Project acronym ActiveBioFluids
Project Origins of Collective Motion in Active Biofluids
Researcher (PI) Daniel TAM
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE3, ERC-2016-STG
Summary The emergence of coherent behaviour is ubiquitous in the natural world and has long captivated biologists and physicists alike. One area of growing interest is the collective motion and synchronization arising within and between simple motile organisms. My goal is to develop and use a novel experimental approach to unravel the origins of spontaneous coherent motion in three model systems of biofluids: (1) the synchronization of the two flagella of green algae Chlamydomonas Rheinhardtii, (2) the metachronal wave in the cilia of protist Paramecium and (3) the collective motion of swimming microorganisms in active suspensions. Understanding the mechanisms leading to collective motion is of tremendous importance because it is crucial to many biological processes such as mechanical signal transduction, embryonic development and biofilm formation.
Up till now, most of the work has been theoretical and has led to the dominant view that hydrodynamic interactions are the main driving force for synchronization and collective motion. Recent experiments have challenged this view and highlighted the importance of direct mechanical contact. New experimental studies are now crucially needed. The state-of-the-art of experimental approaches consists of observations of unperturbed cells. The key innovation in our approach is to dynamically interact with microorganisms in real-time, at the relevant time and length scales. I will investigate the origins of coherent motion by reproducing synthetically the mechanical signatures of physiological flows and direct mechanical interactions and track precisely the response of the organism to the perturbations. Our new approach will incorporate optical tweezers to interact with motile cells, and a unique μ-Tomographic PIV setup to track their 3D micron-scale motion.
This proposal tackles a timely question in biophysics and will yield new insight into the fundamental principles underlying collective motion in active biological matter.
Summary
The emergence of coherent behaviour is ubiquitous in the natural world and has long captivated biologists and physicists alike. One area of growing interest is the collective motion and synchronization arising within and between simple motile organisms. My goal is to develop and use a novel experimental approach to unravel the origins of spontaneous coherent motion in three model systems of biofluids: (1) the synchronization of the two flagella of green algae Chlamydomonas Rheinhardtii, (2) the metachronal wave in the cilia of protist Paramecium and (3) the collective motion of swimming microorganisms in active suspensions. Understanding the mechanisms leading to collective motion is of tremendous importance because it is crucial to many biological processes such as mechanical signal transduction, embryonic development and biofilm formation.
Up till now, most of the work has been theoretical and has led to the dominant view that hydrodynamic interactions are the main driving force for synchronization and collective motion. Recent experiments have challenged this view and highlighted the importance of direct mechanical contact. New experimental studies are now crucially needed. The state-of-the-art of experimental approaches consists of observations of unperturbed cells. The key innovation in our approach is to dynamically interact with microorganisms in real-time, at the relevant time and length scales. I will investigate the origins of coherent motion by reproducing synthetically the mechanical signatures of physiological flows and direct mechanical interactions and track precisely the response of the organism to the perturbations. Our new approach will incorporate optical tweezers to interact with motile cells, and a unique μ-Tomographic PIV setup to track their 3D micron-scale motion.
This proposal tackles a timely question in biophysics and will yield new insight into the fundamental principles underlying collective motion in active biological matter.
Max ERC Funding
1 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-04-01, End date: 2022-03-31
Project acronym APROCS
Project Automated Linear Parameter-Varying Modeling and Control Synthesis for Nonlinear Complex Systems
Researcher (PI) Roland TOTH
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2016-STG
Summary Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) systems are flexible mathematical models capable of representing Nonlinear (NL)/Time-Varying (TV) dynamical behaviors of complex physical systems (e.g., wafer scanners, car engines, chemical reactors), often encountered in engineering, via a linear structure. The LPV framework provides computationally efficient and robust approaches to synthesize digital controllers that can ensure desired operation of such systems - making it attractive to (i) high-tech mechatronic, (ii) automotive and (iii) chemical-process applications. Such a framework is important to meet with the increasing operational demands of systems in these industrial sectors and to realize future technological targets. However, recent studies have shown that, to fully exploit the potential of the LPV framework, a number of limiting factors of the underlying theory ask a for serious innovation, as currently it is not understood how to (1) automate exact and low-complexity LPV modeling of real-world applications and how to refine uncertain aspects of these models efficiently by the help of measured data, (2) incorporate control objectives directly into modeling and to develop model reduction approaches for control, and (3) how to see modeling & control synthesis as a unified, closed-loop system synthesis approach directly oriented for the underlying NL/TV system. Furthermore, due to the increasingly cyber-physical nature of applications, (4) control synthesis is needed in a plug & play fashion, where if sub-systems are modified or exchanged, then the control design and the model of the whole system are only incrementally updated. This project aims to surmount Challenges (1)-(4) by establishing an innovative revolution of the LPV framework supported by a software suite and extensive empirical studies on real-world industrial applications; with a potential to ensure a leading role of technological innovation of the EU in the high-impact industrial sectors (i)-(iii).
Summary
Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) systems are flexible mathematical models capable of representing Nonlinear (NL)/Time-Varying (TV) dynamical behaviors of complex physical systems (e.g., wafer scanners, car engines, chemical reactors), often encountered in engineering, via a linear structure. The LPV framework provides computationally efficient and robust approaches to synthesize digital controllers that can ensure desired operation of such systems - making it attractive to (i) high-tech mechatronic, (ii) automotive and (iii) chemical-process applications. Such a framework is important to meet with the increasing operational demands of systems in these industrial sectors and to realize future technological targets. However, recent studies have shown that, to fully exploit the potential of the LPV framework, a number of limiting factors of the underlying theory ask a for serious innovation, as currently it is not understood how to (1) automate exact and low-complexity LPV modeling of real-world applications and how to refine uncertain aspects of these models efficiently by the help of measured data, (2) incorporate control objectives directly into modeling and to develop model reduction approaches for control, and (3) how to see modeling & control synthesis as a unified, closed-loop system synthesis approach directly oriented for the underlying NL/TV system. Furthermore, due to the increasingly cyber-physical nature of applications, (4) control synthesis is needed in a plug & play fashion, where if sub-systems are modified or exchanged, then the control design and the model of the whole system are only incrementally updated. This project aims to surmount Challenges (1)-(4) by establishing an innovative revolution of the LPV framework supported by a software suite and extensive empirical studies on real-world industrial applications; with a potential to ensure a leading role of technological innovation of the EU in the high-impact industrial sectors (i)-(iii).
Max ERC Funding
1 493 561 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-09-01, End date: 2022-08-31
Project acronym aQUARiUM
Project QUAntum nanophotonics in Rolled-Up Metamaterials
Researcher (PI) Humeyra CAGLAYAN
Host Institution (HI) TAMPEREEN KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR
Country Finland
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2018-STG
Summary Novel sophisticated technologies that exploit the laws of quantum physics form a cornerstone for the future well-being, economic growth and security of Europe. Here photonic devices have gained a prominent position because the absorption, emission, propagation or storage of a photon is a process that can be harnessed at a fundamental level and render more practical ways to use light for such applications. However, the interaction of light with single quantum systems under ambient conditions is typically very weak and difficult to control. Furthermore, there are quantum phenomena occurring in matter at nanometer length scales that are currently not well understood. These deficiencies have a direct and severe impact on creating a bridge between quantum physics and photonic device technologies. aQUARiUM, precisely address the issue of controlling and enhancing the interaction between few photons and rolled-up nanostructures with ability to be deployed in practical applications.
With aQUARiUM, we will take epsilon (permittivity)-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials into quantum nanophotonics. To this end, we will integrate quantum emitters with rolled-up waveguides, that act as ENZ metamaterial, to expand and redefine the range of light-matter interactions. We will explore the electromagnetic design freedom enabled by the extended modes of ENZ medium, which “stretches” the effective wavelength inside the structure. Specifically, aQUARiUM is built around the following two objectives: (i) Enhancing light-matter interactions with single emitters (Enhance) independent of emitter position. (ii) Enabling collective excitations in dense emitter ensembles (Collect) coherently connect emitters on nanophotonic devices to obtain coherent emission.
aQUARiUM aims to create novel light-sources and long-term entanglement generation and beyond. The envisioned outcome of aQUARiUM is a wholly new photonic platform applicable across a diverse range of areas.
Summary
Novel sophisticated technologies that exploit the laws of quantum physics form a cornerstone for the future well-being, economic growth and security of Europe. Here photonic devices have gained a prominent position because the absorption, emission, propagation or storage of a photon is a process that can be harnessed at a fundamental level and render more practical ways to use light for such applications. However, the interaction of light with single quantum systems under ambient conditions is typically very weak and difficult to control. Furthermore, there are quantum phenomena occurring in matter at nanometer length scales that are currently not well understood. These deficiencies have a direct and severe impact on creating a bridge between quantum physics and photonic device technologies. aQUARiUM, precisely address the issue of controlling and enhancing the interaction between few photons and rolled-up nanostructures with ability to be deployed in practical applications.
With aQUARiUM, we will take epsilon (permittivity)-near-zero (ENZ) metamaterials into quantum nanophotonics. To this end, we will integrate quantum emitters with rolled-up waveguides, that act as ENZ metamaterial, to expand and redefine the range of light-matter interactions. We will explore the electromagnetic design freedom enabled by the extended modes of ENZ medium, which “stretches” the effective wavelength inside the structure. Specifically, aQUARiUM is built around the following two objectives: (i) Enhancing light-matter interactions with single emitters (Enhance) independent of emitter position. (ii) Enabling collective excitations in dense emitter ensembles (Collect) coherently connect emitters on nanophotonic devices to obtain coherent emission.
aQUARiUM aims to create novel light-sources and long-term entanglement generation and beyond. The envisioned outcome of aQUARiUM is a wholly new photonic platform applicable across a diverse range of areas.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 431 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-01-01, End date: 2023-12-31
Project acronym BinCosmos
Project The Impact of Massive Binaries Through Cosmic Time
Researcher (PI) Selma DE MINK
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE9, ERC-2016-STG
Summary Massive stars play many key roles in Astrophysics. As COSMIC ENGINES they transformed the pristine Universe left after the Big Bang into our modern Universe. We use massive stars, their explosions and products as COSMIC PROBES to study the conditions in the distant Universe and the extreme physics inaccessible at earth. Models of massive stars are thus widely applied. A central common assumption is that massive stars are non-rotating single objects, in stark contrast with new data. Recent studies show that majority (70% according to our data) will experience severe interaction with a companion (Sana, de Mink et al. Science 2012).
I propose to conduct the most ambitious and extensive exploration to date of the effects of binarity and rotation on the lives and fates of massive stars to (I) transform our understanding of the complex physical processes and how they operate in the vast parameter space and (II) explore the cosmological implications after calibrating and verifying the models. To achieve this ambitious objective I will use an innovative computational approach that combines the strength of two highly complementary codes and seek direct confrontation with observations to overcome the computational challenges that inhibited previous work.
This timely project will provide the urgent theory framework needed for interpretation and guiding of observing programs with the new facilities (JWST, LSST, aLIGO/VIRGO). Public release of the model grids and code will ensure wide impact of this project. I am in the unique position to successfully lead this project because of my (i) extensive experience modeling the complex physical processes, (ii) leading role in introducing large statistical simulations in the massive star community and (iii) direct involvement in surveys that will be used in this project.
Summary
Massive stars play many key roles in Astrophysics. As COSMIC ENGINES they transformed the pristine Universe left after the Big Bang into our modern Universe. We use massive stars, their explosions and products as COSMIC PROBES to study the conditions in the distant Universe and the extreme physics inaccessible at earth. Models of massive stars are thus widely applied. A central common assumption is that massive stars are non-rotating single objects, in stark contrast with new data. Recent studies show that majority (70% according to our data) will experience severe interaction with a companion (Sana, de Mink et al. Science 2012).
I propose to conduct the most ambitious and extensive exploration to date of the effects of binarity and rotation on the lives and fates of massive stars to (I) transform our understanding of the complex physical processes and how they operate in the vast parameter space and (II) explore the cosmological implications after calibrating and verifying the models. To achieve this ambitious objective I will use an innovative computational approach that combines the strength of two highly complementary codes and seek direct confrontation with observations to overcome the computational challenges that inhibited previous work.
This timely project will provide the urgent theory framework needed for interpretation and guiding of observing programs with the new facilities (JWST, LSST, aLIGO/VIRGO). Public release of the model grids and code will ensure wide impact of this project. I am in the unique position to successfully lead this project because of my (i) extensive experience modeling the complex physical processes, (ii) leading role in introducing large statistical simulations in the massive star community and (iii) direct involvement in surveys that will be used in this project.
Max ERC Funding
1 926 634 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-09-01, End date: 2022-08-31
Project acronym BioAlk
Project Biocatalytic alkylation: fitting enzymes for selective C-C bond formations
Researcher (PI) Caroline PAUL
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2020-STG
Summary Alkylation, in particular carbon-carbon (C-C) bond formation, is one of the most important and challenging synthetic transformations in chemistry. Current chemical approaches for C-alkylation require the use of expensive and toxic transition metals with complex ligands that have limited selectivity. Developing sustainable methods for the controlled formation of C-C bonds with regio- and stereospecificity in high yields has the potential to change organic chemistry and provide access to new molecules. Enzymes, Nature’s catalysts that enhance reaction rates, can selectively catalyze such reactions, with current limitations due to high energy co-substrates and the requirement for specific starting materials, sometimes leading to undesired side products, therefore unsustainable to upscale.
I aim at developing the synthetic potential of key oxidoreductase enzymes towards the sustainable selective production of highly valuable compounds through C-C bond formation. Oxidoreductases traditionally catalyze reduction and oxidation reactions and are increasingly used at industrial scale for their mild reaction conditions and exquisite chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity. I will use the inherent mechanism of two particular oxidoreductases, ene reductases and alcohol dehydrogenases, and develop them towards selective C-C bond formation.
BioAlk aims at being disruptive in catalysis and organic synthesis by enabling new approaches for bench mark sustainable methods towards highly selective biocatalytic C-alkylation with industrially relevant oxidoreductases. I will design and develop non-natural enzymatic processes with ene reductase-catalyzed selective inter- and intramolecular α-alkylation of carbonyl and related compounds, and alcohol dehydrogenase-catalyzed nucleophilic reductive alkylation, while exploring the enzyme reaction mechanisms.
Summary
Alkylation, in particular carbon-carbon (C-C) bond formation, is one of the most important and challenging synthetic transformations in chemistry. Current chemical approaches for C-alkylation require the use of expensive and toxic transition metals with complex ligands that have limited selectivity. Developing sustainable methods for the controlled formation of C-C bonds with regio- and stereospecificity in high yields has the potential to change organic chemistry and provide access to new molecules. Enzymes, Nature’s catalysts that enhance reaction rates, can selectively catalyze such reactions, with current limitations due to high energy co-substrates and the requirement for specific starting materials, sometimes leading to undesired side products, therefore unsustainable to upscale.
I aim at developing the synthetic potential of key oxidoreductase enzymes towards the sustainable selective production of highly valuable compounds through C-C bond formation. Oxidoreductases traditionally catalyze reduction and oxidation reactions and are increasingly used at industrial scale for their mild reaction conditions and exquisite chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity. I will use the inherent mechanism of two particular oxidoreductases, ene reductases and alcohol dehydrogenases, and develop them towards selective C-C bond formation.
BioAlk aims at being disruptive in catalysis and organic synthesis by enabling new approaches for bench mark sustainable methods towards highly selective biocatalytic C-alkylation with industrially relevant oxidoreductases. I will design and develop non-natural enzymatic processes with ene reductase-catalyzed selective inter- and intramolecular α-alkylation of carbonyl and related compounds, and alcohol dehydrogenase-catalyzed nucleophilic reductive alkylation, while exploring the enzyme reaction mechanisms.
Max ERC Funding
1 625 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2021-01-01, End date: 2025-12-31
Project acronym BioCircuit
Project Programmable BioMolecular Circuits: Emulating Regulatory Functions in Living Cells Using a Bottom-Up Approach
Researcher (PI) Tom Antonius Franciscus De greef
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE4, ERC-2015-STG
Summary Programmable biomolecular circuits have received increasing attention in recent years as the scope of chemistry expands from the synthesis of individual molecules to the construction of chemical networks that can perform sophisticated functions such as logic operations and feedback control. Rationally engineered biomolecular circuits that robustly execute higher-order spatiotemporal behaviours typically associated with intracellular regulatory functions present a unique and uncharted platform to systematically explore the molecular logic and physical design principles of the cell. The experience gained by in-vitro construction of artificial cells displaying advanced system-level functions deepens our understanding of regulatory networks in living cells and allows theoretical assumptions and models to be refined in a controlled setting. This proposal combines elements from systems chemistry, in-vitro synthetic biology and micro-engineering and explores generic strategies to investigate the molecular logic of biology’s regulatory circuits by applying a physical chemistry-driven bottom-up approach. Progress in this field requires 1) proof-of-principle systems where in-vitro biomolecular circuits are designed to emulate characteristic system-level functions of regulatory circuits in living cells and 2) novel experimental tools to operate biochemical networks under out-of-equilibrium conditions. Here, a comprehensive research program is proposed that addresses these challenges by engineering three biochemical model systems that display elementary signal transduction and information processing capabilities. In addition, an open microfluidic droplet reactor is developed that will allow, for the first time, high-throughput analysis of biomolecular circuits encapsulated in water-in-oil droplets. An integral part of the research program is to combine the computational design of in-vitro circuits with novel biochemistry and innovative micro-engineering tools.
Summary
Programmable biomolecular circuits have received increasing attention in recent years as the scope of chemistry expands from the synthesis of individual molecules to the construction of chemical networks that can perform sophisticated functions such as logic operations and feedback control. Rationally engineered biomolecular circuits that robustly execute higher-order spatiotemporal behaviours typically associated with intracellular regulatory functions present a unique and uncharted platform to systematically explore the molecular logic and physical design principles of the cell. The experience gained by in-vitro construction of artificial cells displaying advanced system-level functions deepens our understanding of regulatory networks in living cells and allows theoretical assumptions and models to be refined in a controlled setting. This proposal combines elements from systems chemistry, in-vitro synthetic biology and micro-engineering and explores generic strategies to investigate the molecular logic of biology’s regulatory circuits by applying a physical chemistry-driven bottom-up approach. Progress in this field requires 1) proof-of-principle systems where in-vitro biomolecular circuits are designed to emulate characteristic system-level functions of regulatory circuits in living cells and 2) novel experimental tools to operate biochemical networks under out-of-equilibrium conditions. Here, a comprehensive research program is proposed that addresses these challenges by engineering three biochemical model systems that display elementary signal transduction and information processing capabilities. In addition, an open microfluidic droplet reactor is developed that will allow, for the first time, high-throughput analysis of biomolecular circuits encapsulated in water-in-oil droplets. An integral part of the research program is to combine the computational design of in-vitro circuits with novel biochemistry and innovative micro-engineering tools.
Max ERC Funding
1 887 180 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-08-01, End date: 2022-01-31
Project acronym BottomUp3D
Project From the bottom-up: a physico-chemical approach towards 3D nanostructures with atomic-scale control
Researcher (PI) Adriaan MACKUS
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2020-STG
Summary It is a long held dream in nanoscience to synthesize materials from the bottom-up with atomic-level control of structure and properties, yet the fabrication of nanoelectronics still relies completely on top-down processing. Innovative schemes for bottom-up fabrication will be realized in this project by developing approaches for area-selective atomic layer deposition (ALD), a technique that has the potential to become the new paradigm of bottom-up processing because of its atomic-scale control. Current work on area-selective ALD focuses on the processing of planar substrates, while emerging developments in nanoelectronics and quantum computing require the fabrication of 3D nanostructured devices.
Building on recent innovations in my lab, a multidisciplinary approach to area-selective ALD will be employed which combines vapor-phase dosing of inhibitor molecules as a chemical method and the exposure to directional ions from a plasma as a physical method. Fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of chemical inhibition will be acquired, and a new strategy for physical removal of defects will be developed. These methods will be employed on 3D substrates to enable the fabrication of future device structures. By bringing inhibitor molecules and the directional nature of plasma ions together, new flavors of selective processing will be invented including anisotropic or topographically-selective ALD, which opens up a new direction for the field of area-selective ALD.
The synergy between my extensive expertise with in-situ reaction mechanism studies and plasma processing, my leading role in the field of area-selective ALD, and the group’s unique facilities for atomic-scale processing, offers a stepping stone to the long-awaited shift from top-down to bottom-up processing. Moreover, this work will allow for the scaling of electronics down to the single-nanometer level.
Summary
It is a long held dream in nanoscience to synthesize materials from the bottom-up with atomic-level control of structure and properties, yet the fabrication of nanoelectronics still relies completely on top-down processing. Innovative schemes for bottom-up fabrication will be realized in this project by developing approaches for area-selective atomic layer deposition (ALD), a technique that has the potential to become the new paradigm of bottom-up processing because of its atomic-scale control. Current work on area-selective ALD focuses on the processing of planar substrates, while emerging developments in nanoelectronics and quantum computing require the fabrication of 3D nanostructured devices.
Building on recent innovations in my lab, a multidisciplinary approach to area-selective ALD will be employed which combines vapor-phase dosing of inhibitor molecules as a chemical method and the exposure to directional ions from a plasma as a physical method. Fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of chemical inhibition will be acquired, and a new strategy for physical removal of defects will be developed. These methods will be employed on 3D substrates to enable the fabrication of future device structures. By bringing inhibitor molecules and the directional nature of plasma ions together, new flavors of selective processing will be invented including anisotropic or topographically-selective ALD, which opens up a new direction for the field of area-selective ALD.
The synergy between my extensive expertise with in-situ reaction mechanism studies and plasma processing, my leading role in the field of area-selective ALD, and the group’s unique facilities for atomic-scale processing, offers a stepping stone to the long-awaited shift from top-down to bottom-up processing. Moreover, this work will allow for the scaling of electronics down to the single-nanometer level.
Max ERC Funding
1 895 897 €
Duration
Start date: 2021-01-01, End date: 2025-12-31
Project acronym CAFES
Project Causal Analysis of Feedback Systems
Researcher (PI) Joris Marten Mooij
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE6, ERC-2014-STG
Summary "Many questions in science, policy making and everyday life are of a causal nature: how would changing A influence B? Causal inference, a branch of statistics and machine learning, studies how cause-effect relationships can be discovered from data and how these can be used for making predictions in situations where a system has been perturbed by an external intervention. The ability to reliably make such causal predictions is of great value for practical applications in a variety of disciplines. Over the last two decades, remarkable progress has been made in the field. However, even though state-of-the-art causal inference algorithms work well on simulated data when all their assumptions are met, there is still a considerable gap between theory and practice. The goal of CAFES is to bridge that gap by developing theory and algorithms that will enable large-scale applications of causal inference in various challenging domains in science, industry and decision making.
The key challenge that will be addressed is how to deal with cyclic causal relationships (""feedback loops""). Feedback loops are very common in many domains (e.g., biology, economy and climatology), but have mostly been ignored so far in the field. Building on recently established connections between dynamical systems and causal models, CAFES will develop theory and algorithms for causal modeling, reasoning, discovery and prediction for cyclic causal systems. Extensions to stationary and non-stationary processes will be developed to advance the state-of-the-art in causal analysis of time-series data. In order to optimally use available resources, computationally efficient and statistically robust algorithms for causal inference from observational and interventional data in the context of confounders and feedback will be developed. The work will be done with a strong focus on applications in molecular biology, one of the most promising areas for automated causal inference from data.
"
Summary
"Many questions in science, policy making and everyday life are of a causal nature: how would changing A influence B? Causal inference, a branch of statistics and machine learning, studies how cause-effect relationships can be discovered from data and how these can be used for making predictions in situations where a system has been perturbed by an external intervention. The ability to reliably make such causal predictions is of great value for practical applications in a variety of disciplines. Over the last two decades, remarkable progress has been made in the field. However, even though state-of-the-art causal inference algorithms work well on simulated data when all their assumptions are met, there is still a considerable gap between theory and practice. The goal of CAFES is to bridge that gap by developing theory and algorithms that will enable large-scale applications of causal inference in various challenging domains in science, industry and decision making.
The key challenge that will be addressed is how to deal with cyclic causal relationships (""feedback loops""). Feedback loops are very common in many domains (e.g., biology, economy and climatology), but have mostly been ignored so far in the field. Building on recently established connections between dynamical systems and causal models, CAFES will develop theory and algorithms for causal modeling, reasoning, discovery and prediction for cyclic causal systems. Extensions to stationary and non-stationary processes will be developed to advance the state-of-the-art in causal analysis of time-series data. In order to optimally use available resources, computationally efficient and statistically robust algorithms for causal inference from observational and interventional data in the context of confounders and feedback will be developed. The work will be done with a strong focus on applications in molecular biology, one of the most promising areas for automated causal inference from data.
"
Max ERC Funding
1 405 652 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-09-01, End date: 2020-08-31
Project acronym CALCEAM
Project Cooperative Acceptor Ligands for Catalysis with Earth-Abundant Metals
Researcher (PI) Marc-Etienne Moret
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT
Country Netherlands
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2016-STG
Summary Homogeneous catalysis is of prime importance for the selective synthesis of high added value chemicals. Many of the currently available catalysts rely on noble metals (Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt), which suffer from a high toxicity and environmental impact in addition to their high cost, calling for the development of new systems based on first-row transition metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu). The historical paradigm for catalyst design, i.e. one or more donor ligands giving electron density to stabilize a metal center and tune its reactivity, is currently being challenged by the development of acceptor ligands that mostly withdraw electron density from the metal center upon binding. In the last decade, such ligands – mostly based on boron and heavier main-group elements – have evolved from a structural curiosity to a powerful tool in designing new reactive units for homogeneous catalysis.
I will develop a novel class of ligands that use C=E (E=O, S, NR) multiple bonds anchored in close proximity to the metal by phosphine tethers. The electrophilic C=E multiple bond is designed to act as an acceptor moiety that adapts its binding mode to the electronic structure of reactive intermediates with the unique additional possibility of involving the lone pairs on heteroelement E in cooperative reactivity. Building on preliminary results showing that a C=O bond can function as a hemilabile ligand in a catalytic cycle, I will undertake a systematic, experimental and theoretical investigation of the structure and reactivity of M–C–E three membered rings formed by side-on coordination of C=E bonds to a first-row metal. Their ability to facilitate multi-electron transformations (oxidative addition, atom/group transfer reactions) will be investigated. In particular, hemilability of the C=E bond is expected to facilitate challenging C–C bond forming reactions mediated by Fe and Ni. This approach will demonstrate a new conceptual tool for the design of efficient base-metal catalysts.
Summary
Homogeneous catalysis is of prime importance for the selective synthesis of high added value chemicals. Many of the currently available catalysts rely on noble metals (Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt), which suffer from a high toxicity and environmental impact in addition to their high cost, calling for the development of new systems based on first-row transition metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu). The historical paradigm for catalyst design, i.e. one or more donor ligands giving electron density to stabilize a metal center and tune its reactivity, is currently being challenged by the development of acceptor ligands that mostly withdraw electron density from the metal center upon binding. In the last decade, such ligands – mostly based on boron and heavier main-group elements – have evolved from a structural curiosity to a powerful tool in designing new reactive units for homogeneous catalysis.
I will develop a novel class of ligands that use C=E (E=O, S, NR) multiple bonds anchored in close proximity to the metal by phosphine tethers. The electrophilic C=E multiple bond is designed to act as an acceptor moiety that adapts its binding mode to the electronic structure of reactive intermediates with the unique additional possibility of involving the lone pairs on heteroelement E in cooperative reactivity. Building on preliminary results showing that a C=O bond can function as a hemilabile ligand in a catalytic cycle, I will undertake a systematic, experimental and theoretical investigation of the structure and reactivity of M–C–E three membered rings formed by side-on coordination of C=E bonds to a first-row metal. Their ability to facilitate multi-electron transformations (oxidative addition, atom/group transfer reactions) will be investigated. In particular, hemilability of the C=E bond is expected to facilitate challenging C–C bond forming reactions mediated by Fe and Ni. This approach will demonstrate a new conceptual tool for the design of efficient base-metal catalysts.
Max ERC Funding
1 500 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2017-08-01, End date: 2022-07-31
Project acronym Cat-In-hAT
Project Catastrophic Interactions of Binary Stars and the Associated Transients
Researcher (PI) Ondrej PEJCHA
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERZITA KARLOVA
Country Czechia
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE9, ERC-2018-STG
Summary "One of the crucial formation channels of compact object binaries, including sources of gravitational waves, critically depends on catastrophic binary interactions accompanied by the loss of mass, angular momentum, and energy (""common envelope"" evolution - CEE). Despite its importance, CEE is perhaps the least understood major phase of binary star evolution and progress in this area is urgently needed to interpret observations from the new facilities (gravitational wave detectors, time-domain surveys).
Recently, the dynamical phase of the CEE has been associated with a class of transient brightenings exhibiting slow expansion velocities and copious formation of dust and molecules (red transients - RT). A number of RT features, especially the long timescale of mass loss, challenge the existing CEE paradigm.
Motivated by RT, I will use a new variant of magnetohydrodynamics to comprehensively examine the 3D evolution of CEE from the moment when the mass loss commences to the remnant phase. I expect to resolve the long timescales observed in RT, characterize binary stability in 3D with detailed microphysics, illuminate the fundamental problem of how is orbital energy used to unbind the common envelope in a regime that was inaccessible before, and break new ground on the amplification of magnetic fields during CEE.
I will establish RT as an entirely new probe of the CEE physics by comparing my detailed theoretical predictions of light curves from different viewing angles, spectra, line profiles, and polarimetric signatures with observations of RT. I will accomplish this by coupling multi-dimensional moving mesh hydrodynamics with radiation, dust formation, and chemical reactions. Finally, I will examine the physical processes in RT remnants on timescales of years to centuries after the outburst to connect RT with the proposed merger products and to identify them in time-domain surveys.
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Summary
"One of the crucial formation channels of compact object binaries, including sources of gravitational waves, critically depends on catastrophic binary interactions accompanied by the loss of mass, angular momentum, and energy (""common envelope"" evolution - CEE). Despite its importance, CEE is perhaps the least understood major phase of binary star evolution and progress in this area is urgently needed to interpret observations from the new facilities (gravitational wave detectors, time-domain surveys).
Recently, the dynamical phase of the CEE has been associated with a class of transient brightenings exhibiting slow expansion velocities and copious formation of dust and molecules (red transients - RT). A number of RT features, especially the long timescale of mass loss, challenge the existing CEE paradigm.
Motivated by RT, I will use a new variant of magnetohydrodynamics to comprehensively examine the 3D evolution of CEE from the moment when the mass loss commences to the remnant phase. I expect to resolve the long timescales observed in RT, characterize binary stability in 3D with detailed microphysics, illuminate the fundamental problem of how is orbital energy used to unbind the common envelope in a regime that was inaccessible before, and break new ground on the amplification of magnetic fields during CEE.
I will establish RT as an entirely new probe of the CEE physics by comparing my detailed theoretical predictions of light curves from different viewing angles, spectra, line profiles, and polarimetric signatures with observations of RT. I will accomplish this by coupling multi-dimensional moving mesh hydrodynamics with radiation, dust formation, and chemical reactions. Finally, I will examine the physical processes in RT remnants on timescales of years to centuries after the outburst to connect RT with the proposed merger products and to identify them in time-domain surveys.
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Max ERC Funding
1 243 219 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-01-01, End date: 2023-12-31
