Project acronym DCENSY
Project Doping, Charge Transfer and Energy Flow in Hybrid Nanoparticle Systems
Researcher (PI) Uri Banin
Host Institution (HI) THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE4, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary We target a frontier in nanocrystal science of combining disparate materials into a single hybrid nanosystem. This offers an intriguing route to engineer nanomaterials with multiple functionalities in ways that are not accessible in bulk materials or in molecules. Such control of novel material combinations on a single nanoparticle or in a super-structure of assembled nanoparticles, presents alongside with the synthesis challenges, fundamental questions concerning the physical attributes of nanoscale systems. My goals are to create new highly controlled hybrid nanoparticle systems, focusing on combinations of semiconductors and metals, and to decipher the fundamental principles governing doping in nanoparticles and charge and energy transfer processes among components of the hybrid systems. The research addresses several key challenges: First, in synthesis, combining disparate material components into one hybrid nanoparticle system. Second, in self assembly, organizing a combination of semiconductor (SC) and metal nanoparticle building blocks into hybrid systems with controlled architecture. Third in fundamental physico-chemical questions pertaining to the unique attributes of the hybrid systems, constituting a key component of the research. A first aspect concerns doping of SC nanoparticles with metal atoms. A second aspect concerns light-induced charge transfer between the SC part and metal parts of the hybrid constructs. A third related aspect concerns energy transfer processes between the SC and metal components and the interplay between near-field enhancement and fluorescence quenching effects. Due to the new properties, significant impact on nanocrystal applications in solar energy harvesting, biological tagging, sensing, optics and electropotics is expected.
Summary
We target a frontier in nanocrystal science of combining disparate materials into a single hybrid nanosystem. This offers an intriguing route to engineer nanomaterials with multiple functionalities in ways that are not accessible in bulk materials or in molecules. Such control of novel material combinations on a single nanoparticle or in a super-structure of assembled nanoparticles, presents alongside with the synthesis challenges, fundamental questions concerning the physical attributes of nanoscale systems. My goals are to create new highly controlled hybrid nanoparticle systems, focusing on combinations of semiconductors and metals, and to decipher the fundamental principles governing doping in nanoparticles and charge and energy transfer processes among components of the hybrid systems. The research addresses several key challenges: First, in synthesis, combining disparate material components into one hybrid nanoparticle system. Second, in self assembly, organizing a combination of semiconductor (SC) and metal nanoparticle building blocks into hybrid systems with controlled architecture. Third in fundamental physico-chemical questions pertaining to the unique attributes of the hybrid systems, constituting a key component of the research. A first aspect concerns doping of SC nanoparticles with metal atoms. A second aspect concerns light-induced charge transfer between the SC part and metal parts of the hybrid constructs. A third related aspect concerns energy transfer processes between the SC and metal components and the interplay between near-field enhancement and fluorescence quenching effects. Due to the new properties, significant impact on nanocrystal applications in solar energy harvesting, biological tagging, sensing, optics and electropotics is expected.
Max ERC Funding
2 499 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-06-01, End date: 2015-05-31
Project acronym DCFM
Project Default and Collateral in Financial Markets
Researcher (PI) Ioannis Vailakis
Host Institution (HI) THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH1, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The main objective of this project is to research the economic implications of default and collateral in financial markets. It is motivated from the observation that much of the lending in modern economies is secured by some form of collateral and by the empirical fact that modern economies experience a substantial amount of default and bankruptcy. From a theoretical perspective, the research aims to explore new ways of modelling default and collateral and employ them to evaluate the impact of default and collateral on market outcomes. From a policy recommendation perspective, the research aims to develop models with testable implications that can be used by practitioners to discuss the consequences of a wide range of policies. In particular, to explore which kind of regulation procedures should be implemented in order to lower the risk of default and at the same time not to reduce too much risk-sharing. The agenda includes two research directions. The first research direction will focus on the implications of default and collateral in economies with bounded rational agents. Our aim is to understand how default and collateral affect market outcomes in environments where agents are allowed to have very divergent and therefore possibly incorrect beliefs about endogenous economic variables like future prices and delivery rates. The second research direction will focus on the implications of default and collateral in economies with an open ended horizon. Our aim is to investigate endogenous debt constraints that are compatible with equilibrium and simultaneously allow for as much risk sharing as possible.
Summary
The main objective of this project is to research the economic implications of default and collateral in financial markets. It is motivated from the observation that much of the lending in modern economies is secured by some form of collateral and by the empirical fact that modern economies experience a substantial amount of default and bankruptcy. From a theoretical perspective, the research aims to explore new ways of modelling default and collateral and employ them to evaluate the impact of default and collateral on market outcomes. From a policy recommendation perspective, the research aims to develop models with testable implications that can be used by practitioners to discuss the consequences of a wide range of policies. In particular, to explore which kind of regulation procedures should be implemented in order to lower the risk of default and at the same time not to reduce too much risk-sharing. The agenda includes two research directions. The first research direction will focus on the implications of default and collateral in economies with bounded rational agents. Our aim is to understand how default and collateral affect market outcomes in environments where agents are allowed to have very divergent and therefore possibly incorrect beliefs about endogenous economic variables like future prices and delivery rates. The second research direction will focus on the implications of default and collateral in economies with an open ended horizon. Our aim is to investigate endogenous debt constraints that are compatible with equilibrium and simultaneously allow for as much risk sharing as possible.
Max ERC Funding
156 538 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-06-01, End date: 2012-06-30
Project acronym DECLIC
Project Exploring the Decoherence of Light in Cavities
Researcher (PI) Serge Haroche
Host Institution (HI) CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary The transition from quantum to classical is an essential issue in physics. At a practical level, quantum information thrives to build large quantum systems for tasks in communication or computing beyond the reach of classical devices. At the fundamental level, the question is whether there exists, in addition to environment-induced decoherence, another mechanism responsible for the disappearance of state superpositions at the macroscopic scale. Harmonic oscillators coupled to qubits are ideal to probe the limits of the quantum domain. Among various versions of this system, microwave Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics coupling Rydberg atoms to superconducting cavities has developed tools of un-matched sensitivity and precision. Building on these advances and on the development of deterministic atomic sources, DECLIC proposes to explore the dynamics of fields trapped in cavities and to study their decoherence under various perspectives. It will implement novel ways to generate non-classical states with large photon numbers stored in one cavity or non-locally split between two. DECLIC will record the gradual evolution of these states towards classicality and locality. Along this way, it will explore promising processes such as quantum random walks and collective photonic effects leading to non-classical interferometry breaking the standard quantum limit. Beyond witnessing decoherence, DECLIC will investigate ways to manipulate and control it, either by implementing feedback procedures steering the field towards targeted states, or by engineering artificial environments protecting against decoherence specific states of light. These experiments will provide invaluable clues for the understanding of other oscillator-qubit systems exploring the quantum to classical boundary.
Summary
The transition from quantum to classical is an essential issue in physics. At a practical level, quantum information thrives to build large quantum systems for tasks in communication or computing beyond the reach of classical devices. At the fundamental level, the question is whether there exists, in addition to environment-induced decoherence, another mechanism responsible for the disappearance of state superpositions at the macroscopic scale. Harmonic oscillators coupled to qubits are ideal to probe the limits of the quantum domain. Among various versions of this system, microwave Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics coupling Rydberg atoms to superconducting cavities has developed tools of un-matched sensitivity and precision. Building on these advances and on the development of deterministic atomic sources, DECLIC proposes to explore the dynamics of fields trapped in cavities and to study their decoherence under various perspectives. It will implement novel ways to generate non-classical states with large photon numbers stored in one cavity or non-locally split between two. DECLIC will record the gradual evolution of these states towards classicality and locality. Along this way, it will explore promising processes such as quantum random walks and collective photonic effects leading to non-classical interferometry breaking the standard quantum limit. Beyond witnessing decoherence, DECLIC will investigate ways to manipulate and control it, either by implementing feedback procedures steering the field towards targeted states, or by engineering artificial environments protecting against decoherence specific states of light. These experiments will provide invaluable clues for the understanding of other oscillator-qubit systems exploring the quantum to classical boundary.
Max ERC Funding
2 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-02-01, End date: 2016-01-31
Project acronym DECODE
Project Decoding the complexity of quantitative natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Researcher (PI) Olivier Loudet
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS2, ERC-2009-StG
Summary Following a long history of quantitative genetics in crop plants, it now becomes feasible to use naturally-occuring variation contained in Arabidopsis thaliana accessions (lines isolated from natural populations) as the source of quantitative genomics approaches, designed to map QTLs and resolve them at the gene level. Apart from being able to exploit in multiple genetic backgrounds allelic variation that cannot be easily generated by conventional mutagenesis, the (relatively few) success of the QTL studies has often been because of the use of quantitative phenotyping, as opposed to the qualitative gauges used in typical mutant screens. Among the various genetic mechanisms responsible for natural variation that have just started to be revealed, cis-acting regulation is potentially of large impact, despite remaining more difficult to recognize and confirm. The objective of this project is to apply genome-wide quantitative molecular genetics to both, a very integrative and classical quantitative trait (growth in interaction with the environment) and a molecular trait a priori more directly linked to the source of variation (gene expression under cis-regulation). We propose to use a combination of our unique high-troughput phenotyping robot, fine-mapping, complementation approaches and association genetics to pinpoint a significant number of QTLs and eQTLs to the gene level and identify causative polymorphisms and the molecular variation controlling natural diversity. Working at an unprecedented scale should finally allow to resolve enough quantitative loci and pay a significant contribution to drawing a general picture as to how and where in the pathways adaptation is shaping natural variation and improve our understanding of the transcriptional cis-regulatory code.
Summary
Following a long history of quantitative genetics in crop plants, it now becomes feasible to use naturally-occuring variation contained in Arabidopsis thaliana accessions (lines isolated from natural populations) as the source of quantitative genomics approaches, designed to map QTLs and resolve them at the gene level. Apart from being able to exploit in multiple genetic backgrounds allelic variation that cannot be easily generated by conventional mutagenesis, the (relatively few) success of the QTL studies has often been because of the use of quantitative phenotyping, as opposed to the qualitative gauges used in typical mutant screens. Among the various genetic mechanisms responsible for natural variation that have just started to be revealed, cis-acting regulation is potentially of large impact, despite remaining more difficult to recognize and confirm. The objective of this project is to apply genome-wide quantitative molecular genetics to both, a very integrative and classical quantitative trait (growth in interaction with the environment) and a molecular trait a priori more directly linked to the source of variation (gene expression under cis-regulation). We propose to use a combination of our unique high-troughput phenotyping robot, fine-mapping, complementation approaches and association genetics to pinpoint a significant number of QTLs and eQTLs to the gene level and identify causative polymorphisms and the molecular variation controlling natural diversity. Working at an unprecedented scale should finally allow to resolve enough quantitative loci and pay a significant contribution to drawing a general picture as to how and where in the pathways adaptation is shaping natural variation and improve our understanding of the transcriptional cis-regulatory code.
Max ERC Funding
1 742 113 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-02-01, End date: 2016-01-31
Project acronym DEDIGROWTH
Project Dedicated growth of novel 1-dimensional materials for emerging nanotechnological applications
Researcher (PI) Nicole Grobert
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2009-StG
Summary This proposal aims to establish growth systematics for catalytically grown nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, nanorods, carbon and hetero-atomic nanotubes. At present there is no clear understanding of the formation mechanism of these structures. Hence, the control over their properties, a vital aspect for technological applications of nanomaterials, is limited and remains difficult. Therefore, the main target of this proposal is the controlled production of new carbon and non-carbon-based nanomaterials with the focus on achieving structural control of the nanomaterials at the atomic level. An essential step towards the controlled generation of such new nanomaterials is a comprehensive understanding of the growth reactions and the role of the metal catalyst involved in the synthesis process. To achieve this, we will use in-situ techniques to study the chemical environment in the reactor during growth and state-of-the-art electron microscopy to reveal the chemical composition of the resulting catalyst particles and structures with atomic resolution. This data will provide information on how the nanostructure may have formed. Theoretical calculations and modelling of atomic scale processes of the catalyst reactivity will be used to draw a consistent picture of the functioning of the catalyst. An improved understanding of the functioning of the catalyst will allow us to estimate how the catalyst particles and reaction conditions have to be modified in order to enhance or to suppress certain products. A new high-throughput synthesis method together with the systematic variation of the growth parameters, such as cluster particle size and composition, temperature, gas pressure and precursor, will be used to generate a nanomaterials growth library. This nanomaterials library will be made available on the Internet for use by other researchers in planning their experiments.
Summary
This proposal aims to establish growth systematics for catalytically grown nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, nanorods, carbon and hetero-atomic nanotubes. At present there is no clear understanding of the formation mechanism of these structures. Hence, the control over their properties, a vital aspect for technological applications of nanomaterials, is limited and remains difficult. Therefore, the main target of this proposal is the controlled production of new carbon and non-carbon-based nanomaterials with the focus on achieving structural control of the nanomaterials at the atomic level. An essential step towards the controlled generation of such new nanomaterials is a comprehensive understanding of the growth reactions and the role of the metal catalyst involved in the synthesis process. To achieve this, we will use in-situ techniques to study the chemical environment in the reactor during growth and state-of-the-art electron microscopy to reveal the chemical composition of the resulting catalyst particles and structures with atomic resolution. This data will provide information on how the nanostructure may have formed. Theoretical calculations and modelling of atomic scale processes of the catalyst reactivity will be used to draw a consistent picture of the functioning of the catalyst. An improved understanding of the functioning of the catalyst will allow us to estimate how the catalyst particles and reaction conditions have to be modified in order to enhance or to suppress certain products. A new high-throughput synthesis method together with the systematic variation of the growth parameters, such as cluster particle size and composition, temperature, gas pressure and precursor, will be used to generate a nanomaterials growth library. This nanomaterials library will be made available on the Internet for use by other researchers in planning their experiments.
Max ERC Funding
1 276 038 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-02-01, End date: 2016-01-31
Project acronym DEFACT
Project DNA repair factories how cells do biochemistry
Researcher (PI) Michael Lisby
Host Institution (HI) KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS1, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The integrity of a cell's genome is constantly challenged by DNA lesions such as base modifications and DNA strand breaks. A single double-strand break is lethal if unrepaired and may lead to loss-of-heterozygosity, mutations, deletions, genomic rearrangements and chromosome loss if repaired improperly. Such genetic alterations are the main cause of cancer and other genetic diseases. Homologous recombination is an error-free pathway for repairing DNA lesions such as single- and double-strand breaks, and for the restart of collapsed replication forks. This pathway is catalyzed by giga-Dalton protein complexes consisting of dozens of different proteins. These DNA repair factories are able to catalyze complex, multi-step biochemical processes, which have so far failed reconstitution in vitro. The aim of this project is to establish an understanding of how cells catalyze complex biochemical processes such as homologous recombination in vivo. To reach this goal, we will seek to define the complete set of RNA and protein components of DNA repair factories using a combination of genetic, cell biological and biochemical approaches in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Further, we will characterize the molecular architecture of DNA repair factories using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and by applying systematic hybrid loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) to physical interactions among DNA repair proteins. Key findings will be extended to metazoans using the chicken DT40 model system. My aim is to determine the fundamental molecular principles that govern protein factories in living cells. As such, our results are likely to be directly relevant to other protein factories such as DNA replication factories, PML bodies, nuclear pore complexes and transcription clusters.
Summary
The integrity of a cell's genome is constantly challenged by DNA lesions such as base modifications and DNA strand breaks. A single double-strand break is lethal if unrepaired and may lead to loss-of-heterozygosity, mutations, deletions, genomic rearrangements and chromosome loss if repaired improperly. Such genetic alterations are the main cause of cancer and other genetic diseases. Homologous recombination is an error-free pathway for repairing DNA lesions such as single- and double-strand breaks, and for the restart of collapsed replication forks. This pathway is catalyzed by giga-Dalton protein complexes consisting of dozens of different proteins. These DNA repair factories are able to catalyze complex, multi-step biochemical processes, which have so far failed reconstitution in vitro. The aim of this project is to establish an understanding of how cells catalyze complex biochemical processes such as homologous recombination in vivo. To reach this goal, we will seek to define the complete set of RNA and protein components of DNA repair factories using a combination of genetic, cell biological and biochemical approaches in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Further, we will characterize the molecular architecture of DNA repair factories using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and by applying systematic hybrid loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) to physical interactions among DNA repair proteins. Key findings will be extended to metazoans using the chicken DT40 model system. My aim is to determine the fundamental molecular principles that govern protein factories in living cells. As such, our results are likely to be directly relevant to other protein factories such as DNA replication factories, PML bodies, nuclear pore complexes and transcription clusters.
Max ERC Funding
1 700 030 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-12-01, End date: 2014-11-30
Project acronym DELPHI
Project Deterministic Logical Photon-Photon Interactions
Researcher (PI) Philippe Grangier
Host Institution (HI) CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary The main objective of this proposal is to design and implement a novel scheme for efficient, deterministic, lossless photon-photon interactions, and to exploit it to achieve logical processing and quantum measurements on optical light beams. For that purpose, we will create, study and exploit a new transparent medium, based on the transient excitation of Rydberg polaritons, where the optical non-linearities are so large that they can act at the single photon level. These techniques will be applied to perform quantum measurements and manipulations of light beams. This will include the deterministic generation of single photons and optical Schrödinger's cat states, the implementation of quantum non-demolition (QND) measurements for the photon number and the parity operators, and the demonstration of controlled-phase and controlled-not quantum gates. These operations will be implemented in the optical domain, where they can be combined with efficient propagation in free space or in optical fibers, and with high efficiency detectors already available, in order to open an avenue towards a fully deterministic quantum engineering of light.
Summary
The main objective of this proposal is to design and implement a novel scheme for efficient, deterministic, lossless photon-photon interactions, and to exploit it to achieve logical processing and quantum measurements on optical light beams. For that purpose, we will create, study and exploit a new transparent medium, based on the transient excitation of Rydberg polaritons, where the optical non-linearities are so large that they can act at the single photon level. These techniques will be applied to perform quantum measurements and manipulations of light beams. This will include the deterministic generation of single photons and optical Schrödinger's cat states, the implementation of quantum non-demolition (QND) measurements for the photon number and the parity operators, and the demonstration of controlled-phase and controlled-not quantum gates. These operations will be implemented in the optical domain, where they can be combined with efficient propagation in free space or in optical fibers, and with high efficiency detectors already available, in order to open an avenue towards a fully deterministic quantum engineering of light.
Max ERC Funding
2 496 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-01-01, End date: 2014-12-31
Project acronym DELPHINS
Project DESIGN AND ELABORATION OFMULTI-PHYSICS INTEGRATED NANOSYSTEMS
Researcher (PI) Thomas Ernst
Host Institution (HI) COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The innovation of DELPHINS application will consist in building a generic multi-sensor design platform for embedded multi-gas-analysis-on-chip, based on a global modelling from the individual NEMS sensors to a global multiphysics NEMS-CMOS VLSI (Very large Scale Integration) system. The latter constitute a new research field with many potential applications such as in medicine (specific diseases recognition) but also in security (toxic and complex air pollutions), in industry (perfumes, agribusiness) and environment control. As an example, several studies in the last 10 years have demonstrated that some specific combination of biomarkers in breath above a given threshold could indicate early stage of diseases. More generally, patterns of breathing gas could constitute a virtual fingerprint of specific pathologies. NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems) based sensor is one of the most promising technologies to get the required resolutions and sensitivities for few molecules detection. We will focus on the analytical module of the system (sensing part + embedded electronics processing) that will include ultra-dense (more than thousands) NEMS arrays with state-of the art CMOS transistors. We will obtain integrated nano-oscillators individually addressed within an innovative architecture inspired from memory and imaging technologies. Few molecules sensitivity will be achieved thanks to suspended resonant nanowires co-integrated locally with their closed-loop and reading electronics. This would make possible the analysis of complex gases within an integrated portable system, which does not exist yet.
Summary
The innovation of DELPHINS application will consist in building a generic multi-sensor design platform for embedded multi-gas-analysis-on-chip, based on a global modelling from the individual NEMS sensors to a global multiphysics NEMS-CMOS VLSI (Very large Scale Integration) system. The latter constitute a new research field with many potential applications such as in medicine (specific diseases recognition) but also in security (toxic and complex air pollutions), in industry (perfumes, agribusiness) and environment control. As an example, several studies in the last 10 years have demonstrated that some specific combination of biomarkers in breath above a given threshold could indicate early stage of diseases. More generally, patterns of breathing gas could constitute a virtual fingerprint of specific pathologies. NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems) based sensor is one of the most promising technologies to get the required resolutions and sensitivities for few molecules detection. We will focus on the analytical module of the system (sensing part + embedded electronics processing) that will include ultra-dense (more than thousands) NEMS arrays with state-of the art CMOS transistors. We will obtain integrated nano-oscillators individually addressed within an innovative architecture inspired from memory and imaging technologies. Few molecules sensitivity will be achieved thanks to suspended resonant nanowires co-integrated locally with their closed-loop and reading electronics. This would make possible the analysis of complex gases within an integrated portable system, which does not exist yet.
Max ERC Funding
1 723 206 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-11-01, End date: 2014-10-31
Project acronym DEMIG
Project The determinants of international migration: A theoretical and empirical assessment of policy, origin and destination effects
Researcher (PI) Hein Gysbert De Haas
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH3, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The main question of this research project is: how do migration policies of receiving and sending states affect the size, direction and nature of international migration to wealthy countries? The effectiveness of migration policies has been widely contested in the face of their apparent failure to steer immigration and their many unintended, perverse effects. Due to fundamental conceptual and methodological flaws, most empirical evidence has remained largely descriptive and biased by omitting crucial sending country and policy variables. This project answers this question by embedding the systematic empirical analysis of policy effects into a comprehensive theoretical framework of the macro and meso-level forces driving international migration to and from wealthy countries. This is achieved by linking separately evolved migration theories focusing on either sending or receiving countries and integrating them with theories on the internal dynamics of migration processes. A systematic review and categorisation of receiving and sending country migration policies will provide an improved operationalisation of policy variables. Subsequently, this framework will be subjected to quantitative empirical tests drawing on gross and bilateral (country-to-country) migration flow data, with a particular focus on Europe. Methodologically, this project is groundbreaking by introducing a longitudinal, double comparative approach by studying migration flows of multiple origin groups to multiple destination countries. This design enables a unique, simultaneous analysis of origin and destination country, network and policy effects. Theoretically, this research project is innovative by going beyond simple push-pull and equilibrium models and linking sending and receiving side, and economic and non-economic migration theory. This project is policy-relevant by improving insight in the way policies shape migration processes in their interaction with other migration determinants
Summary
The main question of this research project is: how do migration policies of receiving and sending states affect the size, direction and nature of international migration to wealthy countries? The effectiveness of migration policies has been widely contested in the face of their apparent failure to steer immigration and their many unintended, perverse effects. Due to fundamental conceptual and methodological flaws, most empirical evidence has remained largely descriptive and biased by omitting crucial sending country and policy variables. This project answers this question by embedding the systematic empirical analysis of policy effects into a comprehensive theoretical framework of the macro and meso-level forces driving international migration to and from wealthy countries. This is achieved by linking separately evolved migration theories focusing on either sending or receiving countries and integrating them with theories on the internal dynamics of migration processes. A systematic review and categorisation of receiving and sending country migration policies will provide an improved operationalisation of policy variables. Subsequently, this framework will be subjected to quantitative empirical tests drawing on gross and bilateral (country-to-country) migration flow data, with a particular focus on Europe. Methodologically, this project is groundbreaking by introducing a longitudinal, double comparative approach by studying migration flows of multiple origin groups to multiple destination countries. This design enables a unique, simultaneous analysis of origin and destination country, network and policy effects. Theoretically, this research project is innovative by going beyond simple push-pull and equilibrium models and linking sending and receiving side, and economic and non-economic migration theory. This project is policy-relevant by improving insight in the way policies shape migration processes in their interaction with other migration determinants
Max ERC Funding
1 186 768 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-01-01, End date: 2014-12-31
Project acronym DENDRITE
Project Cellular and circuit determinants of dendritic computation
Researcher (PI) Michael Andreas Hausser
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS5, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary What is the fundamental unit of computation in the brain? Answering this question is crucial not only for understanding how the brain works, but also for building accurate models of brain function, which require abstraction based on identification of the essential elements for carrying out computations relevant to behaviour. We will directly test the possibility that single dendritic branches may act as individual computational units during behaviour, challenging the classical view that the neuron is the fundamental unit of computation. We will address this question using a combination of electrophysiological, anatomical, imaging, molecular, and modeling approaches to probe dendritic integration in pyramidal cells and Purkinje cells in mouse cortex and cerebellum. We will define the computational rules for integration of synaptic input in dendrites by examining the responses to different spatiotemporal patterns of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. We will use computational modeling to extract simple rules describing dendritic integration that captures the essence of the computation. Next, we will determine how these rules are engaged by patterns of sensory stimulation in vivo, by using various strategies to map the spatiotemporal patterns of synaptic inputs to dendrites. To understand how physiological patterns of activity in the circuit engage these dendritic computations, we will use anatomical approaches to map the wiring diagram of synaptic inputs to individual dendrites. Finally, we will manipulate dendritic function using molecular tools, in order to provide causal links between specific dendritic computations and sensory processing. These experiments will provide us with deeper insights into how single neurons act as computing devices, and how fundamental computations that drive behaviour are implemented on the level of single cells and neural circuits.
Summary
What is the fundamental unit of computation in the brain? Answering this question is crucial not only for understanding how the brain works, but also for building accurate models of brain function, which require abstraction based on identification of the essential elements for carrying out computations relevant to behaviour. We will directly test the possibility that single dendritic branches may act as individual computational units during behaviour, challenging the classical view that the neuron is the fundamental unit of computation. We will address this question using a combination of electrophysiological, anatomical, imaging, molecular, and modeling approaches to probe dendritic integration in pyramidal cells and Purkinje cells in mouse cortex and cerebellum. We will define the computational rules for integration of synaptic input in dendrites by examining the responses to different spatiotemporal patterns of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. We will use computational modeling to extract simple rules describing dendritic integration that captures the essence of the computation. Next, we will determine how these rules are engaged by patterns of sensory stimulation in vivo, by using various strategies to map the spatiotemporal patterns of synaptic inputs to dendrites. To understand how physiological patterns of activity in the circuit engage these dendritic computations, we will use anatomical approaches to map the wiring diagram of synaptic inputs to individual dendrites. Finally, we will manipulate dendritic function using molecular tools, in order to provide causal links between specific dendritic computations and sensory processing. These experiments will provide us with deeper insights into how single neurons act as computing devices, and how fundamental computations that drive behaviour are implemented on the level of single cells and neural circuits.
Max ERC Funding
2 416 078 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-06-01, End date: 2016-05-31
