prosthetic hands. Further development of machine learning and computer vision methods will allow for scene understanding that goes beyond the assumption of worlds of rigid bodies, including complex objects such as hands.

Keywords: robotics,machine learning,computer vision
Atmospheric oxygen as a driver of plant evolution over the past 400 million years (OXYEVOL)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Earth system science
Countries involved: Ireland
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-02-01
End date: 2017-01-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1584013.2
EU funding (EUR): 1584013.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The evolution of complex organisms over one billion years ago is intimately linked with a rise in atmospheric oxygen levels (O2) over a critical threshold that would support essential metabolic processes. Over the past 500 million years O2 has varied between lows of 10% to highs of 35%, compared with current ambient levels of ~21%.Critical events in animal evolutionary history have been linked with shifts in atmospheric O2 such as the origination and radiation of mammals and selective extinction of many land vertebrate groups, at three of the five great mass extinction boundaries. The potential role of O2 as a driver of plant evolution has been almost completely overlooked, despite evidence from space science which shows that sub-ambient O2 can negatively impact all aspects of plant reproduction, phloem loading and photosynthesis. This proposal will address this severe gap in our knowledge of the importance of O2 in shaping patterns in plant evolution, by investigating the role of long-term trends in atmospheric O2 on the timing of major reproductive and vegetative innovations in the plant fossil record. This palaeobotanical approach utilizing the plant fossil record will be coupled with a series of highly novel ‘atmospheric miniworld’ experiments where representative plant taxa from all three major reproductive grades will be subjected to the atmospheric O2:CO2 conditions into which they likely originated and diversified. We will address whether tipping points in the ecological dominance of different evolutionary groups of land plants (angiosperms/ gymnosperms/ pteridophytes) were driven by shifts in prevailing atmospheric O2 content. We will achieve these objectives by conducting controlled competition experiments incorporating all three reproductive grades in miniworlds with differing atmospheric O2:CO2 ratios.

Keywords: palaeobotany,palaeoatmospheres,extinction,speciation,controlled environment experiments,plant physiology
Debris in extrasolar planetary systems (DEBRIS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Universe sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1497920.0
EU funding (EUR): 1497920.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal concerns the debris discs of nearby stars; ie, discs of asteroids, comets and dust. Such dust can be imaged, providing clues to the underlying planetary system. Debris images have already predicted planets later confirmed in direct imaging. Most debris lies in cold outer (~100AU) regions of planetary systems, but a growing number of stars have hot dust in regions where terrestrial planets are expected (few AU). This proposal aims learn about the planetary systems of nearby stars through study of their debris discs. Specific focus is on the frontier area of characterisation and modelling of dust within planetary systems, which is important for the design of missions to detect habitable planets, a high priority goal for the next decade. The PI has played a significant role in debris disc studies, and proposes to consolidate an independent research team in Cambridge. The proposal covers 3 studies supported by 3 PDRAs. Specific objectives are: 1) Debris disc observations: Carry out survey for cold debris around unbiased sample of nearest 500 stars with Herschel and SCUBA2. Follow-up bright discs with high resolution imaging using ALMA and JWST to characterise sub-structure from planets and search for dust at multiple radii. Pioneer survey for hot dust using polarisation and interferometry. 2) Debris disc modelling: Develop new model to follow the interplay between collisions, radiation pressure, P-R drag, sublimation, disintegration, and dynamical interactions with planets. Use model to consider nature of small particle halos, resonant ring structures formed by terrestrial planets, and level of cometary dust scattered into inner regions. 3) Debris disc origin: Demonstrate constraints placed on planet formation models through studies of dust from Earth-moon forming impacts, effect of planetesimals on late-stage planetary dynamics, population synthesis explaining planets and debris, constraints on primordial size and stirring of debris.

Keywords: debris discs,detection of terrestrial planets
Modular Assembly of DNA-based systems; bio-inspired artificial allosteric assemblies (MADNA)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-09-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1430003.0
EU funding (EUR): 1430003.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Artificial allosteric systems, i.e. (semi-)synthetic systems that give an autonomous response to changes in their environment, are of great interest for applications as sensors, drug delivery and drug targeting. The overall aim of this proposal is the development of bio-inspired DNA-based artificial allosteric systems that are of interest for biological and bio-medical applications. In the present proposal, DNA will be used as the general scaffold for the design and construction of artificial allosteric systems and DNA-strand exchange will be used as a key mechanism to affect a predictable structural change in the system, resulting in a measurable response. Structure switching aptamers will be used to make this response small molecule dependent.

Keywords: allostery,split proteins,dna conjugates,dna,nucleases,artificial pores,ion channels
Self replication in dynamic molecular networks (REPLI)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Materials and Synthesis
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-09-01
End date: 2017-02-28
Duration (months): 66.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1499702.0
EU funding (EUR): 1499702.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Self-replicating molecules have most likely played an important role in the origin of life. This proposal explores the use of dynamic combinatorial chemistry for identifying new self-replicating molecules. We will make dynamic combinatorial libraries of macrocyclic molecules of different ring sizes that can exchange building blocks through reversible covalent chemistry. The building blocks are equipped with peptides that are predisposed to form beta-sheets. The building blocks, which carry only one peptide, do not self-associate, while sufficiently large macrocycles, which display multiple peptides, will self-assemble into extended tubular structures. The self-assembly process will drive the synthesis of the very macrocycle that assembles by shifting the equilibrium in favour of its formation. There is also a kinetic effect: the ends of the resulting fibres promote the formation of more of the constituent macrocycles. Breaking fibres through agitation is an efficient way of generating more fibre ends, which allows for exponential growth of the replicator. The dependence of growth on mechanical energy translates into a selection criterion when multiple replicators compete for the same building block. The replicator that forms fibres that fragment most readily under a given set of agitation conditions will win. We have already identified the first building block that shows the behaviour described above. We now propose to investigate in detail: (1) The mechanism of replication. We aim to find out what exactly happens at the molecular level at the fibre end during fibre growth. (2) The influence of the peptide sequence and aromatic core of the building blocks. We expect to be able to tune the size of the replicating macrocycle by altering the strength of the interactions between the peptides. (3) The competition between replicators in an "open system"; i.e. with a continuous influx of building block and "death" of some of the replicators through an outflux of a fraction

Keywords: self-replication,dynamic combinatorial chemistry,peptide chemistry,soft materials
Engineering electronic quantum coherence and correlations in hybrid nanostructures (HYBRIDNANO)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Countries involved: France
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2016-12-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1780442.0
EU funding (EUR): 1780442.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Nanoelectronic devices can provide versatile and relatively simple systems to study complex quantum phenomena under well-controlled, adjustable conditions. Existing technologies enable the fabrication of low-dimensional nanostructures, such as quantum dots (QDs), in which it is possible to add or remove individual electrons, turn on and off interactions, and tune the properties of the confined electronic states, simply by acting on a gate voltage or by applying a magnetic field. The hybrid combination of such nanostructures, having microscopic (atomic-like) quantum properties, with metallic elements, embedding different types of macroscopic electronic properties (due, e.g., to ferromagnetism or superconductivity), can open the door to unprecedented research opportunities. Hybrid nanostructures can serve to explore new device concepts with so far unexploited functionalities and, simultaneously, provide powerful tools to study fundamental aspects of general relevance to condensed-matter physics. Only recently, following progress in nanotechnology, have hybrid nanostructures become accessible to experiments. Here we propose an original approach that takes advantage of recently developed self-assembled QDs grown on Si-based substrates. These QDs have many attractive properties (well-established growth, ease of contacting, etc.). We will integrate single and multiple QDs with normal-metal, superconducting, and ferromagnetic electrodes and explore device concepts such as spin valves, spin pumps, and spin transistors (a long standing challenge). Using these hybrid devices we will study spin-related phenomena such as the dynamics of confined and propagating spin states in different solid-state environments (including superconducting boxes), long-distance spin correlations and entanglement. The new knowledge expected from these experiments is likely to have a broad impact extending from quantum spintronics to other areas of nanoelectronics (e.g. superconducting electronics).

Keywords: quantum dot,transport,spin,coherence,superconductivity,ferromagnetism,correlations
Electric Control of Magnetization Dynamics (ECOMAGICS)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Countries involved: Germany,Germany
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2017-10-31
Duration (months): 70.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1495860.0
EU funding (EUR): 1495860.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

In this proposal a new electric field based approach for the control of magnetization dynamics is discussed. The advantage of using electric fields compared to magnetic fields is twofold: (i) electric fields are easy to confine in nano-structures (screening), and (ii) no current flow is required which may allow for the development of new spintronic devices with ultra low power consumption. Physically the application of an electric field to an ultrathin ferromagnetic material gives rise to modification of the wave-function overlap at the interface between a ferromagnetic metal and a dielectric. This electronic tuning causes a modified occupation of the d-orbitals at the interface and leads to electrically induced anisotropies. Hence external electric fields generate internal magnetic fields. Due to the modified orbital moment also a large voltage induced effect on the Gilbert damping is expected in magnetization dynamic experiments. In principle these fields can be applied even on ultrafast time scales. This will be explored when rf-electric fields are used to drive internal magnetic fields in the GHz frequency range to generate spin-waves. Furthermore this technique will be used to excite monochromatic spin-waves with wave-vectors well in the exchange dominated regime in order to study their propagation properties. I propose to use the spin-wave Doppler effect in order to break the intrinsic mirror symmetry required in for four-magnon scattering processes. In this way the resonance saturation may be tuned electrically to much larger values. Moreover electrically driven surface acoustic waves will be used to generate spin-waves which will be manipulated by an electric current using the spin-wave Doppler effect. The research described in the proposal is likely to have a large impact as a shift to electric field controlled spintronic devices is favorable on small length scales. In addition the power consumption of these devices may be reduced significantly.

Keywords: non-linear dynamics,spin-orbit interaction