Project acronym AMOPROX
Project Quantifying Aerobic Methane Oxidation in the Ocean: Calibration and palaeo application of a novel proxy
Researcher (PI) Helen Marie Talbot
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE10, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Methane, a key greenhouse gas, is cycled by microorganisms via two pathways, aerobically and anaerobically. Research on the
marine methane cycle has mainly concentrated on anaerobic processes. Recent biomarker work has provided compelling
evidence that aerobic methane oxidation (AMO) can play a more significant role in cycling methane emitted from sediments than
previously considered. AMO, however, is not well studied requiring novel proxies that can be applied to the sedimentary record. A
group of complex lipids biosynthesised by aerobic methanotrophs known as aminobacteriohopanepolyols represent an ideal target
for developing such poxies. Recently BHPs have been identified in a wide range of modern and recent environments including a
continuous record from the Congo deep sea fan spanning the last 1.2 million years.
In this integrated study, the regulation and expression of BHP will be investigated and calibrated against environmental variables
including temperature, pH, salinity and, most importantly, methane concentrations. The work program has three complementary
strands. (1) Pure culture and sedimentary microcosm experiments providing an approximation to natural conditions. (2) Calibration
of BHP signatures in natural marine settings (e.g. cold seeps, mud volcanoes, pockmarks) against measured methane gradients.
(3) Application of this novel approach to the marine sedimentary record to approximate methane fluxes in the past, explore the age
and bathymetric limits of this novel molecular proxy, and identify and potentially 14C date palaeo-pockmarks structures. Crucial to
the success is also the refinement of the analytical protocols to improve both accuracy and sensitivity, using a more sensitive
analytical instrument (triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer).
Summary
Methane, a key greenhouse gas, is cycled by microorganisms via two pathways, aerobically and anaerobically. Research on the
marine methane cycle has mainly concentrated on anaerobic processes. Recent biomarker work has provided compelling
evidence that aerobic methane oxidation (AMO) can play a more significant role in cycling methane emitted from sediments than
previously considered. AMO, however, is not well studied requiring novel proxies that can be applied to the sedimentary record. A
group of complex lipids biosynthesised by aerobic methanotrophs known as aminobacteriohopanepolyols represent an ideal target
for developing such poxies. Recently BHPs have been identified in a wide range of modern and recent environments including a
continuous record from the Congo deep sea fan spanning the last 1.2 million years.
In this integrated study, the regulation and expression of BHP will be investigated and calibrated against environmental variables
including temperature, pH, salinity and, most importantly, methane concentrations. The work program has three complementary
strands. (1) Pure culture and sedimentary microcosm experiments providing an approximation to natural conditions. (2) Calibration
of BHP signatures in natural marine settings (e.g. cold seeps, mud volcanoes, pockmarks) against measured methane gradients.
(3) Application of this novel approach to the marine sedimentary record to approximate methane fluxes in the past, explore the age
and bathymetric limits of this novel molecular proxy, and identify and potentially 14C date palaeo-pockmarks structures. Crucial to
the success is also the refinement of the analytical protocols to improve both accuracy and sensitivity, using a more sensitive
analytical instrument (triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer).
Max ERC Funding
1 496 392 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-11-01, End date: 2016-04-30
Project acronym BIOMOF
Project Biomineral-inspired growth and processing of metal-organic frameworks
Researcher (PI) Darren Bradshaw
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary This ERC-StG proposal, BIOMOF, outlines a dual strategy for the growth and processing of porous metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, inspired by the interfacial interactions that characterise highly controlled biomineralisation processes. The aim is to prepare MOF (bio)-composite materials of hierarchical structure and multi-modal functionality to address key societal challenges in healthcare, catalysis and energy. In order for MOFs to reach their full potential, a transformative approach to their growth, and in particular their processability, is required since the insoluble macroscopic micron-sized crystals resulting from conventional syntheses are unsuitable for many applications. The BIOMOF project defines chemically flexible routes to MOFs under mild conditions, where the added value with respect to wide-ranging experimental procedures for the growth and processing of crystalline controllably nanoscale MOF materials with tunable structure and functionality that display significant porosity for wide-ranging applications is extremely high. Theme 1 exploits protein vesicles and abundant biopolymer matrices for the confined growth of soluble nanoscale MOFs for high-end biomedical applications such as cell imaging and targeted drug delivery, whereas theme 2 focuses on the cost-effective preparation of hierarchically porous MOF composites over several length scales, of relevance to bulk industrial applications such as sustainable catalysis, separations and gas-storage. This diverse yet complementary range of applications arising simply from the way the MOF is processed, coupled with the versatile structural and physical properties of MOFs themselves indicates strongly that the BIOMOF concept is a powerful convergent new approach to applied materials chemistry.
Summary
This ERC-StG proposal, BIOMOF, outlines a dual strategy for the growth and processing of porous metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, inspired by the interfacial interactions that characterise highly controlled biomineralisation processes. The aim is to prepare MOF (bio)-composite materials of hierarchical structure and multi-modal functionality to address key societal challenges in healthcare, catalysis and energy. In order for MOFs to reach their full potential, a transformative approach to their growth, and in particular their processability, is required since the insoluble macroscopic micron-sized crystals resulting from conventional syntheses are unsuitable for many applications. The BIOMOF project defines chemically flexible routes to MOFs under mild conditions, where the added value with respect to wide-ranging experimental procedures for the growth and processing of crystalline controllably nanoscale MOF materials with tunable structure and functionality that display significant porosity for wide-ranging applications is extremely high. Theme 1 exploits protein vesicles and abundant biopolymer matrices for the confined growth of soluble nanoscale MOFs for high-end biomedical applications such as cell imaging and targeted drug delivery, whereas theme 2 focuses on the cost-effective preparation of hierarchically porous MOF composites over several length scales, of relevance to bulk industrial applications such as sustainable catalysis, separations and gas-storage. This diverse yet complementary range of applications arising simply from the way the MOF is processed, coupled with the versatile structural and physical properties of MOFs themselves indicates strongly that the BIOMOF concept is a powerful convergent new approach to applied materials chemistry.
Max ERC Funding
1 492 970 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-11-01, End date: 2015-10-31
Project acronym CCOSA
Project Classes of combinatorial objects: from structure to algorithms
Researcher (PI) Daniel Kral
Host Institution (HI) THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE1, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary The proposed project aims at analyzing fundamental problems from combinatorics using the most current methods available and at providing new structural and algorithmic insights to such problems. The problems considered will be treated on a general level of classes of combinatorial objects of the same kind and the developed general methods will also be applied to specific open problems. Classes of dense and sparse objects will be treated using different techniques. Dense combinatorial objects appear in extremal combinatorics and tools developed to handle them found their applications in different
areas of mathematics and computer science. The project will focus on extending known methods to new classes of combinatorial objects, in particular those from algebra, and applying the most current techniques including Razborov flag algebras to problems from extremal combinatorics. Applications of the obtained results in property testing will also be considered. On the other hand, algorithmic applications often include manipulating with sparse objects. Examples of sparse objects are graphs embeddable in a fixed surface and more general minor-closed classes of graphs. The project objectives include providing new structural results and algorithmic metatheorems for classes of sparse objects using both classical tools based on the theory of graph minors as well as new tools based on the framework of classes of nowhere-dense structures.
Summary
The proposed project aims at analyzing fundamental problems from combinatorics using the most current methods available and at providing new structural and algorithmic insights to such problems. The problems considered will be treated on a general level of classes of combinatorial objects of the same kind and the developed general methods will also be applied to specific open problems. Classes of dense and sparse objects will be treated using different techniques. Dense combinatorial objects appear in extremal combinatorics and tools developed to handle them found their applications in different
areas of mathematics and computer science. The project will focus on extending known methods to new classes of combinatorial objects, in particular those from algebra, and applying the most current techniques including Razborov flag algebras to problems from extremal combinatorics. Applications of the obtained results in property testing will also be considered. On the other hand, algorithmic applications often include manipulating with sparse objects. Examples of sparse objects are graphs embeddable in a fixed surface and more general minor-closed classes of graphs. The project objectives include providing new structural results and algorithmic metatheorems for classes of sparse objects using both classical tools based on the theory of graph minors as well as new tools based on the framework of classes of nowhere-dense structures.
Max ERC Funding
849 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2015-11-30
Project acronym CHILDCOHAB
Project Nonmarital childbearing in comparative perspective: trends, explanations, and lifecourse trajectories
Researcher (PI) Brienna Perelli-Harris
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), SH3, ERC-2010-StG_20091209
Summary Over the past several decades, childbearing within cohabitation has risen sharply throughout most of Europe, Australia, and the U.S. This project aims to study the diffusion of childbearing within cohabitation using a number of analytic levels and methodological perspectives. We will explore the following questions:
1) Trends: How does fertility differ by union status, and how do these differences change over time? Are there differences by parity, age pattern, or timing? How does the decline in marital fertility contribute to the increase in share of nonmarital births?
2) Explanations: What are the underlying reasons for increasing childbearing within cohabitation? What has produced variation across countries? How do policies impact and/or respond to childbearing within cohabitation? How do societal-level perceptions of cohabitation, marriage, and childbearing differ across countries?
3) Lifecourse trajectories: How do the lifecourse trajectories for women who bear children differ by union status? Are women who give birth within cohabitation more likely to experience changes in family structure? Is childbearing within cohabitation associated with future negative social, emotional, or economic outcomes?
To answer these questions, we will use an innovative mixed-methods strategy that 1) analyzes a unique database of harmonized reproductive and union histories, 2) conducts qualitative research into the role of policies and general perspectives on nonmarital childbearing, and 3) examines longitudinal surveys in comparative perspective. Ultimately, we aim to develop a new theoretical framework for understanding the diffusion of family change. This research will provide insights into whether lifecourse trajectories are diverging, potentially exacerbating social inequality.
Summary
Over the past several decades, childbearing within cohabitation has risen sharply throughout most of Europe, Australia, and the U.S. This project aims to study the diffusion of childbearing within cohabitation using a number of analytic levels and methodological perspectives. We will explore the following questions:
1) Trends: How does fertility differ by union status, and how do these differences change over time? Are there differences by parity, age pattern, or timing? How does the decline in marital fertility contribute to the increase in share of nonmarital births?
2) Explanations: What are the underlying reasons for increasing childbearing within cohabitation? What has produced variation across countries? How do policies impact and/or respond to childbearing within cohabitation? How do societal-level perceptions of cohabitation, marriage, and childbearing differ across countries?
3) Lifecourse trajectories: How do the lifecourse trajectories for women who bear children differ by union status? Are women who give birth within cohabitation more likely to experience changes in family structure? Is childbearing within cohabitation associated with future negative social, emotional, or economic outcomes?
To answer these questions, we will use an innovative mixed-methods strategy that 1) analyzes a unique database of harmonized reproductive and union histories, 2) conducts qualitative research into the role of policies and general perspectives on nonmarital childbearing, and 3) examines longitudinal surveys in comparative perspective. Ultimately, we aim to develop a new theoretical framework for understanding the diffusion of family change. This research will provide insights into whether lifecourse trajectories are diverging, potentially exacerbating social inequality.
Max ERC Funding
1 131 600 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-03-01, End date: 2016-05-31
Project acronym CNTBBB
Project Targeting potential of carbon nanotubes at the blood brain barrier
Researcher (PI) Alexandra Elizabeth Porter
Host Institution (HI) IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Targeted drug delivery across the blood brain barrier (BBB) to the central nervous system is a large challenge for the treatment of neurological disorders. This 4 year ERC program is aimed towards the evaluating the BBB penetration capacity and toxicological potential of novel carbon nanotube (CNT) carriers using an integrated multidisciplinary approach. State-of-art characterisation techniques developed by the PI will be applied and further developed to detect the interaction of carbon nanotubes with in vitro BBB model and neuronal cells. Specific aims:
1. Identify the mechanisms of translocation of CNT across the endothelial cells which comprise the BBB, as well as uptake by neuronal cells in vitro.
2. To investigate the effect of length, diameter and surface charge of CNTs on the BBB and neuronal cells penetration capacity in vitro.
3. To investigate the toxicological profile of CNT on the BBB and the various neuronal cell types (immortalised and primary neuronal cultures).
4. Develop protocols to assess whether the CNTs degrade inside the cell.
The ERC Grant will consolidate the new Research Group in nanomaterials-cell interfaces, and allow them to perform stimulating investigator-initiated frontier research in nanotoxicology and nanomedicine. To this end, a multi-disciplinary laboratory will be realized within the framework of this 4-year the ERC Programme. This will permit the group around the PI, to expand activities, push limits, create new boundaries, and develop new protocols for studying nanoparticle-cell interactions in close collaboration with ICL s Department of medicine and chemistry. Within the proposed program there is an underlying ambition both to gain a fundamental understanding for which parameters of CNTs determine their penetration capacity through the BBB and also to assess their toxicological potential at the BBB two highlighted themes by the ERC.
Summary
Targeted drug delivery across the blood brain barrier (BBB) to the central nervous system is a large challenge for the treatment of neurological disorders. This 4 year ERC program is aimed towards the evaluating the BBB penetration capacity and toxicological potential of novel carbon nanotube (CNT) carriers using an integrated multidisciplinary approach. State-of-art characterisation techniques developed by the PI will be applied and further developed to detect the interaction of carbon nanotubes with in vitro BBB model and neuronal cells. Specific aims:
1. Identify the mechanisms of translocation of CNT across the endothelial cells which comprise the BBB, as well as uptake by neuronal cells in vitro.
2. To investigate the effect of length, diameter and surface charge of CNTs on the BBB and neuronal cells penetration capacity in vitro.
3. To investigate the toxicological profile of CNT on the BBB and the various neuronal cell types (immortalised and primary neuronal cultures).
4. Develop protocols to assess whether the CNTs degrade inside the cell.
The ERC Grant will consolidate the new Research Group in nanomaterials-cell interfaces, and allow them to perform stimulating investigator-initiated frontier research in nanotoxicology and nanomedicine. To this end, a multi-disciplinary laboratory will be realized within the framework of this 4-year the ERC Programme. This will permit the group around the PI, to expand activities, push limits, create new boundaries, and develop new protocols for studying nanoparticle-cell interactions in close collaboration with ICL s Department of medicine and chemistry. Within the proposed program there is an underlying ambition both to gain a fundamental understanding for which parameters of CNTs determine their penetration capacity through the BBB and also to assess their toxicological potential at the BBB two highlighted themes by the ERC.
Max ERC Funding
1 229 998 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-02-01, End date: 2017-01-31
Project acronym CODEMAP
Project COmplex Deep-sea Environments: Mapping habitat heterogeneity As Proxy for biodiversity
Researcher (PI) Veerle Ann Ida Huvenne
Host Institution (HI) NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE10, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Human impact on the deep ocean is rapidly increasing, with largely unknown consequences. Effective management and conservation, based on an ecosystem approach, is hampered by our poor understanding of the deep-sea environment. Measuring biodiversity, the main indicator of ecosystem status and functioning, is a major challenge in deep water: traditional sampling schemes are expensive and time-consuming, and their limited coverage makes it difficult to relate the results to regional patterns. Complex deep-sea environments are especially problematic. Ecosystem hotspots such as canyons or coral reefs contain true 3D morphology that cannot be surveyed with conventional techniques. CODEMAP will quantify habitat heterogeneity in complex deep-sea terrains, and will evaluate its potential as a proxy for benthic biodiversity at a variety of scales. Habitat heterogeneity has been suggested as a major driver for deep-sea biodiversity, but is rarely quantified in a spatial context in the marine realm.
To achieve its goal, CODEMAP will combine the fields of marine geology, ecology, remote sensing and underwater vehicle technology to establish an integrated, statistically robust and fully 3D methodology to map complex deep-sea habitats. Statistical techniques will be developed to extrapolate quantitative habitat information from fine-scale surveys to broad-scale maps. The optimal parameters to measure habitat heterogeneity will be defined, and their potential as biodiversity indicators tested through correlation with traditional approaches. The project focuses on submarine canyons, but the techniques will also be transferred to other environments. CODEMAP is expected to have a strong impact on the fundamental understanding of the deep sea and on ecosystem-based deep-sea management.
Summary
Human impact on the deep ocean is rapidly increasing, with largely unknown consequences. Effective management and conservation, based on an ecosystem approach, is hampered by our poor understanding of the deep-sea environment. Measuring biodiversity, the main indicator of ecosystem status and functioning, is a major challenge in deep water: traditional sampling schemes are expensive and time-consuming, and their limited coverage makes it difficult to relate the results to regional patterns. Complex deep-sea environments are especially problematic. Ecosystem hotspots such as canyons or coral reefs contain true 3D morphology that cannot be surveyed with conventional techniques. CODEMAP will quantify habitat heterogeneity in complex deep-sea terrains, and will evaluate its potential as a proxy for benthic biodiversity at a variety of scales. Habitat heterogeneity has been suggested as a major driver for deep-sea biodiversity, but is rarely quantified in a spatial context in the marine realm.
To achieve its goal, CODEMAP will combine the fields of marine geology, ecology, remote sensing and underwater vehicle technology to establish an integrated, statistically robust and fully 3D methodology to map complex deep-sea habitats. Statistical techniques will be developed to extrapolate quantitative habitat information from fine-scale surveys to broad-scale maps. The optimal parameters to measure habitat heterogeneity will be defined, and their potential as biodiversity indicators tested through correlation with traditional approaches. The project focuses on submarine canyons, but the techniques will also be transferred to other environments. CODEMAP is expected to have a strong impact on the fundamental understanding of the deep sea and on ecosystem-based deep-sea management.
Max ERC Funding
1 401 012 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-04-01, End date: 2017-01-31
Project acronym COSMOLAB
Project Laboratory simulation of cosmological magnetic fields
Researcher (PI) Gianluca Gregori
Host Institution (HI) THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary The advent of high-power laser systems in the past two decades has opened a new field of research where astrophysical environments can be scaled down to laboratory dimensions, yet preserving the essential physics. This is due to the invariance of the equations of ideal magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) to a class of self-similar transformations. In this proposal, we will apply these scaling laws to investigate the dynamics of the high Mach number shocks arising during the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe. Although at the beginning of cosmic evolution matter was nearly homogenously distributed, today, as a result of gravitational instability, it forms a web-like structure made of filaments and clusters. Gas continues to accrete supersonically onto these collapsed structures, thus producing high Mach number shocks. It has been recently proposed that generation of magnetic fields can occur at these cosmic shocks on a cosmologically fast timescale via a Weibel-like instability, thus providing an appealing explanation to the ubiquitous magnetization of the Universe. Our proposal will thus provide the first experimental evidence of such mechanisms. We plan to measure the self-generated magnetic fields from laboratory shock waves using a novel combination of electron deflectometry, Faraday rotation measurements using THz lasers, and dB/dt probes. The proposed investigation on the generation of magnetic fields at shocks via plasma instabilities bears important general consequences. First, it will shed light on the origin of cosmic magnetic fields. Second, it would have a tremendous impact on one of the greatest puzzles of high energy astrophysics, the origin of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays. We plan to assess the role of charged particle acceleration via collisionless shocks in the amplification of the magnetic field as well as measure the spectrum of such accelerated particles. The experimental work will be carried both at Oxford U and at laser facilities.
Summary
The advent of high-power laser systems in the past two decades has opened a new field of research where astrophysical environments can be scaled down to laboratory dimensions, yet preserving the essential physics. This is due to the invariance of the equations of ideal magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) to a class of self-similar transformations. In this proposal, we will apply these scaling laws to investigate the dynamics of the high Mach number shocks arising during the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe. Although at the beginning of cosmic evolution matter was nearly homogenously distributed, today, as a result of gravitational instability, it forms a web-like structure made of filaments and clusters. Gas continues to accrete supersonically onto these collapsed structures, thus producing high Mach number shocks. It has been recently proposed that generation of magnetic fields can occur at these cosmic shocks on a cosmologically fast timescale via a Weibel-like instability, thus providing an appealing explanation to the ubiquitous magnetization of the Universe. Our proposal will thus provide the first experimental evidence of such mechanisms. We plan to measure the self-generated magnetic fields from laboratory shock waves using a novel combination of electron deflectometry, Faraday rotation measurements using THz lasers, and dB/dt probes. The proposed investigation on the generation of magnetic fields at shocks via plasma instabilities bears important general consequences. First, it will shed light on the origin of cosmic magnetic fields. Second, it would have a tremendous impact on one of the greatest puzzles of high energy astrophysics, the origin of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays. We plan to assess the role of charged particle acceleration via collisionless shocks in the amplification of the magnetic field as well as measure the spectrum of such accelerated particles. The experimental work will be carried both at Oxford U and at laser facilities.
Max ERC Funding
1 119 690 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-12-01, End date: 2015-11-30
Project acronym CRITIQUEUE
Project Critical queues and reflected stochastic processes
Researcher (PI) Johannes S.H. Van Leeuwaarden
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE1, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Our primary motivation stems from queueing theory, the branch of applied probability that deals with congestion phenomena. Congestion levels are typically nonnegative, which is why reflected stochastic processes arise naturally in queueing theory. Other applications of reflected stochastic processes are in the fields of branching processes and random graphs.
We are particularly interested in critically-loaded queueing systems (close to 100% utilization), also referred to as queues in heavy traffic. Heavy-traffic analysis typically reduces complicated queueing processes to much simpler (reflected) limit processes or scaling limits. This makes the analysis of complex systems tractable, and from a mathematical point of view, these results are appealing since they can be made rigorous. Within the large
body of literature on heavy-traffic theory and critical stochastic processes, we launch two new research lines:
(i) Time-dependent analysis through scaling limits.
(ii) Dimensioning stochastic systems via refined scaling limits and optimization.
Both research lines involve mathematical techniques that combine stochastic theory with asymptotic theory, complex analysis, functional analysis, and modern probabilistic methods. It will provide a platform enabling collaborations between researchers in pure and applied probability and researchers in performance analysis of queueing systems. This will particularly be the case at TU/e, the host institution, and at
the affiliated institution EURANDOM.
Summary
Our primary motivation stems from queueing theory, the branch of applied probability that deals with congestion phenomena. Congestion levels are typically nonnegative, which is why reflected stochastic processes arise naturally in queueing theory. Other applications of reflected stochastic processes are in the fields of branching processes and random graphs.
We are particularly interested in critically-loaded queueing systems (close to 100% utilization), also referred to as queues in heavy traffic. Heavy-traffic analysis typically reduces complicated queueing processes to much simpler (reflected) limit processes or scaling limits. This makes the analysis of complex systems tractable, and from a mathematical point of view, these results are appealing since they can be made rigorous. Within the large
body of literature on heavy-traffic theory and critical stochastic processes, we launch two new research lines:
(i) Time-dependent analysis through scaling limits.
(ii) Dimensioning stochastic systems via refined scaling limits and optimization.
Both research lines involve mathematical techniques that combine stochastic theory with asymptotic theory, complex analysis, functional analysis, and modern probabilistic methods. It will provide a platform enabling collaborations between researchers in pure and applied probability and researchers in performance analysis of queueing systems. This will particularly be the case at TU/e, the host institution, and at
the affiliated institution EURANDOM.
Max ERC Funding
970 800 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-08-01, End date: 2016-07-31
Project acronym DEGAS
Project Deciphering the Evolution of Galaxies and the Assembly of Structure: Probing the Growth of Non-Linear Structure in the Dark Universe with Statistical Analyses of Galaxy Surveys
Researcher (PI) Iohn Peder Ragnar Norberg
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE9, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary I propose to measure the growth of non-linear structure in the dark universe to answer two fundamental questions in cosmology: Is the Cold Dark Matter structure formation theory compatible with the galaxy distribution on group scales? Is the accelerating expansion of the Universe caused by Dark Energy? This frontier research probes two key components of our standard cosmological model. This study is fundamental for understanding structure formation and galaxy evolution, leading to possible ground-breaking changes in our comprehension of gravitational physics.
I will tackle this ambitious research plan by exploiting my extensive knowledge of galaxy survey analyses and propose to critically test our standard model by measuring three key properties: the shape and evolution of the Cold Dark Matter halo mass function; the efficiency of galaxy formation in Local Group sized systems; the evolution of the growth of structure. To achieve those decisive goals, I will build the DEGAS Team, an inter-disciplinary unit dedicated to solve photometric and spectroscopic survey systematics, to develop optimal clustering statistics for imaging surveys and to create a large variety of state-of-the-art mock Universes to interpret the statistical analyses. The techniques developed will be applied to two world-leading galaxy surveys: GAMA, a multi-wavelength redshift survey of which I am a founder and co-PI, and Pan-STARRS PS1, a unique 3/4-sky imaging survey. Using innovative clustering statistics accounting for individual photometric redshift distributions and statistically robust methods for halo mass function estimates, my DEGAS Team will provide the ultimate test for structure formation models, gain key insights on galaxy evolution and present novel constraints on the nature of gravity.
Summary
I propose to measure the growth of non-linear structure in the dark universe to answer two fundamental questions in cosmology: Is the Cold Dark Matter structure formation theory compatible with the galaxy distribution on group scales? Is the accelerating expansion of the Universe caused by Dark Energy? This frontier research probes two key components of our standard cosmological model. This study is fundamental for understanding structure formation and galaxy evolution, leading to possible ground-breaking changes in our comprehension of gravitational physics.
I will tackle this ambitious research plan by exploiting my extensive knowledge of galaxy survey analyses and propose to critically test our standard model by measuring three key properties: the shape and evolution of the Cold Dark Matter halo mass function; the efficiency of galaxy formation in Local Group sized systems; the evolution of the growth of structure. To achieve those decisive goals, I will build the DEGAS Team, an inter-disciplinary unit dedicated to solve photometric and spectroscopic survey systematics, to develop optimal clustering statistics for imaging surveys and to create a large variety of state-of-the-art mock Universes to interpret the statistical analyses. The techniques developed will be applied to two world-leading galaxy surveys: GAMA, a multi-wavelength redshift survey of which I am a founder and co-PI, and Pan-STARRS PS1, a unique 3/4-sky imaging survey. Using innovative clustering statistics accounting for individual photometric redshift distributions and statistically robust methods for halo mass function estimates, my DEGAS Team will provide the ultimate test for structure formation models, gain key insights on galaxy evolution and present novel constraints on the nature of gravity.
Max ERC Funding
1 256 696 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-01-01, End date: 2016-12-31
Project acronym DINOPRO
Project From Protist to Proxy:
Dinoflagellates as signal carriers for climate and carbon cycling during past and present extreme climate transitions
Researcher (PI) Appy Sluijs
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE10, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary I propose to develop and apply a novel method for the integrated reconstruction of past changes in carbon cycling and climate change. This method will be based on combining a well-established sensitive paleoclimate proxy with a recent discovery: the stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of marine dinoflagellates (algae) and their organic fossils (dinocysts) reflects seawater carbonate chemistry, particularly pCO2. Biological (culture) experiments will lead to new insights in dinoflagellate carbon acquisition, and enable quantification of the effect of carbon speciation on dinoflagellate δ13C. The rises in CO2 concentrations during the last century, and at the termination of the last glacial period will be used to test and calibrate the new method. The δ13C of fossil dinoflagellate cysts will subsequently be used to reconstruct surface ocean pCO2 and ocean acidification during a past analogue of rapidly rising carbon dioxide concentrations, 55 million years ago. My research will shed new light on processes such as ocean acidification and the marine carbon cycle as a whole. Past analogues of rapid carbon injection can aid in the quantification of climate change and identification of vulnerable biological groups, critical to identify ‘tipping points’ in system Earth. The study of dinoflagellate carbon isotopes comprises the initiation of a new research field and will provide constraints on ocean acidification in the past and its consequences in the future.
Summary
I propose to develop and apply a novel method for the integrated reconstruction of past changes in carbon cycling and climate change. This method will be based on combining a well-established sensitive paleoclimate proxy with a recent discovery: the stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of marine dinoflagellates (algae) and their organic fossils (dinocysts) reflects seawater carbonate chemistry, particularly pCO2. Biological (culture) experiments will lead to new insights in dinoflagellate carbon acquisition, and enable quantification of the effect of carbon speciation on dinoflagellate δ13C. The rises in CO2 concentrations during the last century, and at the termination of the last glacial period will be used to test and calibrate the new method. The δ13C of fossil dinoflagellate cysts will subsequently be used to reconstruct surface ocean pCO2 and ocean acidification during a past analogue of rapidly rising carbon dioxide concentrations, 55 million years ago. My research will shed new light on processes such as ocean acidification and the marine carbon cycle as a whole. Past analogues of rapid carbon injection can aid in the quantification of climate change and identification of vulnerable biological groups, critical to identify ‘tipping points’ in system Earth. The study of dinoflagellate carbon isotopes comprises the initiation of a new research field and will provide constraints on ocean acidification in the past and its consequences in the future.
Max ERC Funding
1 498 800 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-09-01, End date: 2016-08-31
