The impact of plant pests on global crop yields is a significant concern, leading to an annual decrease of more than 30% in crop production. The whitefly alone incurs losses exceeding $300 million each year, primarily due to its role in transmitting harmful plant viruses like the Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl virus (TYLCV), which poses a substantial threat to tomato crops worldwide. The use of conventional pesticides raises environmental alarms, negatively affects beneficial insects, and contributes to pest resistance. Initiatives like the European Green Deal aim to promote sustainable agriculture by reducing chemical pesticide usage by 50% by 2030. Spray-induced genetic silencing (SIGS), harnessing the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism, has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional pesticides. This non-GMO approach offers a sustainable and pathogen-specific protection method by silencing key genes in target pests through the foliar application of dsRNA molecules. However, certain challenges remain unresolved, including the cost-effective production of dsRNA, the ability to control multiple species simultaneously, and dsRNA stability and transport in crop environments. This project seeks to overcome these challenges by implementing innovative, safe, and cost-effective approaches. Firstly, we will synthesize dsRNA containing regions from both whitefly and TYLCV through microbial fermentation and apply a simple purification method to achieve high-efficiency hybrid dsRNA isolation. Secondly, we will design new biomass-based formulations using nanopolyplexes as carriers to efficiently protect and deliver the dsRNA. Thus, we will develop advanced biocontrol strategies for dual protection against both the insect vector and its host virus in tomato. Through the integration of polymer science, nanotechnology, and biotechnology approaches, our efforts aim to advance dsRNA-based biopesticide technology and facilitate its lab-to-field transition.

The photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into valuable chemicals such as CO is a promising solution to mitigate both the health and environmental impact from green house gases. The photocatalytic field faces several challenges towards their industrial deployment under competitive scale. Several knowledge gaps exist in the design and understanding of photo-active materials mimicking the organic reactions catalysed by nature. The training tasks in PHOCAT, under the supervision of Prof. Arias (Host, EHU, Spain) and a 4-month secondment period with Prof. Ravelli (UNIP, Italy) will provide the researcher with new skills in chemical reaction engineering, material science and operando spectroscopy. PHOCAT will explore new chemical engineering concepts, related to photocatalyst design, catalysis, spectroscopy and engineering in order to enhance CO productivity from CO2 and H2O reactants. Specifically, PHOCAT will tailor the electronic and redox features in C3N4 materials, tested under unprecedented capillary solvation methods and operando synchrotron XAS. This scientific approach will contribute to design innovative photocatalytic process with potential industrial application. This MSCA-PF will certainly contribute the researcher to be trained in new scientific and transferable skills, enhancing the career perspectives to become an independent and mature researcher in the EU in the near future.

In the proposed project “Spin-Orbit Coupling at Interfaces from Spintronics to new Superconducting effects” (SOCISS) the experienced researcher Dr. Juan Borge and the scientist in charge Prof. Angel Rubio, Head of the Nano-Bio Spectroscopy (NBS) group at the university of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), aim at stablish a complete description of interfacial spin-orbit coupling. This understanding will allow us to describe many transport, both electrical and spin, phenomena, and to include the effect of this interaction in normal and superconducting alloys. This study will be done following two different approaches; a theoretical description using effective kinetic equations, and through simulations performed with a computational platform combining recent theoretical developments in density functional theory and many body physics.SOCISS responds to two different purposes, the implementation of its results into the realization of new devices, and contribute to a deeper understanding on the fundamental relations in quantum mechanics. On one hand interfacial spin-orbit coupling looks one of the best alternatives to heavy atoms in the research of new materials with high values of the spin Hall and Edelstein conductivities. On the other hand SOCISS provides the perfect opportunity to gain some insight into the relation between the spin and the charge of the electron in equilibrium and non-equilibrium situations. The skills the researcher will acquire in computational methods and superconductivity will be essential in order to advance its career as an independent investigator.

The advancement of quantum optics has ushered in groundbreaking fields like quantum information and quantum control. While free-electron lasers have traditionally been studied through classical electromagnetism, this project, acronymed FELQO, seeks to explore the quantum nature of this system, aligning with the momentum of the second quantum revolution. By delving into the quantum optics of free-electron lasers, the project aims to achieve precise control over both electron wave functions and light fields, positioning this system as a versatile platform for quantum simulation and computing. In this innovative and interdisciplinary framework, the project will also tackle fundamental quantum challenges, including relativistic quantum dynamics and quantum measurement, which have intrigued scientists since the inception of quantum theory. This proposal represents a bold step into a novel and fundamental area of research, promising to deepen our understanding and potentially shape future quantum technologies.

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is one of the greatest threats to human health. The global overuse of antibiotics has resulted in the proliferation and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria harboring a multitude of antibiotic resistance genes that can be mobilized by different horizontal gene transfer processes such as conjugation. Integrative Conjugative Elements (ICEs) are mobile genetic elements which are typically found integrated in the bacterial chromosome and encode the machinery for their conjugation. The so-called coupling proteins have a critical role in the conjugation process. ICECOUP is focused on the molecular and functional characterization of a critical component for ICE transmission, the coupling protein, with the ultimate goal of finding ICE conjugation inhibitors to block or, at least, minimize the AR spread. To date, ICE coupling proteins have received little attention despite their importance in the transfer mechanism. The supervision of Dr. Itziar Alkorta at the University of Basque Country(UPV/EHU) is a key element to guarantee the success of this project. ICECOUP will generate extensive and innovative scientific outputs that in the long run will have a societal impact, enhancing the catalogue of weapons to combat antibiotic resistance. The multidisciplinary approach of ICECOUP will allow me the reinforce my scientific knowledge and soft skills, while I acquire outreach and project management capacities. Undoubtedly, should this project be funded, it will strengthen my prospects to forge a stable career as an independent researcher able to secure funding.