Project description
Nature-inspired green chemistry
Nitrogen fixation involves the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and is essential for life and agriculture. Although industrial production of ammonia is energy-intensive, nitrogenase enzymes achieve this process naturally under mild conditions. A particularly intriguing variant called iron nitrogenase can reduce carbon dioxide to methane, but we do not know how its active site orchestrates these reactions. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ProFeN project will investigate the mechanism of catalysis of iron nitrogenase. Researchers will establish a mechanistic framework using advanced spectroscopy and computational modelling, paving the way towards the design of bio-inspired catalysts for sustainable ammonia synthesis and carbon dioxide reduction.
Objective
To achieve sustainable food production and green chemistry, new catalytic strategies are needed for N2 fixation and CO2 utilization. Nitrogenases (N2ases) offers an outstanding natural example, operating N2 fixation under ambient conditions. Among them, Fe-N2ase is particularly intriguing. It produces more H2 than Mo-N2ase and uniquely reduces CO2 to CH4. Yet, the catalytic principles of its active site, FeFeco, remain unresolved. Understanding how FeFeco orchestrates proton-electron transfer is key to uncovering rules of biological catalysis and inspiring new approaches to NH3 synthesis, H2 evolution, and CO2 reduction.
ProFeN aims to deliver the first systematic dissection of proton-electron transfer pathways in Fe-N2ase. The project focuses on early intermediates during N2 fixation, where FeFeco accepts and distributes protons and electrons. Intermediates will be trapped and quantified, extending methodologies established for Mo-N2ase. Their structural and electronic dynamics will be then resolved using a complementary spectroscopic toolkit, including CW/pulsed EPR and HERFD-XAS/XES, coupled with multivariate data analysis and a tiered DFT-WFT computational framework. Site-selective Se substitution at sulfides will add atomic-level insight, enabling direct correlation of Fe- and ligand-centered changes with catalytic function. The outcome will be a comprehensive mechanistic framework for Fe-N2ase and a transferable toolkit for studying complex metalloenzymes and designing bio-inspired catalysts.
Beyond scientific advances, ProFeN will equip the fellow with interdisciplinary expertise and transferable skills in project management, mentoring, leadership and international collaboration. This positions her for a tenure-track academic career in enzymatic and heterogeneous catalysis and to lead future efforts in sustainable, bio-inspired chemical transformations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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.
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.
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture sustainable agriculture
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
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.