From the reconstruction of the inner ear of dinosaurs to the development of new materials for sustainable construction, four new projects funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions will be carried out at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, through its affiliated Research Units. The fellowships are awarded under the European programme supporting researchers’ mobility and career development.
In the field of biological evolution, Filippo Bertozzo, a postdoctoral researcher, will come from Brussels to conduct research at Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente (CERENA), joining the palaeontology laboratory led by Ricardo Araújo, a professor at Instituto Superior Técnico. The project proposes the digital reconstruction of the inner ears of dinosaurs and pterosaurs and their comparison with those of modern species, enabling a deeper understanding of the evolution of animal metabolism and the relationship between anatomical structure and physiological function. This project is one of the branches of Ricardo Araújo’s European Research Council (ERC) grant.
Also at CERENA, Rosana Pinto, a PhD graduate from Técnico, will work on a project focused on the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to safely store and deliver therapeutic gases, such as nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. The work will be carried out in Ana Clara Marques laboratory, also a professor and researcher at Técnico, and aims to explore biomedical applications of these gases, known for their antibacterial and anti-cancer effects when used in controlled doses.
In the field of civil engineering, the RECO2-CONC project will be developed at the Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS) by Dianchao Wang, under the supervision of Jorge de Brito, a professor at Técnico. The research proposes developing concrete using fully carbonated recycled aggregates, addressing the challenges associated with the quality of these materials and their performance in new construction. The aim is to reduce the use of natural raw materials and carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to solutions that are in line with the principles of the circular economy.
The fourth Marie Curie fellowship has been awarded to the SPORA project, in the field of regenerative medicine, to be carried out at the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB) by Diego Trucco, an Italian researcher, under the supervision of Frederico Ferreira, a professor at Técnico. The research, to be conducted over the next two years, focuses on the development of smart materials for “innovative therapies” applied to osteoarthritis, a joint disease for which current clinical treatment options are limited. The project proposes the creation of systems capable of responding to external stimuli, such as electrical or magnetic signals, allowing for the controlled release of compounds relevant to the regeneration of damaged tissue.
By encouraging the production of scientific knowledge and its application to societal and industrial challenges, each fellowship awarded to research projects carried out at Técnico is worth around 200,000 euros. In 2025, Portugal secured funding for 38 projects. The 2025 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships call received over 17,000 applications.
