Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ALFF (The Algal Microbiome: Friends and Foes)
Période du rapport: 2017-01-01 au 2018-12-31
In order to understand their role in ecosystems, to support their cultivation or to limit their unwanted proliferation, it is important to know what algae need to flourish, and to control their diseases and pests. At present, the single biggest biological challenge to further develop algal aquaculture is to first understand and then control both beneficial and harmful microbes – the microbial flora or algal microbiome. The main aims of ALFF research are to: 1) identify, classify and utilise naturally occurring algal symbionts and pathogens; 2) tackle inter- and intra-species signalling and chemical ecology in aquaculture, the natural environment and simplified systems 3) to harness state of the art genomics, molecular and biochemical techniques to characterise these interactions
The overarching aim of programme is to training 14 PhD students within this multinational consortium whilst bringing a fundamental scientific change in our understanding of these interactions, leading to the development of superior mass algal cultivation and biocontrol strategies. Over the period 2015-2018, ALFF has already resulted in over 20 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals.
The first two years of ALFF comprised the start-up period with the recruitment of 15 PhD students, followed by their registration in a PhD programme and the initiation of their project. In the second reporting period, our focus has been to pursue the personal development of each ESR, through the combination of research work, secondments, courses and scientific events. We could not avert the resignation of ESR13 after 18 months, which led to the withdrawal of Applied Maths as a consortium beneficiary. Over the period 2015-2018, ALFF has already resulted in over 20 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals. Six courses have been organised by the network, as well as four progress workshops. Three of them were integrated with some the highest-profile international conferences.
• enhancement of research and innovation-related human resources: each of our student has demonstrably developed a unique, interdisciplinary scientific profile of exceptional quality. Their language, presentation, and other transversal skills have been thoroughly worked on.
• structuring PhD training at European level and strengthening European innovation capacity: ALFF has worked in a highly collaborative manner. We are most proud that over 50% of the resulting publications are co-signed by at least two ALFF institutions, with this proportion due to increase to approximately 75% once all manuscripts still in preparation are completed. A third of all ALFF publications (in preparation or already accepted) are co-authored by at least one non-academic partner, also showing excellent cross-sectoral collaboration.
• Extensive teaching, communication and dissemination plans have been unrolled throughout the action, thus maximising the diversity of audiences reached by the programme.