The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded its Starting Grants. Among this year’s recipients are six KU Leuven researchers: Pieter Beullens (Institute of Philosophy), Esther Klingler (VIB-KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences), Pablo Marchant (Department of Physics and Astronomy), Colinda Scheele (VIB-KU Leuven, Department of Oncology), Xin Shi (Department of Chemistry) and Cecilia Vergnano (Social and Cultural Anthropology).
ERC Starting Grants provide funding for promising early-career researchers with two to seven years of post-PhD experience. The grants are awarded for a five-year period and may be worth up to € 1.5 million.
Pieter Beullens: FitMA: The reconstruction of Aristotle’s teachings
FWO special research associate; De Wulf-Mansion Centre for Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy
Aristotle laid the foundation for numerous sciences and fields of knowledge, significantly shaping our way of thinking. The fact that we have a fairly precise understanding of what the Greek philosopher and scientist committed to papyrus in the fourth century BC is thanks to countless translations throughout history. However, the process of translating the Greek texts into Latin-sometimes via an Arabic intermediary-was not flawless. "It is understandable that each translation was influenced by the perspective and linguistic knowledge of the translator, leading to the circulation of numerous different Latin versions in our regions from the mid-12th century onward."
The FitMA project examines three works of Aristotle and compares the existing Latin manuscripts with one another. Where do the similarities and differences lie? "By placing the versions side by side, we want to get closer to the original version of the translation from Greek."
In a second phase, the project will also investigate how these textual variations impact the way the texts are read. "Since each reader studies a slightly different version, the texts can be understood and interpreted in different ways. The multitude of translations and translators has led each period to develop its own way of interpreting philosophical texts. FitMA aims to reconstruct the historical interpretation."
Read more about FitMA
Esther Klingler: Emotional circuit development
Assistant Professor Faculty of Medicine; Department of Neurosciences (VIB-KU Leuven)
Prof. Esther Klingler’s grant will be used to study the development of the amygdala, a brain region central to emotion regulation, fear, and stress responses. Her research examines how intrinsic genetic programs and environment influence the differentiation and wiring of amygdala neurons.
Using advanced techniques like connectivity tracing, single-cell gene expression analyses, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing during brain development, Klingler aims to uncover how genes and environment interact during amygdala circuit establishment and the long-term consequences of early stress on these circuits. This could improve our understanding of emotional dysregulation in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety disorders.
Read more about the Klingler Lab
Pablo Marchant: understanding the life-cycle of massive stars, from birth to gravitational wave sources
FWO senior postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Astronomy; Department of Physics and Astronomy
The evolution of massive stars (with a mass at least eight times that of the sun) has gained increased attention in astronomy and astrophysics research over the past decade. Massive stars end their lives as black holes or neutron stars, which can also coalesce together producing a powerful burst of gravitational wave radiation. Such an event was detected for the first time in 2015, leading to the birth of gravitational wave astrophysics.
"Massive stars play a crucial role in the evolution of our universe, but due to their rarity among others, much is still unclear about their properties and development," explains astrophysicist Pablo Marchant. "With the STAR-GRASP project (STARs as GRAvitational wave Source Progenitors), we aim to gain a clearer understanding of the different phases in the evolution of these stars and how they can lead to the formation of gravitational waves."
"To develop a new theoretical framework, we will conduct extensive simulations of both single and binary stars throughout their entire lifecycle. By combining constraints from both electromagnetic and gravitational wave observations this project aims to significantly improve our understanding of stellar populations."
Read more about STAR-GRASP
Colinda Scheele: Cancer initiation in the breast
Assistant professor Faculty of Medicine; Department of Oncology (VIB-KU Leuven)
Professor Colinda Scheele’s project investigates how mutant cells in normal tissues can transform into cancer. Her research builds on findings that the sequence in which mutations are acquired affects a cell’s cancerous potential. Scheele will develop a novel sequential somatic gene editing technology to study how different mutation sequences influence cell behavior and their environment in the mammary gland. "This innovative approach could lead to a better understanding of tumor initiation and improve early cancer intervention strategies for breast cancer and beyond."
Read more about the Scheele Lab
Xin Shi: MembraneMachines: pushing the boundaries of bionanotech
Assistant professor tenure track Faculty of Science; Department of Chemistry
Our modern societies depend on machines and engines to function, as does life itself. Inside our bodies and in organisms across all kingdoms of life, tiny molecular motors work tirelessly every second. These nanoscale machines, particularly those within biological membranes (such as cell membranes), are essential for life, powering critical processes like energy production in cells. For example, ATP synthase, a crucial enzyme in these membranes, produces the energy currency that cells need to survive and thrive. Yet, despite our ability to build large-scale marvels like wind turbines and electric engines, creating and designing these tiny transmembrane molecular machines remains a significant challenge.
"With the ’MembraneMachines’ project, my team and I are determined to tackle this challenge," says Professor Xin Shi. "We plan to design and construct complex, tiny machines that can operate within and across biocompatible membranes."
The project will develop a series of transmembrane nanoscale machines using cutting-edge nanotechnology, including nanopores and structural DNA technology. These include DNA motor-powered molecule synthesisers, translational nano steppers, and bacteria-inspired nano vehicles.
"By harnessing the latest scientific advancements, ’MembraneMachines’ will not only push the boundaries of nanotechnology but also open up new possibilities for molecule synthesis, sensing, and nanoscale cargo delivery", concludes Professor Shi.
Read more about MembraneMachines
Cecilia Vergnano: the nexus between conspiracy theories and disadvantaged social actors
Postdoctoral researcher Social and Cultural Anthropology
Scientific evidence indicates that conspiracy-theory beliefs are more prevalent among the socioeconomically disadvantaged. The De-CRIPT project aims to expand the current understandings of this nexus and look into the conditions that make conspiracy theories acceptable or appealing among disadvantaged groups. The project will combine online research and fieldwork in four Western European regions focusing on everyday offline interactions.
Anthropologist Cecilia Vergnano: "The main objective of De-CRIPT is to enhance our understanding of conspiracy-theory beliefs by exploring the connections and disconnections between the use of conspiracy theories by political leaders and powerful social media influencers, on the one side, and the use of the same narratives by disadvantaged social actors, on the other. This can, in turn, enhance our understanding of broader dynamics of disinformation and social and political polarization."
Read more about DE-CRIPT
The ABC of ERC
The European Research Council (ERC) funds ground-breaking and innovative projects by Europe’s finest researchers through five types of grant:
Starting Grants
up to ¤1.5 million for 5 years
for promising early-career researchers with 2 to 7 years of post-PhD experience
Consolidator Grants
up to ¤2 million for 5 years
for excellent researchers with 7 to 12 years of post-PhD experience
Advanced Grants
up to ¤2.5 million for 5 years
for established researchers with a considerable academic track record
Proof of Concept
¤150,000
for ERC grant holders to bring their research ideas closer to market
Synergy Grants
up to ¤10 million for 6 years
for groups of 2 to 4 Principal Investigators
ERC grant holders at KU Leuven Your ERC project at KU Leuven?
