Project description
Explainable AI platform for the detection of interstellar life origins
Fossils provide vital insights into the evolution of our planet and life, helping modern science understand essential processes and ecosystems. Distinguishing between biotic and abiotic carbonates in various contexts is challenging yet crucial for researching the interstellar origins of life. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ORIGIN-XAI project will develop a revolutionary methodology for identifying biogenic signatures in carbonate minerals by combining AI with advanced spectroscopic techniques. The project will test and advance this solution by experimenting in extreme environments that are efficient analogues for early Earth and extraterrestrial habitability.
Objective
This project aims to develop an innovative methodology for identifying biogenic signatures in carbonate minerals by combining advanced spectroscopic techniques (Raman, NMR, IR) with artificial intelligence. The goal is to distinguish biotic from abiotic carbonates across modern, fossil, and experimental analogues.
A key objective is to build a curated database of spectral features linked to organic compounds indicative of biogenicity. This dataset will be analyzed using numerical methods and machine learning to develop predictive models capable of identifying biosignatures and discriminating microbial from non-biological origins.
Samples will include microbial lab precipitates, sediments from extreme modern environments (e.g. hypersaline, alkaline, acid), and well-preserved fossils The project will establish an AI-based framework for interpreting early biosignatures on Earth and guide future planetary exploration, especially on Mars, and other potentially habitable celestial bodies.
The research will be hosted at the University of Granada (UGR) within the research group of Prof. Mónica Sánchez-Román, an expert within the field of geomicrobiology, sedimentary geochemistry, and astrobiology. Her work focuses on microbially driven carbonate precipitation in extreme environments, which serve as key analogues for early Earth and extraterrestrial habitability.
The selected postdoctoral fellow will join an interdisciplinary team focused on microbial mineralization, biosignature detection, and early diagenetic and geobiological processes, contributing to cutting-edge research at the interface of geobiology, planetary science, and data-driven mineralogy, with innovative strategies for interpreting early life and supporting future planetary exploration missions.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics numerical analysis
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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-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.
18071 Granada
Spain
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.