Project description
The search for the chemical precursors of life
Life did not appear overnight on our planet. Complex organic molecules existed long before its formation, and they may have played a role in the emergence of life on Earth. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PRECIOUS project focuses on revealing how some key prebiotic compounds are synthesised out in space. With the use of computational techniques, which combine quantum chemistry, classical models and machine learning, the project intends to obtain missing data about molecular collisions and refine current astrochemical models. Its goal is to explore the abundance and synthesis process of glycolaldehyde and methyl formate in the molecular clouds. PRECIOUS will reveal for the first time how some key prebiotic molecules are created in outer space.
Objective
Sugars are crucial for the emergence of proteins, DNA, and ultimately living systems. Astronomers believe these molecules were originally produced from complex organic molecules (COMs) in space and later delivered to Earth by comets and asteroids. Yet, we still do not understand how sugars and COMs are formed there. Progress requires accurate chemical models, which can only be built if we know the molecular abundances and if we include all possible formation routes.
For the robust determination of molecular abundances from spectra captured by telescopes, the competition between collisional and radiative processes must be accounted for. However, collisional data are missing for the vast majority of COMs (available for less than 10%). In addition, many formation paths in chemical models are also missing.
A key COM precursor of sugars is glycolaldehyde, which has been observed in space many times. However, its origin and abundance remain highly uncertain. Its most abundant isomer, methyl formate, provides a valuable comparison to disentangle its possible formation routes.
With the PRECIOUS project, I will develop an innovative strategy to fill this gap. I will design new methods to compute the missing collisional data, combining quantum and classical approaches supported by machine learning tools. Using these data, I will determine the abundances of glycolaldehyde and methyl formate in two molecular clouds rich in prebiotic chemistry, and I will employ newly developed chemical models to predict their abundances. This work will, for the first time, allow us to identify how glycolaldehyde is formed in space. By doing so, this project will provide crucial insights into the formation of the molecular building blocks of life.
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 physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences asteroids
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences comets
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning
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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.
28006 Madrid
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.