Complex dynamics of non-stationary quantum matter

Understanding how complexity emerges from the comparatively simple microscopic laws is a fundamental problem in physics. The project aims to develop a quantum theory that will form a starting point for such an understanding. The research will include theoretical discovery of new kinds of quantum complex matter and theoretical study of potential novel quantum technologies (e.g. for ultra-coherent magnetic field generation for MRI). The grant will fund the recipient, one postdoc and one PhD student.

Symmetry-guided discovery of topological photonics

The understanding and design of confined states of light is central to the field of photonics. Recently, concepts of band topology have opened a new paradigm for achieving this goal. This project will develop new theoretical and computational tools that leverage symmetry analysis to comprehensively explore and exploit this new design space for photonic structures. The grant will fund the recipient, one postdoc, one PhD student and exchange with international collaborators.

Inorganic Phosphosulfides for Optoelectronics (OPTOPUS)

The discovery of a new semiconductor with specific optical and electrical properties would improve the efficiency of various key energy processes such as the production of electricity, fuel, and light. In the OPTOPUS project, we will combine high-throughput experiments and simulations to search for this “dream” semiconductor in a yet-unexplored family of compounds: Phosphosulfides. The grant will fund one PhD student and one postdoc.

Chemical Design of Superconductors

More than 100 years after its discovery, superconductivity has remained an elusive phenomenon. This is hampering the development of new and better superconducting materials, required in the frame of a renewable-energy economy. This project investigates the hypothesis that superconductivity can be understood via the concept of chemical bonding. In exploring this conjecture, the aim is a theoretical framework from which new materials can be designed. The grant will fund one PhD student and two postdocs.

Cluster algebras and invariants

Cluster algebras and their combinatorics have emerged as an important feature throughout mathematics. The project addresses the fundamental question: How can we formally compare their various guises? We will exploit the answer to both advance our understanding of cluster algebras and for explicit computation of important examples from geometry and topology. The grant will allow the recruitment of two postdocs and one PhD student.

Insights on the prevalence of Earth-like planets

Estimating how common Earth-like planets are, currently requires extrapolation from a population of larger and warmer planets – the warm super-Earths. An outstanding issue with this approach is
that the mechanisms responsible for shaping the population of warm super-Earths are not wellunderstood. My research will change this by studying the process of evaporation that is expected to
be dominant in sculpting the warm super-Earths. The grant will fund the recipient, one postdoc and one PhD student.

Algorithmic Verification of Modern-Day Concurrency

Computers play a central role in modern society, but failures can have devastating effects. For this reason, software analysis is vital for responsible software development, yet modern systems are extremely difficult to analyse at scale. The project will develop new theoretical and practical foundations for the analysis of modern software, towards a provably trustworthy digital society. The grant will fund two PhD students and one postdoc, as well as collaborations with international peers.

New Invariants in Low-Dimensional Topology via Quantum Field Theory

This project aims to deepen the connection between geometry and physics by investigating shapes in three and four dimensions using quantum field theory and string theory. This will lead to, on the geometry side, novel tools to tackle important open problems in low-dimensional topology and, on the physics side, new insights toward quantum phases of matter, global properties of string theory, dynamics of quantum gravity and quantum computation. This grant will fund one PhD student and one postdoc.

Alive Concrete

Civil infrastructures are susceptible to losing their designed functions as they deteriorate by ageing and natural disasters. Failing to detect early-warning signals is a serious threat to our safety and economy. This project aims to develop a multifunctional building composite that couples the sustainability of self-healing concrete and the responsive nature of self-sensing materials to communicate real-time its health condition. The grant will fund the recipient, one postdoc, and one PhD student

From instability to order via dissipative light matter interaction

In this project, a new method is explored for enhancing the quality of laser beams in optical fibers, more specifically, improving the stability of beams with an unstable transverse intensity distribution. Additionally, fundamental power limitations will be investigated. This will enable high-power fiber lasers at arbitrary wavelengths, desirable for applications within industrial manufacturing and biological imaging. The grant funds two PhD students, one postdoc, and equipment.

OceANIC – Aerosol Ageing and Interactions with Radiation and Clouds

Microscopic particles, termed aerosols, are everywhere in our atmosphere and play a crucial role for the climate. This project strives to assess the changes in the particles’ optical properties during their lifetime in the atmosphere and implications for cloud formation. The Oceanic project will particularly scrutinize marine particles that make up the largest natural aerosol mass globally. The grant will allow the recruitment of two PhD students, one postdoc and purchasing of new equipment.

Transcriptional regulation at single-cell resolution

Transcription is the fundamental cellular process of reading the genetic information in our DNA. This process is tightly regulated by complex protein networks to determine the function of the cell. In this project, we will develop a technology allowing us to investigate how different types of proteins work together within individual cells to regulate transcription and thereby determine cell function. This grant will fund one PhD student and one postdoc as well as cover operating expenses.

Genomic insights into evolutionary novelties in seahorses, pipefishes and seadragons

The project will investigate the genomic changes associated with traits that evolved repeatedly in distantly related species. The team will use comparative genomics and population genetics to reconstruct the molecular evolution of syngnathids, one of the most distinctive groups of fishes which show a suite of both new and repeatedly evolved traits. The funds will be used to train one PhD student and one postdoc, to generate data and conduct fieldwork.

AVOCA – Arctic biogenic volatile organic compounds from above

The warming Arctic climate is currently accelerating releases of volatile organic compounds from several Arctic plants. This increase can affect further climate change. We know little about the total amount released from land ecosystems, and therefore the net effects. This project is dedicated to find out where and how much is released, by combining manual sampling, drones, and satellite data. The grant funds two postdocs and one PhD student as well as instruments and fieldwork.

Nanolaser based on extremely confined nonradiative state (EXTREME)

A fundamental problem of photonic integrated circuits, hindering their large-scale application, is that their size is orders of magnitude larger than electronic integrated circuits. This project aims to exploit a new type of optical state - extremely confined nonradiative state, and to use such a state to construct lasers at the nanoscale to address this fundamental challenge for chip-scale computing and communication. The grant will fund one PhD student, one postdoc, and equipment.

Capture the Second Critical Point in the No-man’s Land of Semiconducting Materials

The project will explore a mysterious short-lived amorphous state of semiconducting materials to hunt for a special phase transformation, where all properties are suddenly “blown up” to incredibly large values. With world’s most powerful X-ray sources, we will ”snapshot” atomic motion in less than one trillionth of a second to capture new phase transformations. The finding may be exploited for future superfast computer memory technologies. The grant will fund one PhD student, one postdoc, and new equipment.