Seven Manchester researchers have been awarded prestigious European Research Council (ERC) advanced grants for ambitious, curiosity-driven scientific projects in an effort to support scientific breakthroughs
The highly prestigious European Research Council (ERC) advanced grants are designed to provide outstanding research leaders with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, curiosity-driven projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs.
Recipients include experts in optoelectronics, evolutionary biology, nuclear physics, chemistry, chemical biology, particle physics, and 2D materials.
A commitment to scientific projects and transformative research both in the UK and EU
Manchester’s success includes seven out of 42 grants awarded to UK institutions, with a total ERC investment of nearly €652 million across 255 projects.
The funding has been awarded to the following senior research leaders and their projects:
- Thomas Anthopoulos
- Developing scalable nanomanufacturing for sustainable large-area electronics
- Michael Brockhurst
- Investigating genomic complexity in bacterial evolution and adaptation.
- Kieran Flanagan
- Creating a table-top nuclear facility for novel physics exploration into cold actinide molecules.
- Professor Sir Andre Geim
- Exploring 2D materials and their assemblies.
- David Leigh, Sir Samuel Hall Professor of Chemistry,
- Leading research into chemically fueled molecular ratchets.
- Jason Micklefield
- Developing enzymatic methods for cleaner peptide synthesis and explaining how chemistry becomes biology.
- Yvonne Peters, Professor of Particle Physics
- Exploring fundamental properties of nature with particle physics
The University of Manchester received seven of the 42 grants awarded to UK institutions.
As a result of today’s announcement, the ERC will be investing nearly €652 million across the 255 projects.
world-leading and transformative frontier science
“These awards are welcome recognition of the world-leading and transformative frontier science that The University of Manchester researchers are delivering”, commented Professor Andy Trafford, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health.
“As we enter our third century, the awards made in a highly competitive environment, are evidence that we do so with a continued pioneering approach to discovery and the pursuit of knowledge that our research community was built on”, said Professor Andy Trafford, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health.
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth at the ERC, said: “This investment nurtures the next generation of brilliant minds. I look forward to seeing the resulting breakthroughs and fresh advancements in the years ahead.”
The ERC grants are part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.
