[ad_1]
The European Research Council (ERC in its original acronym) announced on Wednesday the award of scholarships to 11 Portuguese researchers, six of whom work in national institutions. The value of the aid granted to Portugal reaches 12.8 million euros, reaching 23 million if we count the five that are abroad.
One of the winners of the “Consolidator Grant” is Miguel Carneiro, a researcher at the Center for Research in Biodiversity and Generic Resources at the University of Porto, who obtained a two million euro scholarship. The financing will allow the development of the EYESPOT project, whose objective is to study the genetic and cellular basis of structural colors in birds. Through an innovative and multidisciplinary approach, the project will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of microscopic structures that underlie the color of bird feathers, the University of Porto said in a statement.
Maria João Amorim is a researcher at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and her LOFlu project was one of those highlighted by the ERC. The study by Amorim aims to provide new ways to limit infections, by understanding the relationship between viral load and the host’s immune response. The project is carried out by studying the influenza virus.
Ricardo Henriques is also a researcher at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and received the “Consolidator Grant” for his light microscopy project. Through the creation of this new technology, Henriques and his team develop the cellular image. According to Gulbenkian, this project has an impact on the virological study and understanding of certain cellular interactions.
Raquel Oliveira, also a researcher at Gulbenkian, received a grant from the European Research Council for her study in chromosome dynamics. The project aims to evaluate how chromosomal architecture influences the mechanical aspects of cell movement and the subsequent development of cancerous diseases and infertility.
Brain Study in Minho
Ana João Rodrigues, a researcher at the University of Minho, distinguished herself by her study of the valences, positive or negative, attributed by the brain to certain stimuli. The aim of the project is “to better understand how our brain encodes pleasure and aversion”, and the influences of this encoding in certain pathologies, such as addiction and depression.
Finally, Patrícia Vieira received a grant from the ERC for her study of texts on the nature of the Amazon, at the University of Coimbra. The researcher focuses her project on deconstructing texts about Amazonian nature from an ecocritical perspective, in an attempt to establish relationships between the discourse produced and human attitudes towards nature.
The remaining five awarded Portuguese researchers carry out their work abroad. João Matos studies chromosomal architecture in Austria; Rui Benedito studies the cellular behavior of the vascular system in Spain; Ana Ferreira is one of the three researchers who are in the United Kingdom developing work on the terrestrial mantle in the Azores and Madeora. The other two are Alexandra Silva, who creates verification algorithms in hardware and software systems, and Vasco Carvalho studies the anti-competitive behavior of large companies and the diffusion of innovation in the production chains.
The “Consolidating Grant” of the European Research Council is awarded to projects in the areas of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Social and Human Sciences. In total, the ERC distinguished 327 researchers in 23 countries, with a total support of 655 million euros.
37% of the 327 grants were awarded to women, the highest amount since the start of this support scheme. Women have a 14.5% success rate compared to 12.6% for men.
[ad_2]
