Project description
Bacterial quorum sensing in biofilms for wastewater treatment
The global water community is beginning to recognise wastewater’s potential as a resource for green energy and biopolymers. Specifically, quorum sensing plays a key role in biofilm formation. This involves introducing external quorum-sensing signalling molecules into high-rate activated sludge biofilms to enhance biopolymer production and bioflocculation. With support from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BIORESCue project will use advanced bioanalytical techniques to investigate bacterial quorum sensing in wastewater biofilms. It aims to understand the diversity and activity of signalling molecules, optimise resource recovery, and revolutionise wastewater treatment. The project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to clean water, affordable energy, and sustainable industries.
Objective
BIORESCue delves into the role of bacterial quorum sensing, a cell-to-cell communication in wastewater biofilms. The hypothesis posits that quorum sensing holds a key role to understanding biofilm formation, and that introducing exogenous quorum sensing signaling molecules in high-rate activated sludge biofilms has the potential to enhance biopolymer production and bioflocculation. As the global water community increasingly recognizes the untapped potential of wastewater as a resource for green energy and biopolymer, this project aims to address a significant knowledge gap in the field. I will develop advanced bioanalytical techniques combining bioassays with chemical screening to explore uncharted diversity, concentration, and activity of signaling molecules in wastewater biofilms. I will explore the dose-effect relationship of signaling molecules in high-rate activated sludge, to offer practical strategies for optimizing resource recovery. By combining this unique dataset with a detailed analysis of bioflocculation and biopolymer composition, I seek to uncover valuable insights on the role and effects of quorum sensing in biofilms. Implemented at the Aarhus University and the host research group, this project will allow me to enhance scientific, communication and project management skills, through a well-designed training program (courses, workshops, regular meeting with supervisors), as well as measures for knowledge exchange and dissemination. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the interests of clean water, affordable energy, and sustainable industries, this project has the potential to revolutionize wastewater treatment, transforming treatment plants into net energy producers and fostering sustainable resource recovery, thus addressing pressing global challenges while advancing scientific understanding and innovation in wastewater treatment.
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.
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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-2023-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.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
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.