Final Activity Report Summary - MULTIMAT (Multi-scale modelling and characterisation for phase transformations in advanced materials)
The general objective of the Multi-scale modelling and characterisation for phase transformations in advanced materials (MULTIMAT) Marie Curie research training network was to build, organise and apply a dedicated constellation of training and mobility opportunities to bring together and educate young European scientists with different scientific backgrounds in multi-scale modelling and characterisation of functional materials. The common ground for the network was the interest of its members and trainees in the phase transformational aspects of these materials, the prediction of their properties and the development of their potential applications at the entire range of nanoscales, microscales and mesoscales.
Bridging the gap between these different scales remained a very challenging problem. For that purpose, modern experimental as well as theoretical investigations required a dedicated training and strong focus beyond classical educational schemes. The training was primarily focussed on the early-stage researchers (ESR), who had less than four years of research experience, and was in most cases strongly related to a doctoral thesis, while the transfer of knowledge was to a large extent related to the work plan of the experienced researchers (ER), who had 4 to 10 years of experience or a Ph.D. degree. Both ER and ESR were exposed in a very explicit way to the wide variety of research methods and results which were related to their field but obtained by one of the other network contractors.
During the four years of the MULTIMAT project, 18 ESR and 18 ER positions were occupied. About one quarter of the person-months in the network were realised by researchers of Ukraine, Armenia, China, Kenya, Brazil and Mexico, while the others were realised by researchers from European member states, thus representing a good geographical balance. For example the coordinating team, i.e. the University of Antwerp, welcomed one female ER from the Czech Republic, two young male ESR from Romania and France and one female Chinese ESR. Equal opportunity measures concerning gender were applied as effectively as possible; however this was not directly evident due to the male predomination in the number of researchers in physics and mathematics. In practice, 26 % of the appointed person-months were taken up by female researchers.
The MULTIMAT network was very active with respect to the training and transfer of knowledge of the employed researchers, both by in-house activities, network activities and participation in external events. Researchers were strongly encouraged to visit other teams for short terms or longer secondments during their fellowships, as listed in all periodic activity reports. Senior researchers were also often invited to visit other teams within the network framework. Very active network meetings took place every six months at one of the contractor sites, during which researchers as well as former researchers presented their work in short contributions. At the same time, introductory and intensive courses were organised and presented by senior team members or external specialists to introduce the ESR and ER to the available existing and new techniques. By the time of the project completion over 70 joint publications between members of different teams were already published in peer reviewed journals and the number was still increasing, indicating a continued collaboration between the teams beyond the project lifetime. Many more conference contributions were as well presented.
As for the actual research, four major research objectives (ROs) were defined within the network, with several tasks and milestones being identified in each of the ROs. By their involvement in several of these ROs and tasks, the research teams generated numerous new interactions between the young researchers. The themes and contents of the ROs were given in the keywords field of the final activity report.
Bridging the gap between these different scales remained a very challenging problem. For that purpose, modern experimental as well as theoretical investigations required a dedicated training and strong focus beyond classical educational schemes. The training was primarily focussed on the early-stage researchers (ESR), who had less than four years of research experience, and was in most cases strongly related to a doctoral thesis, while the transfer of knowledge was to a large extent related to the work plan of the experienced researchers (ER), who had 4 to 10 years of experience or a Ph.D. degree. Both ER and ESR were exposed in a very explicit way to the wide variety of research methods and results which were related to their field but obtained by one of the other network contractors.
During the four years of the MULTIMAT project, 18 ESR and 18 ER positions were occupied. About one quarter of the person-months in the network were realised by researchers of Ukraine, Armenia, China, Kenya, Brazil and Mexico, while the others were realised by researchers from European member states, thus representing a good geographical balance. For example the coordinating team, i.e. the University of Antwerp, welcomed one female ER from the Czech Republic, two young male ESR from Romania and France and one female Chinese ESR. Equal opportunity measures concerning gender were applied as effectively as possible; however this was not directly evident due to the male predomination in the number of researchers in physics and mathematics. In practice, 26 % of the appointed person-months were taken up by female researchers.
The MULTIMAT network was very active with respect to the training and transfer of knowledge of the employed researchers, both by in-house activities, network activities and participation in external events. Researchers were strongly encouraged to visit other teams for short terms or longer secondments during their fellowships, as listed in all periodic activity reports. Senior researchers were also often invited to visit other teams within the network framework. Very active network meetings took place every six months at one of the contractor sites, during which researchers as well as former researchers presented their work in short contributions. At the same time, introductory and intensive courses were organised and presented by senior team members or external specialists to introduce the ESR and ER to the available existing and new techniques. By the time of the project completion over 70 joint publications between members of different teams were already published in peer reviewed journals and the number was still increasing, indicating a continued collaboration between the teams beyond the project lifetime. Many more conference contributions were as well presented.
As for the actual research, four major research objectives (ROs) were defined within the network, with several tasks and milestones being identified in each of the ROs. By their involvement in several of these ROs and tasks, the research teams generated numerous new interactions between the young researchers. The themes and contents of the ROs were given in the keywords field of the final activity report.