Project description
Digitisation of atmospheric chemistry to monitor VOCs
Many compounds exist as aerosols (microscopic particles suspended in a gas) in the atmosphere. These aerosols play key roles in global warming and air pollution. While significant efforts have reduced inorganic emissions, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are on the rise. Identifying these VOCs and studying the molecular processes of particle formation are impeded by a lack of mass spectral reference standards. Solving this empirically is inefficient at best. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CLOUDMAP project aims to use computational methods to create such a library. The team will use quantum chemical mass spectral simulations and machine learning to improve understanding for climate change mitigation and air quality improvement.
Objective
Global warming and air pollution are urgent challenges facing humanity. Atmospheric aerosol particles contribute to both by affecting air quality, cloud formation, and the absorption and reflection of sunlight. Increasingly, the atmosphere is shaped by organic rather than inorganic chemistry. While initiatives like the European Green Deal have reduced inorganic emissions, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from biogenic and anthropogenic sources are on the rise. These VOCs react to form oxidized compounds that drive aerosol particle formation. Understanding the molecular processes leading to particle formation is crucial for tackling climate change and improving air quality, with accurate compound identification being a key component of this effort. However, atmospheric science currently lacks the tools and infrastructure to identify most compounds in aerosol samples collected in field campaigns. The main challenge is the absence of reference standards for atmospheric compounds in mass spectral (MS) libraries, which are needed to match unknown spectra with known references. Experimentally creating such a library is difficult due to the lack of reference samples and the large number and reactive nature of atmospheric compounds.
Through CLOUDMAP, I will address these challenges by creating an MS library using computational methods. I will develop a comprehensive dataset of mass spectra of pure atmospheric compounds via simulations, alongside a machine learning tool for enhanced compound identification. This tool will be used to identify unknown compounds from aerosol samples collected during field campaigns. By integrating quantum chemical MS simulations, machine learning, and atmospheric science, CLOUDMAP will advance the digitization of atmospheric chemistry, improve the understanding of aerosol formation, and contribute to both climate change mitigation and improved air quality.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80333 Muenchen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.