Objective I seek the Marie Curie Career Integration Grant grant to support my effort to establish a new independent research group lead by me in the Department of Chemistry at Aalto University School of Chemical Technology, Finland. I am a young Finnish researcher, who after finishing her doctoral studies in December 2004, moved to United States for her post-doctoral research and ever since has been successfully pursuing a research career in top US research environments currently in Yale University and before that in Princeton University.Research in the Sammalkorpi group will apply computational and theoretical methods toward engineering drug delivery, biosensing, and separation membrane systems based on surfactant self-assembly. Amphiphilic surfactant aggregates and their capacity to change form, structure, and dynamics lie at the heart of many natural and synthetic processes. For example, lipid and detergent micelles, vesicles, and membranes play a key role both in cellular and synthetic molecular transport and regulation [Schmidt, Nature (2002); Hubbell, Science (2003)]. The same molecules form tunable coatings, lubrication layers, and novel nanoscale functional soft materials [Min et al., Nature Materials (2008); Hillmyer, Science (2007); van Hest, Nature (2009)]. My initial research will focus on two areas with common themes of molecular self-assembly and the key influence of aggregation on system dynamics: 1) small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery via micellar and vesicular carriers and 2) novel functional materials based on functionalized carbon nanotubes in amphiphilic surfactant aggregates.I apply the Marie Curie Career Integration funds for 4 years to improve the chances of success I have on establishing this ambitious new line of research in the Department of Chemistry at Aalto University. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringtribologylubricationengineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybiosensingnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and filmsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNA Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG - Marie-Curie Action: "Career Integration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG) Coordinator AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR EU contribution € 100 000,00 Address OTAKAARI 1 02150 Espoo Finland See on map Region Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Maarit Karppinen (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
