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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Opening the black box: Imaging microbial behaviour inside rock

Objective

The ubiquity and diversity of microbes make them natural, cost effective and sustainable agents for driving a wide range of subsurface engineering and remediation technologies, such as CO2 sequestration, oil recovery, sealing rock for CO2 and nuclear waste storage, and erosion control. Yet, their implementation is limited because we know too little about i) how to inject the microbes to the precise location where they are needed, and once there, ii) how they behave. The subsurface is a black box. MIRO will open this box, using X-ray and electron nanotomography, to provide 3D movies of microbe - rock – fluid interactions. Nanoscale understanding is needed for predicting how to inject microbes for decontaminating aquifers and for enhancing oil recovery from reservoirs nearing the end of their productive lifetime. Researchers have already used X-ray tomography to visualize internal structures in single cells and the nanostructure of rocks. During MIRO, I will transfer this approach to biogeochemistry and add new length and time scales to the study of microbial processes in situ, inside rock pores. Strong industry links, provided by my host, and collaboration with scientists and engineers, who will test my developments at field scale, will ensure implementation. MIRO is a multidisciplinary project that builds on my background in biogeochemistry and will diversify my competencies in tomography, computational methods and additional nanoscale techniques. Being able to pioneer a whole new approach, and contribute to advancing Europe’s technology assets for solving imminent environmental, energy and engineering challenges, will open new collaborations and projects with leading scientists in academia and industry. The training, mentoring and support offered by my host, Prof. Susan Stipp and the Nano-Science Center in Copenhagen, will sharpen my competencies and further build the skills I need to become an independent scientist, ready for a permanent academic position.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

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.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF
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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.

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
EU contribution
€ 221 154,60
Address
NORREGADE 10
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

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