The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the ERC Starting Grants for young researchers. Five of them are scientists from TU Delft. This European grant of ¤1.5 million for a five-year research programme is intended to enable individual scientists to build their own teams and conduct groundbreaking research. A total of 44 scientists from Dutch universities and research institutions were awarded grants.
The ERC Starting Grant winners from TU Delft are:
Kristin Kirchner, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics
Functional Calculus for Computational Statistics
In various branches of the social and environmental sciences, such as climatology, demography and geology, data is collected over space and time. Depending on the application, space may refer to, e.g., geographical areas, the globe, or networks. The technological progress in data collection and storage capacities in recent years has caused an immense growth in velocity, volume and variety of data, and thereby exposed the limitations of currently deployed computational methods for statistical inference an predictions. Above all, there is an urgent need for novel approaches that enable both modelling capabilities to capture intricate spatiotemporal dependencies of the observed real-world phenomena (such as temperature, precipitation, mineral resources, etc.) and computational eGiciency to handle large datasets.
The mission of the project FunCalc4Stats is to meet this need by developing mathematical foundations to design realistic statistical models and eGicient computational methods tailored for spatial or spatiotemporal data. To this end, fundamental techniques that have proven highly powerful in other fields of mathematics will be invoked. More specifically, FunCalc4Stats will provide a rigorous systematic approach to design statistical models by employing functional calculus for di1erential operators - an analytical tool that in recent years has led to a deep understanding of partial diGerential equations (PDEs).
The functional calculus framework facilitates not only to capture sophisticated spatial or spatiotemporal dependencies in data but also the applicability of eGicient numerical (i.e., computational) methods for PDEs in the context of statistical inference. In addition, it allows to model the interaction and mutual influence of phenomena (e.g., temperature and precipitation). By opening up PDE-inspired approaches for computations with spatial and spatiotemporal data, FunCalc4Stats pursues the overarching goal of tightening the connection between Numerical Analysis and Statistics and enhancing the interaction among these fields of applied mathematics.
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Nadia Haider, QuTech/Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Microelectronics
Multi-Chip 0- π Qubit Distribution: A Feasible Frontier in Quantum Computing?
Nadia Haider, Group Leader at QuTech and Assistant Professor in the Department of Microelectronics at the Faculty of EEMCS, has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant for her research on superconducting quantum mechanical systems. The history of quantum technology is a fascinating story of human curiosity and imagination. The pursuit of scalable quantum computing requires groundbreaking solutions to overcome the influence of noise in the system. The 0-π (zero-pi) qubit, with its intrinsic protection against environmental noise, offers a transformative path. Despite recent advancements, a fully protected version-the hard 0-π qubit-remains unrealized, and the integration of these qubits into scalable, distributed architectures presents a critical, unresolved challenge.
-I am very honoured and excited to have the opportunity to focus on such an extremely fascinating and, at the same time, incredibly challenging research topic. Quantum technology has the potential to revolutionize computing, communication, and sensing, opening possibilities far beyond the reach of classical systems. With this project, I will explore qubits that are inherently resilient to noise, paving the way toward scalable quantum processors,- says Nadia Haider.
The project will focus on investigating decoherence mechanisms, optimizing qubit design for improved coherence, and implementing a high-fidelity interconnect system to link qubits seamlessly across chips. Over the five-year duration of the project, Nadia Haider aims to develop a novel qubit design with state-of-the-art packaging technology and thereby lay the foundation for a scalable, noise-resilient quantum computing platform.
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Carlos Errando Herranz, QuTech/Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Quantum & Computer Engineering
DIscovery of Scalable Qubits On-chip Via photonics and Electromechanical Reconfiguration
Carlos Errando Herranz, Group Leader at QuTech and Assistant Professor in the Department of Quantum & Computer Engineering at the Faculty of EEMCS will use the ERC Starting Grant to fund his project DISQOVER which introduces a new approach to identifying color centers-defects in crystals that can serve as powerful qubits for quantum technologies. These color centers are key to applications in quantum computing, communication, and sensing, but we know very few of them, and discovering new ones is currently a slow, years-long process that limits progress in the field.
DISQOVER aims to change this by developing an integrated, on-chip exploration platform that drastically accelerates the discovery of color centers. By combining advances in photonics, mechanics, and thermal control, the platform will automate and streamline the testing process-enabling faster identification of promising qubit candidates from a vast pool of possibilities.
The project will target the discovery of color centers tailored for error-corrected quantum computing and communication, efficient transduction, ultra-sensitive sensing, and lasing and amplification of light. By making qubit discovery faster and more scalable, DISQOVER has the potential to open new directions in quantum technology and expand the range of available tools for building future quantum systems.
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Yasemin Vardar, Mechanical Engineering, Cognitive Robotics
Superimposing Model-Based Multisensory Touch Sensations on Everyday Surfaces
Touching the future
How can a hard tabletop feel like a soft cushion? That-s the easiest way to sum up what Yasemin Vardar aims to explore in her research project. She specialises in surface haptics, a technology that makes flat, unchanging surfaces feel differently. Currently, such technology is mostly limited to touchscreens, but Vardar envisions a future where any surface around us, like tables, walls and fabrics, can become interactive.
-Just as we can project light onto buildings to change their appearance, I want to do the same with touch,- she explains. Her project aims to subtract the tactile sensation of the actual surface and replace it with the feeling of a different one. Building on a wearable ring she previously developed, which can simulate vibrations when touching a surface, Vardar now plans to add sensations like softness and temperature to make the experience more lifelike.
The challenge lies in integrating the stimuli from the wearable ring with the natural sensations felt by the finger. Her team will develop models to understand how physical cues translate into perception and identify the essential signal features that define tactile experiences. These models will then be combined to simulate the desired surface. Vardar has already created a device that can render various stimuli, such as temperature and texture, in a controlled environment, allowing her to study them in detail.
This project marks a fundamental step toward making any everyday surface feel like something entirely different. -I imagine a future where any surface can serve as an interactive interface with customizable tactile feedback,- she says. -This could have transformative applications in computer science, robotics, and medicine.-
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Eline van der Kruk, Mechanical Engineering, Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control
Diversity Outside In: A new era in musculoskeletal modelling by integrating in-vivo parameters to reflect human heterogeneity
Diversity in musculoskeletal models
Around the world, 1.7 billion people live with musculoskeletal conditions, from osteoarthritis to herniated discs to sports injuries, that limit movement and quality of life. In biomechanics, computer models of the musculoskeletal system are used to better understand these conditions and to design new treatments and prevention strategies. Yet, most existing models fail to reflect the diversity of the population. Eline van der Kruk-s ERC-funded research aims to change this by developing musculoskeletal models that better reflect the diversity of human bodies.
-Women and men are not simply scaled versions of one another,- Van der Kruk explains. -Yet, biomechanics still relies heavily on models based on male bone geometry and mixed-sex muscle parameters.- This lack of sexand age-specific data leads to inaccurate models, which in turn affect diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies.
Her project introduces a new technique that integrates full-body shape data with demographic information to quickly create accurate, personalised models of the human body. To make this possible, Van der Kruk is developing an innovative experimental setup and leading a large population study capturing measurements across different ages, sexes, and genetic backgrounds.
These next-generation models will be the first to truly reflect how demographics influence the structure and function of our muscles and bones. Using computer simulations, the team will explore how these differences affect the way our bodies handle movement and load. -Understanding these variations is key to designing equitable rehabilitation, physical labour strategies, and performance programs,- Van der Kruk says. By setting a new standard for both research and practical applications, her work promises to make biomechanics more inclusive and effective, ultimately improving health outcomes for diverse populations.
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About the ERC
The European Research Council, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. It funds creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based across Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept Grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between their pioneering research and early phases of its commercialisation.
Read the ERC press release.
