Project acronym 123STABLE
Project Towards Nanostructured Electrocatalysts with Superior Stability
Researcher (PI) Nejc HODNIK
Host Institution (HI) KEMIJSKI INSTITUT
Country Slovenia
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE4, ERC-2019-STG
Summary In the last decades, significant progress has been made on understanding and controlling solid/liquid electrochemical interfaces at atomic levels. As the principles guiding the activity of electrochemical reactions are quite well established (structure-activity relationships), the fundamentals of stability are still poorly understood (structure-stability relationships). 123STABLE proposes to employ (1) identical location, (2) online monitoring and (3) modeling of noble metals based nanoparticles changes with the state-of-the-art electron microscopy equipment and online dissolution and evolution analytics using electrochemical flow cell coupled to online mass spectrometers. Projects unique methodology approach with picogram sensitivity levels, in combination with sub-atomic scale microscopy insights and simulations, promises novel atomistic insights into the corrosion and reconstruction of noble metals in electrochemical environments. This unique approach is based on observations of the same nanoparticles before and after electrochemical treatment where weak and stable atomic features and events can be recognized, followed, understood and finally utilized. Upon (1) doping, (2) decoration and/or (3) other synthetic modification of nanoparticles like a change in size and shape further stabilization is envisioned. For instance, blockage of nanoparticle vulnerable defected sites like steps or kinks by more noble metal could stop or significantly slow down their degradation.
The 123STABLE project will feature platinum- and iridium-based nanostructures as a model system to introduce a unique “123” approach, as they still possess the best electrocatalytic properties for the future electrification of society through the Hydrogen economy. However, their electrochemical stability is still not sufficient. Coupled with the fact that their supply is hindered by extremely scarce, rare and uneven geological distribution, the increase in their stability is of immense importance.
Summary
In the last decades, significant progress has been made on understanding and controlling solid/liquid electrochemical interfaces at atomic levels. As the principles guiding the activity of electrochemical reactions are quite well established (structure-activity relationships), the fundamentals of stability are still poorly understood (structure-stability relationships). 123STABLE proposes to employ (1) identical location, (2) online monitoring and (3) modeling of noble metals based nanoparticles changes with the state-of-the-art electron microscopy equipment and online dissolution and evolution analytics using electrochemical flow cell coupled to online mass spectrometers. Projects unique methodology approach with picogram sensitivity levels, in combination with sub-atomic scale microscopy insights and simulations, promises novel atomistic insights into the corrosion and reconstruction of noble metals in electrochemical environments. This unique approach is based on observations of the same nanoparticles before and after electrochemical treatment where weak and stable atomic features and events can be recognized, followed, understood and finally utilized. Upon (1) doping, (2) decoration and/or (3) other synthetic modification of nanoparticles like a change in size and shape further stabilization is envisioned. For instance, blockage of nanoparticle vulnerable defected sites like steps or kinks by more noble metal could stop or significantly slow down their degradation.
The 123STABLE project will feature platinum- and iridium-based nanostructures as a model system to introduce a unique “123” approach, as they still possess the best electrocatalytic properties for the future electrification of society through the Hydrogen economy. However, their electrochemical stability is still not sufficient. Coupled with the fact that their supply is hindered by extremely scarce, rare and uneven geological distribution, the increase in their stability is of immense importance.
Max ERC Funding
1 496 750 €
Duration
Start date: 2020-01-01, End date: 2024-12-31
Project acronym CABUM
Project An investigation of the mechanisms at the interaction between cavitation bubbles and contaminants
Researcher (PI) Matevz DULAR
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI
Country Slovenia
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE8, ERC-2017-COG
Summary A sudden decrease in pressure triggers the formation of vapour and gas bubbles inside a liquid medium (also called cavitation). This leads to many (key) engineering problems: material loss, noise and vibration of hydraulic machinery. On the other hand, cavitation is a potentially a useful phenomenon: the extreme conditions are increasingly used for a wide variety of applications such as surface cleaning, enhanced chemistry, and waste water treatment (bacteria eradication and virus inactivation).
Despite this significant progress a large gap persists between the understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to the effects of cavitation and its application. Although engineers are already commercializing devices that employ cavitation, we are still not able to answer the fundamental question: What precisely are the mechanisms how bubbles can clean, disinfect, kill bacteria and enhance chemical activity? The overall objective of the project is to understand and determine the fundamental physics of the interaction of cavitation bubbles with different contaminants. To address this issue, the CABUM project will investigate the physical background of cavitation from physical, biological and engineering perspective on three complexity scales: i) on single bubble level, ii) on organised and iii) on random bubble clusters, producing a progressive multidisciplinary synergetic effect.
The proposed synergetic approach builds on the PI's preliminary research and employs novel experimental and numerical methodologies, some of which have been developed by the PI and his research group, to explore the physics of cavitation behaviour in interaction with bacteria and viruses.
Understanding the fundamental physical background of cavitation in interaction with contaminants will have a ground-breaking implications in various scientific fields (engineering, chemistry and biology) and will, in the future, enable the exploitation of cavitation in water and soil treatment processes.
Summary
A sudden decrease in pressure triggers the formation of vapour and gas bubbles inside a liquid medium (also called cavitation). This leads to many (key) engineering problems: material loss, noise and vibration of hydraulic machinery. On the other hand, cavitation is a potentially a useful phenomenon: the extreme conditions are increasingly used for a wide variety of applications such as surface cleaning, enhanced chemistry, and waste water treatment (bacteria eradication and virus inactivation).
Despite this significant progress a large gap persists between the understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to the effects of cavitation and its application. Although engineers are already commercializing devices that employ cavitation, we are still not able to answer the fundamental question: What precisely are the mechanisms how bubbles can clean, disinfect, kill bacteria and enhance chemical activity? The overall objective of the project is to understand and determine the fundamental physics of the interaction of cavitation bubbles with different contaminants. To address this issue, the CABUM project will investigate the physical background of cavitation from physical, biological and engineering perspective on three complexity scales: i) on single bubble level, ii) on organised and iii) on random bubble clusters, producing a progressive multidisciplinary synergetic effect.
The proposed synergetic approach builds on the PI's preliminary research and employs novel experimental and numerical methodologies, some of which have been developed by the PI and his research group, to explore the physics of cavitation behaviour in interaction with bacteria and viruses.
Understanding the fundamental physical background of cavitation in interaction with contaminants will have a ground-breaking implications in various scientific fields (engineering, chemistry and biology) and will, in the future, enable the exploitation of cavitation in water and soil treatment processes.
Max ERC Funding
1 904 565 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-07-01, End date: 2023-06-30
Project acronym CCedit
Project Coiled-coil mediated exonuclease tethering technology for the enhancement of CRISPR gene editing
Researcher (PI) Roman Jerala
Host Institution (HI) KEMIJSKI INSTITUT
Country Slovenia
Call Details Proof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2019-PoC
Summary The discovery and implementation of CRISPR technology represents a milestone for biotechnology and life sciences in general as the genomes of virtually all organisms can be modified by this technology and have already resulted in billions of euros of added value. With this technique, selected genes can be rather easily inactivated (knock out), which is one of the key applications of CRISPR for cell-based therapy and industrial biotechnology. Any improvement of the efficiency of CRISPR therefore has very high value and potential impact. Recently we designed Cas9 DNA targeting and cleavage complex to be tethered to the ExoIII exonuclease via an engineered coiled-coil (CC) dimer, developed in the ERC AdG project MaCChines. We found that it strongly improved inactivation of target genes, even better than direct genetic fusion of Cas9-ExoIII. Since this invention has a substantial translation potential we recently filed a patent application (priority number EP19192490).
The strategic frontier of CCedit is to maximise the value of this enhancement of Cas9/CRISPR technology and establish the innovation potential arising from the ERC project MaCChines in the pre-demonstration phase.
Specific objectives are to:
• Refine the components of the CCedit technology and its implementation for specific applications;
• Establish technological viability and its placement within the framework of Cas9/CRISPR technology;
• Demonstrate and select most promising implementations of this technology for applications;
• Investigate the IP, FTO and policy regulations landscape and further develop the IP portfolio;
• Develop the business plan and commercialisation strategy for the technology;
• Disseminate information on this technology and raise the interest of companies and other potential users of this technology and obtain links to early stage funding.
• Train members of the project team and local community on entrepreneurial skills in biotech
Summary
The discovery and implementation of CRISPR technology represents a milestone for biotechnology and life sciences in general as the genomes of virtually all organisms can be modified by this technology and have already resulted in billions of euros of added value. With this technique, selected genes can be rather easily inactivated (knock out), which is one of the key applications of CRISPR for cell-based therapy and industrial biotechnology. Any improvement of the efficiency of CRISPR therefore has very high value and potential impact. Recently we designed Cas9 DNA targeting and cleavage complex to be tethered to the ExoIII exonuclease via an engineered coiled-coil (CC) dimer, developed in the ERC AdG project MaCChines. We found that it strongly improved inactivation of target genes, even better than direct genetic fusion of Cas9-ExoIII. Since this invention has a substantial translation potential we recently filed a patent application (priority number EP19192490).
The strategic frontier of CCedit is to maximise the value of this enhancement of Cas9/CRISPR technology and establish the innovation potential arising from the ERC project MaCChines in the pre-demonstration phase.
Specific objectives are to:
• Refine the components of the CCedit technology and its implementation for specific applications;
• Establish technological viability and its placement within the framework of Cas9/CRISPR technology;
• Demonstrate and select most promising implementations of this technology for applications;
• Investigate the IP, FTO and policy regulations landscape and further develop the IP portfolio;
• Develop the business plan and commercialisation strategy for the technology;
• Disseminate information on this technology and raise the interest of companies and other potential users of this technology and obtain links to early stage funding.
• Train members of the project team and local community on entrepreneurial skills in biotech
Max ERC Funding
150 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2020-02-01, End date: 2021-07-31
Project acronym Cell-Lasers
Project Intracellular lasers: Coupling of optical resonances with biological processes
Researcher (PI) Matjaz HUMAR
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN
Country Slovenia
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2019-STG
Summary Recently, micro-sized lasers have been integrated into biological systems including cells and tissues. Currently the most frequently used techniques to study complex processes in live cells employ fluorescent probes. However, fluorescent probes have several disadvantages including photobleaching, sensitivity to environmental factors, potential phototoxicity and broad emission spectrum, which limits their sensitivity, multiplexing ability and imaging capabilities in biological tissues. The transition from detecting laser emission from bio-integrated lasers instead of fluorescence represents a paradigm shift. Due to narrow emission linewidth, high coherence, large intensity and highly nonlinear output from lasers, they open huge opportunities in ultrasensitive sensing, spectral multiplexing and microscopy. The applicant has recently for the first time demonstrated a laser completely embedded inside a live human cell. However, to date it has only been demonstrated that laser light can be generated within the cell, but not how is the laser output coupled to the biophysical and biochemical processes inside cells. The goal of Cell-Lasers is to study these intimate interactions including forces acting within cells, properties of natural cavities in lipid droplets and the intracellular chemical environment. Since the spectral positions of laser lines do not change with propagation through scattering and absorbing media, the cell lasers will enable multiplexed sensing, tracking and localization of cells embedded deep inside tissues. In the long term Cell-Lasers aims to transform the bio-integrated lasers from being a pure scientific curiosity into powerful tool for the study of biophysical and biochemical processes taking place on a single cell level.
Summary
Recently, micro-sized lasers have been integrated into biological systems including cells and tissues. Currently the most frequently used techniques to study complex processes in live cells employ fluorescent probes. However, fluorescent probes have several disadvantages including photobleaching, sensitivity to environmental factors, potential phototoxicity and broad emission spectrum, which limits their sensitivity, multiplexing ability and imaging capabilities in biological tissues. The transition from detecting laser emission from bio-integrated lasers instead of fluorescence represents a paradigm shift. Due to narrow emission linewidth, high coherence, large intensity and highly nonlinear output from lasers, they open huge opportunities in ultrasensitive sensing, spectral multiplexing and microscopy. The applicant has recently for the first time demonstrated a laser completely embedded inside a live human cell. However, to date it has only been demonstrated that laser light can be generated within the cell, but not how is the laser output coupled to the biophysical and biochemical processes inside cells. The goal of Cell-Lasers is to study these intimate interactions including forces acting within cells, properties of natural cavities in lipid droplets and the intracellular chemical environment. Since the spectral positions of laser lines do not change with propagation through scattering and absorbing media, the cell lasers will enable multiplexed sensing, tracking and localization of cells embedded deep inside tissues. In the long term Cell-Lasers aims to transform the bio-integrated lasers from being a pure scientific curiosity into powerful tool for the study of biophysical and biochemical processes taking place on a single cell level.
Max ERC Funding
1 492 090 €
Duration
Start date: 2020-05-01, End date: 2025-04-30
Project acronym EIRENE
Project Post-war trasistions in gendered perspective: the case of the North-Eastern Adricatic Region
Researcher (PI) Marta VERGINELLA
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI
Country Slovenia
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), SH6, ERC-2016-ADG
Summary The EIRENE project’s purpose is to think afresh 20th-century post-war transitions by taking into account a gendered perspective. Namely, the historiographic consideration of gender thoroughly alters the understanding of social dynamics in multi-ethnic areas during the post-war transitions. They will be observed in the North-Eastern Adriatic region, an overlooked European space, marked by border redefinitions, changes of political systems, and high interethnic conflict intensity, but also by genuine cooperation among ethnic groups. The region has all the qualities of a “laboratory environment” for the study of gender positions and interrelations after World Wars I and II and after the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. The project will differ substantially from previous attempts to analyse post-war transitions in these aspects: a) longitudinal approach, comparing three post-war periods in order to detect their specifics and (dis)continuities; b) transnational approach, by overcoming nation-centric frameworks of analysis; c) by combining conceptual political and social sciences with historiography; and finally, d) by examining post-war transitions through the prism of gender. Focusing on four research-fields (politics, political violence, work, family), the project will validate innovative analytical concepts of the “inclusion-exclusion paradox” of women in post-war transitions, and women as “cross-boundary mediators”. Within the category of gender, focal attention will be given to women as they are often invisible in historical accounts and remain neglected in historicizing. By aggregating empirical sources, the project will approach the proposed subject matter by investigating the processes of identification across the lines of ethnic origin, class, generations, marital status, profession/occupation, language of use, migratory processes, etc. The project’s added value is its novel conceptual applicability to other comparable geopolitical areas.
Summary
The EIRENE project’s purpose is to think afresh 20th-century post-war transitions by taking into account a gendered perspective. Namely, the historiographic consideration of gender thoroughly alters the understanding of social dynamics in multi-ethnic areas during the post-war transitions. They will be observed in the North-Eastern Adriatic region, an overlooked European space, marked by border redefinitions, changes of political systems, and high interethnic conflict intensity, but also by genuine cooperation among ethnic groups. The region has all the qualities of a “laboratory environment” for the study of gender positions and interrelations after World Wars I and II and after the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. The project will differ substantially from previous attempts to analyse post-war transitions in these aspects: a) longitudinal approach, comparing three post-war periods in order to detect their specifics and (dis)continuities; b) transnational approach, by overcoming nation-centric frameworks of analysis; c) by combining conceptual political and social sciences with historiography; and finally, d) by examining post-war transitions through the prism of gender. Focusing on four research-fields (politics, political violence, work, family), the project will validate innovative analytical concepts of the “inclusion-exclusion paradox” of women in post-war transitions, and women as “cross-boundary mediators”. Within the category of gender, focal attention will be given to women as they are often invisible in historical accounts and remain neglected in historicizing. By aggregating empirical sources, the project will approach the proposed subject matter by investigating the processes of identification across the lines of ethnic origin, class, generations, marital status, profession/occupation, language of use, migratory processes, etc. The project’s added value is its novel conceptual applicability to other comparable geopolitical areas.
Max ERC Funding
2 266 067 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-12-01, End date: 2022-11-30
Project acronym FAIME
Project Flavour Anomalies with advanced particle Identification MEthods
Researcher (PI) Peter KRIZAN
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN
Country Slovenia
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2019-ADG
Summary In the proposed research, precision measurements of rare processes involving heavy quarks and leptons will be used to search for new phenomena beyond the Standard Model, popularly known as New Physics. This research at the intensity frontier is complementary to searches at the highest achievable energies carried out at the LHC proton-proton collider. Indications of very interesting discrepancies have recently been observed by three experiments (LHCb, BaBar, and Belle) between their results and predictions of the Standard Model in certain classes of decays of B mesons, which involve leptons in the final state. The proposed project will address these issues by using large event samples collected with the Belle II detector at a new electron-positron collider, SuperKEKB. By investigating a broad range of selected rare decays of B and D, the project will attempt to provide a definite answer on the violation of Lepton Flavour Universality, one of the cornerstones of our current understanding of the interactions among the elementary particles. Based on the results of these studies, the final stages of the project will be devoted to possible explanations and to studies of transitions that would be based on related new physics phenomena.
Within the proposed research programme, novel, highly advanced identification methods for charged particles will also be developed. They will be of crucial importance to suppress backgrounds arising from other, much more abundant decays in measurements of rare processes where the sensitivity to a possible contribution of New Physics is largest. The proposed research will strongly benefit from the fact that the same group that contributed substantially to the physics programme, concept, design, and construction of the detector, will also carry out the development of novel analysis methods, their calibration and optimization for individual reactions.
Summary
In the proposed research, precision measurements of rare processes involving heavy quarks and leptons will be used to search for new phenomena beyond the Standard Model, popularly known as New Physics. This research at the intensity frontier is complementary to searches at the highest achievable energies carried out at the LHC proton-proton collider. Indications of very interesting discrepancies have recently been observed by three experiments (LHCb, BaBar, and Belle) between their results and predictions of the Standard Model in certain classes of decays of B mesons, which involve leptons in the final state. The proposed project will address these issues by using large event samples collected with the Belle II detector at a new electron-positron collider, SuperKEKB. By investigating a broad range of selected rare decays of B and D, the project will attempt to provide a definite answer on the violation of Lepton Flavour Universality, one of the cornerstones of our current understanding of the interactions among the elementary particles. Based on the results of these studies, the final stages of the project will be devoted to possible explanations and to studies of transitions that would be based on related new physics phenomena.
Within the proposed research programme, novel, highly advanced identification methods for charged particles will also be developed. They will be of crucial importance to suppress backgrounds arising from other, much more abundant decays in measurements of rare processes where the sensitivity to a possible contribution of New Physics is largest. The proposed research will strongly benefit from the fact that the same group that contributed substantially to the physics programme, concept, design, and construction of the detector, will also carry out the development of novel analysis methods, their calibration and optimization for individual reactions.
Max ERC Funding
2 446 811 €
Duration
Start date: 2020-10-01, End date: 2025-09-30
Project acronym HiPeR-F
Project Challenging the Oxidation-State Limitations of the Periodic Table via High-Pressure Fluorine Chemistry
Researcher (PI) Matic LOZINSEK
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN
Country Slovenia
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE4, ERC-2020-STG
Summary The HiPeR-F project aims to establish a new frontier research direction – high-pressure fluorine chemistry, by method development and a merger of two highly specialised and experimentally demanding fields, namely high-pressure experiments in diamond anvil cell and inorganic fluorine chemistry. Fluorine under high pressure represents a breakthrough testing environment for challenging the oxidation-state limitations of the elements in the periodic table. Tantalizing theoretical indications have been provided recently for the existence of compounds with elements displaying unusual and exotic formal oxidation states, and even the possibility of the inner electronic shell involvement in chemical bonding. However, extreme conditions of very high pressure (in GPa range) and extreme chemical reactivity (fluorine) are required and this is currently limited to in silico investigations. Experiment lags substantially behind the theory. The experimental verification of exciting computational predictions is of paramount importance and will be pursued in HiPeR-F. Targeted compounds with elements in exotic oxidation states are at the edge of existence and are eminently difficult to synthesise, but are also of significant interest to the scientific community at large. Novel compounds obtained in high-pressure experiments could exhibit unusual electronic structures and thus exotic physical properties. High-pressure fluorochemistry thus represents a genuine new direction in modern chemistry with exciting possibilities and would enable a frontier research that would significantly advance our understanding of many facets of chemistry.
Summary
The HiPeR-F project aims to establish a new frontier research direction – high-pressure fluorine chemistry, by method development and a merger of two highly specialised and experimentally demanding fields, namely high-pressure experiments in diamond anvil cell and inorganic fluorine chemistry. Fluorine under high pressure represents a breakthrough testing environment for challenging the oxidation-state limitations of the elements in the periodic table. Tantalizing theoretical indications have been provided recently for the existence of compounds with elements displaying unusual and exotic formal oxidation states, and even the possibility of the inner electronic shell involvement in chemical bonding. However, extreme conditions of very high pressure (in GPa range) and extreme chemical reactivity (fluorine) are required and this is currently limited to in silico investigations. Experiment lags substantially behind the theory. The experimental verification of exciting computational predictions is of paramount importance and will be pursued in HiPeR-F. Targeted compounds with elements in exotic oxidation states are at the edge of existence and are eminently difficult to synthesise, but are also of significant interest to the scientific community at large. Novel compounds obtained in high-pressure experiments could exhibit unusual electronic structures and thus exotic physical properties. High-pressure fluorochemistry thus represents a genuine new direction in modern chemistry with exciting possibilities and would enable a frontier research that would significantly advance our understanding of many facets of chemistry.
Max ERC Funding
2 368 135 €
Duration
Start date: 2021-01-01, End date: 2025-12-31
Project acronym LOGOS
Project Light-operated logic circuits from photonic soft-matter
Researcher (PI) Igor MUSEVIC
Host Institution (HI) INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN
Country Slovenia
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE7, ERC-2019-ADG
Summary I propose a revolutionary photonic technology based on self-assembled soft matter that is likely to evolve into currently unforeseen, futuristic technologies. The liquid nature and responsiveness of soft matter delivers the spontaneous self-assembly of tuneable liquid micro-lasers, liquid micro-fibres, liquid light switches, and tuneable optical micro-resonators with extremely smooth interfaces, low optical losses, elastic deformability and self-healing, all of which are difficult to obtain with hard matter. These photonic micro-devices operate exclusively on light and can be easily integrated into 3D photonic chips by micro-injection into a polymer scaffold or elastic binding via topological defect loops and points.
LOGOS will create integrated and self-organized photonic chips with the focus on four specific challenges: (i) an all optically switchable spherical 3D Bragg-onion optical transistor made of chiral liquid crystals (LCs), (ii) logic micro-gates made of LCs that operate entirely on light, (iii) optically switchable Whispering-Gallery-Mode LC micro-resonators that redirect light, and (iv) soft-matter photonic integrated circuits in 3D assembled using topology. The validity of the approach will be demonstrated by AND and NAND logic gates, and an add-drop Whispering-Gallery-Mode filter, which will be assembled from soft matter and will use only light to perform the logic operation and optical signal gating and redirecting beyond the GHz range.
This very high-risk, high-gain proposal challenges the mainstream photonic roadmaps by offering a disruptive technology that reduces production times, waste and energy, and enables light processing by light, all currently difficult to obtain in the solid state. LOGOS’s results will not only have a major impact on future data centres and optical networks, but could also revolutionize implantable, biocompatible and wearable photonics.
Summary
I propose a revolutionary photonic technology based on self-assembled soft matter that is likely to evolve into currently unforeseen, futuristic technologies. The liquid nature and responsiveness of soft matter delivers the spontaneous self-assembly of tuneable liquid micro-lasers, liquid micro-fibres, liquid light switches, and tuneable optical micro-resonators with extremely smooth interfaces, low optical losses, elastic deformability and self-healing, all of which are difficult to obtain with hard matter. These photonic micro-devices operate exclusively on light and can be easily integrated into 3D photonic chips by micro-injection into a polymer scaffold or elastic binding via topological defect loops and points.
LOGOS will create integrated and self-organized photonic chips with the focus on four specific challenges: (i) an all optically switchable spherical 3D Bragg-onion optical transistor made of chiral liquid crystals (LCs), (ii) logic micro-gates made of LCs that operate entirely on light, (iii) optically switchable Whispering-Gallery-Mode LC micro-resonators that redirect light, and (iv) soft-matter photonic integrated circuits in 3D assembled using topology. The validity of the approach will be demonstrated by AND and NAND logic gates, and an add-drop Whispering-Gallery-Mode filter, which will be assembled from soft matter and will use only light to perform the logic operation and optical signal gating and redirecting beyond the GHz range.
This very high-risk, high-gain proposal challenges the mainstream photonic roadmaps by offering a disruptive technology that reduces production times, waste and energy, and enables light processing by light, all currently difficult to obtain in the solid state. LOGOS’s results will not only have a major impact on future data centres and optical networks, but could also revolutionize implantable, biocompatible and wearable photonics.
Max ERC Funding
2 474 268 €
Duration
Start date: 2021-01-01, End date: 2025-12-31
Project acronym MaCChines
Project Molecular machines based on coiled-coil protein origami
Researcher (PI) Roman JERALA
Host Institution (HI) KEMIJSKI INSTITUT
Country Slovenia
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS9, ERC-2017-ADG
Summary Proteins are the most versatile and complex smart nanomaterials, forming molecular machines and performing numerous functions from structure building, recognition, catalysis to locomotion. Nature however explored only a tiny fraction of possible protein sequences and structures. Design of proteins with new, in nature unseen shapes and features, offers high rewards for medicine, technology and science. In 2013 my group pioneered the design of a new type of modular coiled-coil protein origami (CCPO) folds. This type of de novo designed proteins are defined by the sequence of coiled-coil (CC) dimer-forming modules that are concatenated by flexible linkers into a single polypeptide chain that self-assembles into a polyhedral cage based on pairwise CC interactions. This is in contrast to naturally evolved proteins where their fold is defined by a compact hydrophobic core. We recently demonstrated the robustness of this strategy by the largest de novo designed single chain protein, construction of tetrahedral, pyramid, trigonal prism and bipyramid cages that self-assemble in vivo.
This proposal builds on unique advantages of CCPOs and represents a new frontier of this branch of protein design science. I propose to introduce functional domains into selected positions of CCPO cages, implement new types of building modules that will enable regulated CCPO assembly and disassembly, test new strategies of caging and release of cargo molecules for targeted delivery, design knotted and crosslinked protein cages and introduce toehold displacement for the regulated structural rearrangement of CCPOs required for designed molecular machines, which will be demonstrated on protein nanotweezers. Technology for the positional combinatorial library-based single pot assembly of CCPO genes will provide high throughput of CCPO variants. Project will result in new methodology, understanding of potentials of CCPOs for designed molecular machines and in demonstration of different applications.
Summary
Proteins are the most versatile and complex smart nanomaterials, forming molecular machines and performing numerous functions from structure building, recognition, catalysis to locomotion. Nature however explored only a tiny fraction of possible protein sequences and structures. Design of proteins with new, in nature unseen shapes and features, offers high rewards for medicine, technology and science. In 2013 my group pioneered the design of a new type of modular coiled-coil protein origami (CCPO) folds. This type of de novo designed proteins are defined by the sequence of coiled-coil (CC) dimer-forming modules that are concatenated by flexible linkers into a single polypeptide chain that self-assembles into a polyhedral cage based on pairwise CC interactions. This is in contrast to naturally evolved proteins where their fold is defined by a compact hydrophobic core. We recently demonstrated the robustness of this strategy by the largest de novo designed single chain protein, construction of tetrahedral, pyramid, trigonal prism and bipyramid cages that self-assemble in vivo.
This proposal builds on unique advantages of CCPOs and represents a new frontier of this branch of protein design science. I propose to introduce functional domains into selected positions of CCPO cages, implement new types of building modules that will enable regulated CCPO assembly and disassembly, test new strategies of caging and release of cargo molecules for targeted delivery, design knotted and crosslinked protein cages and introduce toehold displacement for the regulated structural rearrangement of CCPOs required for designed molecular machines, which will be demonstrated on protein nanotweezers. Technology for the positional combinatorial library-based single pot assembly of CCPO genes will provide high throughput of CCPO variants. Project will result in new methodology, understanding of potentials of CCPOs for designed molecular machines and in demonstration of different applications.
Max ERC Funding
2 497 125 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-09-01, End date: 2023-08-31
Project acronym MODES
Project Modal analysis of atmospheric balance, predictability and climate
Researcher (PI) Nedjeljka Zagar
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI
Country Slovenia
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE10, ERC-2011-StG_20101014
Summary Despite large progress in modelling of atmospheric processes and computing capabilities and concentrated efforts to increase complexity of the atmospheric models, the assessment of accuracy of natural atmospheric climate variability, its predictability and interaction with anthropogenic influences is far from well understood. This project aims to advance scientific understanding of dynamical properties of the atmosphere and climate systems over many spatial and temporal scales.
It is proposed to study atmospheric balance and predictability in terms of the energy percentage which is associated with various types of motions, balanced or Rossby-type of motions and unbalanced or inertio-gravity motions. This representation of the atmosphere is called the normal-mode function representation and it is a heart of methodology proposed in this project.
The projects is built on theoretical foundation set in 1970s at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in USA and with the support of original developers it will apply normal-mode function representation tool to issues for which it could not have been reliably applied earlier. The project relies on accomplishments of the proposal’s PI in weather and data assimilation modeling which this project will extend to new research areas.
The project will quantify balance in analysis datasets and ensemble forecasting systems and use the results as a starting point for climate model assessment for their ability to represent the present climate and possible changes of balance in model simulations of future climate scenarios. Results will allow dynamical classification of climate models based on their balance properties. Predictability issues will be studied by comparing temporal variability of balance in the forecasts in terms of various spatial scales. An important project outcome will be a free-access, user-friendly tool for carrying out a physically-based analysis of weather and climate model outputs.
Summary
Despite large progress in modelling of atmospheric processes and computing capabilities and concentrated efforts to increase complexity of the atmospheric models, the assessment of accuracy of natural atmospheric climate variability, its predictability and interaction with anthropogenic influences is far from well understood. This project aims to advance scientific understanding of dynamical properties of the atmosphere and climate systems over many spatial and temporal scales.
It is proposed to study atmospheric balance and predictability in terms of the energy percentage which is associated with various types of motions, balanced or Rossby-type of motions and unbalanced or inertio-gravity motions. This representation of the atmosphere is called the normal-mode function representation and it is a heart of methodology proposed in this project.
The projects is built on theoretical foundation set in 1970s at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in USA and with the support of original developers it will apply normal-mode function representation tool to issues for which it could not have been reliably applied earlier. The project relies on accomplishments of the proposal’s PI in weather and data assimilation modeling which this project will extend to new research areas.
The project will quantify balance in analysis datasets and ensemble forecasting systems and use the results as a starting point for climate model assessment for their ability to represent the present climate and possible changes of balance in model simulations of future climate scenarios. Results will allow dynamical classification of climate models based on their balance properties. Predictability issues will be studied by comparing temporal variability of balance in the forecasts in terms of various spatial scales. An important project outcome will be a free-access, user-friendly tool for carrying out a physically-based analysis of weather and climate model outputs.
Max ERC Funding
495 482 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-12-01, End date: 2016-11-30
