Despite all the progress and effort that has been made in the last few decades regarding the research on neurodegenerative diseases, the complexity of the human brain and the low efficiency of drugs that can cross the brain-blood-barrier (BBB), have halted significant breakthroughs in neurosciences. Motivated by the lack of an appropriate in vitro model to study brain-targeting nanocarriers, the aim of BrainChip4MED is to develop an advanced microfluidic preclinical tool to recapitulate the structural and functional aspects of the human brain tissue and BBB, using brain-on-a-chip (BoC) technology, to assess and study possible alternatives for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This breakthrough vision will be accomplished by exploring for the first time a novel and multidisciplinary strategy, where chemistry-, engineering- and biology-based approaches will be combined for the creation of a robust microfluidic 3D brain-model, combined with multiplexed biosensor system, for real-time screening of new nanotechnologically-designed drug BBB-targeting nanocarriers. In order to pursue this project, the researcher will carry out the outgoing phase at HMS/BWH - Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital (USA), pioneer in the development of organ-on-a-chip (OoC) and biosensors, for a period of 12 months (WP1). The researcher will then return to INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (Portugal), for the final 12 months (WP2 and WP3), where novel engineered nanoformulation will be developed and tested on the BoC prototype. With BrainChip4MED the researcher will greatly expand her scientific expertise in the fields of OoC and nanotechnology, positioning her as a leading independent researcher, bridging the worlds of engineering and medicine. At the same time, BrainChip4MED has great outreach for academia and pharmaceutical research, contributing to the advancement of nanomedicine and neurosciences in Europe and beyond.

Photovoltaic energy conversion is the sustainable source of the present and of the future. In the last two decades, its deployment increased by several orders of magnitude, and will keep increasing as solar cell prices keep decreasing. Silicon currently dominates the PV market, but a next generation technology is needed to keep pushing prices down and increasing efficiency. CIGS solar cells are lighter, flexible, and already cheaper to produce than silicon, but their performance is still limited. Nanowires can help improve both cost and efficiency thanks to reduced material consumption, and intrinsically higher performance. In this project we aim to deposit periodic arrays of isolated nanowires by MBE, and by optimising their passivation as well as developing a novel device structure, we hope to increase the efficiency of CIGS solar cells. To do so, we will combine the expertise of the applicant in the growth of III-V semiconductor thin film and nanowires with the knowledge of the host in CIGS materials and MBE, using advanced characterisation techniques and state-of-the-art fabrication facilities.

The NanoTRAINforGrowth II is the International Iberian Nanotechnology Institute’s (INL) fellowship programme for Experienced Researchers (ER). It is set to be a 5 year programme and is a 2nd edition of INL´s fellowship programme. It´s main objective is to attract talented researchers and provide opportunities for training and career development, at a one of a kind and state of the art research infrastructure. Selected fellows will have the opportunity to work at INL, through a two-year employment contract, which is the first (and so far the only) research organization in Europe, with an international legal status, entirely focused in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. INL´s Post-doc fellowship programme is an individual-driven bottom-up approach that comprises the incoming mobility scheme. INL´s international post-doctoral fellowship programme allows for experienced researchers (from all over the world and nationality) to sketch out a research project and work on their own research idea, at INL´s Facilities. Fellows will have access to a completely brand new set of state-of-the-art equipment and will have the opportunity to enhance their expertise via a research project, in a scientific topic of their choice, and that is well within INL´s strategic research and technological development areas.

The potential of nanomaterials and nanotechnology to improve the quality of life, to address society’s grand challenges and to contribute to economic growth and to sharpen the competitiveness of industry is now widely recognized, not only in Europe, but globally. Nanomaterials and nanotechnology offer substantial possibilities for improving the competitive position of the EU and for responding to key societal challenges. However, there is a need to ensure the safe development and application of nanomaterial and nanotechnologies and for finding reliable ways to predict the potential risks to health, food and environment of these materials and technologies . Due to the widespread use of nanomaterials, it is critical to identify any potential risks they may pose to human health or the environment. These current uncertainties surrounding nanomaterial risk mean that research is required into nanomaterial safety. Addressing these knowledge gaps will help to ensure that innovation in the rapidly developing area of Nanotechnology is not stifled by concern, but instead by determining risks associated with nanomaterials we can promote the safe, sustainable and responsible use of this technology. SiNfONiA aims at attracting and maintaining a high profile researcher (ERA Chair) and respective research team with excellent research capabilities in the nanosafety research domain. SiNfONiA will play as a catalyst to fully maximise the impact of the ERA Chair on the scientific excellence and research performance of the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL).

Photovoltaic (PV), a renewable and a sustainable source of energy, is one of the best alternatives to suppress the emission of greenhouse gases and limit global warming. The cost of PV systems is dropping continuously, and their energy generation price is not affected by future fuel price increases. Among different thin-film PV technologies, CIGS solar cell exhibit the highest power conversion efficiency. It is lighter, significantly cheaper to produce, and can be made flexible to use for portable electronics, mobility applications as well as building integration, which is highly relevant in view of the European Strategic Energy Technology plan. To keep pushing prices down and increase efficiency, a novel concept is needed. Low-temperature growth of high-quality CIGS thin-film opens a new frontier of solar business by fabricating solar cells on ultra-light polymeric substrates. However, the main problems that limit the growth of CIGS thin-films at low substrate temperature are poor electronic properties due to incomplete phase transformation and insufficient alkali metals in the absorber layer due to decreased diffusion. In this project, a pulsed hybrid reactive magnetron sputtering process will be developed to obtain a high-efficiency solar cell at low-growth temperature. It is a new, unique, and single-step fabrication process, which will have a high impact on the industrial production of solar cells. Surface stoichiometry and nucleation of anions/cations species at various deposition conditions will be investigated. Furthermore, the atomic mobility of the anions/cations species will be promoted using laser pulses, which enhances the phase transformation resulting in increased crystal growth. To further boost the performance, heavy alkali metals will be incorporated. High-quality results are expected, since the proposal will combine the expertise of the applicant with the knowledge of the host, and the use of unique state-of-the-art fabrication facilities.