Seven researchers have been awarded the highly prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships at , totalling €2.16 million.
New batteries for next-gen electric vehicles, novel therapies for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related cancers and new design materials for semiconductors are among the projects funded.
The Postdoctoral Fellowship funding programme under MSCA supports researchers’ careers and fosters excellence in research. The awards are the European Union’s flagship programme for doctoral education and postdoctoral training.
The UL recipients are among 1,696 outstanding researchers who have been selected from 10,360 applicants, to conduct research at top institutions worldwide driving forward EU research and innovation.
One of the new fellows - Dr Ehsan Parandi - came fifth overall among 1,428 proposals in Chemistry, scoring an impressive 100% for his project, one of only 14 to do so. One in three UL applicants were successful in the applications, which is double the success rate of the call in Ireland and the EU.
Welcoming the announcement UL Vice President Research and Innovation Professor Kevin Ryan said: “Congratulations to these early-career researchers in the Marie Curie awards, in key areas which will address critical scientific, energy and health challenges. The fellowships will provide crucial support to these emerging researchers, enabling them to develop their track record and transition to become independent research leaders.
“Initiatives such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Awards help to attract top class international researchers to and they are hugely important for these early-career researchers in helping support the development of their careers and fostering excellence in research.”
The fellowships awarded funding at UL are:
Dr Ehsan Parandi, Department of Biological Sciences
Microreactor-assisted Maillard reaction to valorise rapeseed cake protein for the production of plant protein emulsion beverages.
With escalating consumer demand for plant-based diets, a substantial amount of agro-industrial by-product pose an environmental concern. This multidisciplinary project aims to valorise rapeseed cake by modifying the structure of rapeseed cake protein (RCP) and enhancing its value as a plant protein beverage, both in the laboratory and pilot-scales. Novel approaches will address techno-functional challenges, including low solubility and emulsification.
Dr Parandi will be mentored by Dr Mohammadreza Khalesi and undertake a secondment at Ulster University with Professor Emeir McSorley, to study vitamin D3 bioavailability.
Funding: €315,911
Dr Sabya Sachi Das, Department of Physics, Bernal Institute and Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre
3D Metastatic Tumour Model Coupled with Targeted mRNA Immunotherapy for the Effective Management of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases.
Dr. Das’s fellowship will be mainly focused on the development and establishment of LNP-mRNA immunotherapy platform coupled with Raman Spectroscopy using multicellular preclinical 3D metastatic cancer models for Breast Cancer-Brain Metastases management under the supervision of Associate Professor. Nanasaheb Thorat and Associate Professor Eoghan Cunnane.
Funding: €268,570
Dr Jeremiah Stanley, School of Medicine, Bernal Institute and Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre
Serotonin at the epigenetic nexus of tumorigenesis in Epstein Barr lymphoma.
The rising global incidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related cancers highlights the urgent need to explore the mechanisms driving their pathogenesis. In this two-year Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at , working with Professor Paul Murray at the Bernal Institute, Dr Stanley will study the role of platelet serotonin and tryptophan metabolism in EBV-driven oncogenesis. Collaborating with researchers from premier institutions in Vienna, Zurich, and New York in virology, epigenetics, immunology, and cancer biology this interdisciplinary team will be instrumental in uncovering viral mechanisms of cancer development and identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Funding: €268,570
Dr Infanta Diana Michael, Dept of Chemical Sciences, Bernal Institute and AMPEiRE Centre for Battery and Energy Materials Research
MXene-Driven Sodium Sulfur Batteries for Next-Generation Electric Vehicles.
In this fellowship, Diana will work with Professor Tadhg Kennedy at the AMPEiRE Centre for Battery and Energy Materials Research, focusing on advancing ultra-high energy density MXene-enhanced sodium-sulfur batteries for next-generation electric vehicles (EVs). The key innovation is the eradication of hydrofluoric acid etching by HF-free direct synthesis of Ti₃C₂T? MXene-modified cathode material, allowing precise control over morphology and sulfur (-S) incorporation at the termination
As part of her fellowship, she will also undertake a secondment at the Ångström Advanced Battery Centre, Uppsala University, Sweden. Her two-year fellowship will conclude with a six-month placement with the Battery Management team at Analog Devices.
Funding: €335,711
Dr Abdallah Mahmoud, Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute
Towards Sustainable and High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries: Development of Anode Materials Based on Binary Metal Phosphides Confined in Multi-Doped Carbon Matrices.
Dr Abdallah Mahmoud’s project aims to reduce the cost and environmental impact of battery production specifically by advancing sodium-ion battery (SIB) technology through the development of innovative, sustainable electrode materials. Its primary focus is on creating binary carbon-confined metal phosphide (MPs@C) nanoparticles to be used as efficient anode materials for SIBs. He will work with Professor Tadhg Kennedy in UL and complete his fellowships with a six-month placement at Glantreo Ltd to enhance the practical application and industrial relevance of his research.
Funding: €335,711
Dr Suvodeep Sen, Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute
Precision Synthesis of High Entropy Chalcogenide Nanocrystals to Elucidate Growth Kinetics and Surface Properties for Energy Applications.
As technology advances, traditional semiconductor materials and designs are approaching their physical and performance limitations. This project aims to design advanced high entropy metal chalcogenide (HECh) nanocrystals (NCs) via colloidal chemistry to elucidate their nucleation and growth mechanism by using real-time and post-synthetic characterisation techniques.
Dr Suvodeep will be mentored by Dr Shalini Singh in the Functional Nanomaterials Research Group at the Bernal Institute.
Funding: €268,570
Dr Magdalena Skrodzka, Department of Psychology
Congratulations also to Dr. Magdalena Skrodzka who is in the process of moving her fellowship, titled Sense of Shared Experience: A Social Identity Approach to Enhancing Well-being and Social Inclusion among Displaced People, to another country with her supervisor who has taken up a position elsewhere.
Funding: €362,457