Gypsum-based stromatolites (GS) make excellent paradigms for the investigation of fine-scale mineral-microbial interactions and for the detection of life remnants on gypsiferous deposits of Earth and Mars. Yet, they have been largely overlooked compared to the carbonate microbialites. To date we do not know: i) what is their exact mineralogy, ii) which microbial communities are associated to these structures, iii) what is the exact role of microbes and related bioproducts (e.g., exopolymeric substances) in mineral precipitation and stromatolite construction, and iv) which biosignatures may be preserved in GS. NanoBioS aims to address this knowledge gap by employing an interdisciplinary approach to study newly discovered gypsum-based stromatolites from Lake Bakili (Danakil Depression, Ethiopia) from a combined microbiology and mineralogy perspective. The Danakil Depression and the difficult-to-access and so-far unexplored Lake Bakili constitute a unique, natural laboratory for the study of both living and fossil gypsum microbialites, and a terrestrial Martian analogue-site. Besides the possibility to discover novel microbial lineages/metabolisms, we will attempt to identify characteristic associations of microbial groups with mineral assemblages and look for biosignatures. The overarching goal of NanoBioS is to gain a deeper understanding of the microbial influence on Ca-sulfate precipitation, as well as, to develop insights for distinguishing fossil life remnants from inorganic biomorphs on Earth and Martian chemical sediments. The host and secondment host laboratories that have advanced the subject of geomicrobiology of microbialites, will offer me intensive training in cutting-edge molecular biology and mineralogic tools, complementary to my so far geochemical expertise, aside to other, transferable skills. Overall, the development of NanoBioS will be career-defining and it will transform me in an independent, highly competitive, early stage bio-geo-chemist.

There is an ever increasing amount of data that needs to be transmitted, processed, and stored by mobile communication technologies like today’s smartphones and tomorrow’s numerous connected devices. Presently, the raw measurement signals need to be amplified, pre-conditioned, and converted to digital signals before they can be processed. Thus, there is clear impetus to supplement next generation radio technologies with analog signal processing functionalities to perform computation directly on the measured signals. By conducting research at the interface between nanomagnetism, acoustics, microwave engineering and micro-electromechanical systems, MAXBAR aims to integrate low power spin-wave signal processing capabilities with state-of-the-art acoustic wave resonators widely used in RF communication systems to distinguish between signals at different frequencies. It is motivated by the premise that the coupling between spin-waves and acoustic waves in nanosystems can be leveraged (i) to overcome the intrinsic limitations plaguing acoustic wave technology, and (ii) to simultaneously deliver an energy efficient microwave interface for spin waves – the holy grail of magnonics. The primary objective is to establish a platform in which strongly hybridized magneto-elastic resonant modes enables new technological functionalities, such as the tunability of bulk acoustic wave filters and the development of non-reciprocity in acoustical wave based delay lines. The project builds upon the host institution’s expertise in microwave measurements of spin-wave propagation, interference processes and magnetization dynamics, while relying on next-generation acoustic wave resonators developed at the secondment institute to demonstrate its objectives. The applicant is an expert in the design, fabrication and characterization of nanomechanical microwave devices and will thus complement its skills by adding nanomagnetism and acoustics in his competences.

Geometry studies higher-dimensional curved spaces. We can describe these spaces by equations, but the only case where we have any hope to use them for calculation is when the equations are polynomials. The resulting spaces are the objects of algebraic geometry, which are called varieties. Although these objects have been studied for a long time, there are still lots of crucial open problems: If we are given a variety, can we embed it in other well-known varieties? For instance, can we find a ''nice'' surface which contains a given curve? If yes, how many such surfaces exist, and can we characterise them via some of the geometrical properties of the curve? The geometric information of varieties can be encoded in algebraic objects, known as derived categories. Inspired by ideas in string theory, Bridgeland introduced the notion of stability conditions on derived categories. This topic has been highly studied due to its connections to various fields in mathematics and physics, and lots of ideas and techniques have been developed in the area. Now is the time to employ the whole spectrum of modern tools in derived categories and stability conditions to solve so far intractable geometrical problems. My recent work proves that deformation of stability conditions and varying stability status of an object (wall-crossing phenomenon) are powerful new techniques for solving long-standing geometrical problems, that do not appear to involve derived categories. Surprisingly, stability conditions and wall-crossing truly provide the right context for studying those problems. The main goal of this research programme is to draw upon ideas and tools in algebra, geometry and mathematical physics to describe some outstanding geometrical problems in terms of derived categories and stability conditions, and then apply wall-crossing techniques to solve those problems.

Most of today’s computer interfaces are based on principles and conceptual models created in the late seventies. They are designed for a single user interacting with a closed application on a single device with a predefined set of tools to manipulate a single type of content. But one is not enough! We need flexible and extensible environments where multiple users can truly share content and manipulate it simultaneously, where applications can be distributed across multiple devices, where content and tools can migrate from one device to the next, and where users can freely choose, combine and even create tools to make their own digital workbench. The goal of ONE is to fundamentally re-think the basic principles and conceptual model of interactive systems to empower users by letting them appropriate their digital environment. The project will address this challenge through three interleaved strands: empirical studies to better understand interaction in both the physical and digital worlds, theoretical work to create a conceptual model of interaction and interactive systems, and prototype development to test these principles and concepts in the lab and in the field. Drawing inspiration from physics, biology and psychology, the conceptual model will combine substrates to manage digital information at various levels of abstraction and representation, instruments to manipulate substrates, and environments to organize substrates and instruments into digital workspaces. By identifying first principles of interaction, ONE will unify a wide variety of interaction styles and create more open and flexible interactive environments.

ChaoSpin is a frontier research project at the interface between nanomagnetism, spintronics, and nonlinear dynamics. It is motivated by the premise that the rich behaviour of nonlinear systems, in particular chaos, can be leveraged for alternative computing paradigms. The primary objective is to establish the utility and feasibility of the nanocontact vortex oscillator, a nanoscale spintronic device, as a universal building block for chaos-based information processing by demonstrating key technological functionalities, such as random number generation and communication using symbolic dynamics. The underlying idea is that the complexity required for computation and possible cognitive functions can be generated within a single system, without the need of a complex array of interconnected subsystems. The project builds upon the host institution’s recent discovery of novel commensurate and chaotic phases in the nanocontact vortex oscillator. The technical objectives will be met by addressing three important scientific questions related to magnetic vortex dynamics on the nanoscale, namely the nature of the chaotic state, how it can be controlled through external forcing and feedback, and whether such dynamics can be detected experimentally. This will be achieved by combining the development of high-performance simulation tools and quantitative theories with state-of-the-art experiments involving high- frequency electrical characterisation.