Baleen whales are mega predators that shape the ecosystem structure and maintain healthy marine environments. A decrease in their populations can therefore have cascading trophic impacts detrimental to marine ecosystems they inhabit. The marine soundscape has dramatically changed since the Industrial Revolution. With increasing traffic, ship noise has become the most ubiquitous and pervasive source of anthropogenic noise in the ocean. Baleen whales rely heavily on acoustic cues for interpreting and exploring the marine environment. However, they hear best and produce sound at the same frequencies where cargo ships make the most noise, which makes them potentially the most sensitive species to vessel noise disturbance. Numerous studies have documented short-term adverse effects on baleen whales exposed to vessel noise, including changes in behaviour, and decreases and/or cessations in foraging. However, there is a lack quantitative data on i) the specific noise levels that trigger changes in behaviour, and ii) how these noise-induced behavioural changes impact the fitness of the exposed individuals. Through VESSEL, I propose to fill these important knowledge gaps by applying an innovative combination of state-of-the-art tagging technology and noise analysis to, for the first time in baleen whales, i) quantify received noise levels on the animal, and ii) estimate a dose-response relationship between vessel noise levels and the energy budget of the exposed individuals. The outcomes of VESSEL will be crucial to parameterize Population Consequence of Disturbance (PCoD) models that link disturbance parameters to fitness and population dynamics. Importantly, VESSEL will be of direct relevance to the management of underwater noise levels in EU marine waters by providing evident-based estimates of critical noise thresholds for the fitness of baleen whales that will set thresholds for Good Environmental Status (GES).

Atomically thin semiconductors are emerging as an important class of quantum materials that provide groundbreaking functionalities in device architectures. In particular, tailoring quantum degrees of freedom associated with charge, spin and orbital quantum numbers, as well as twist angle, could enable novel electronic, spintronic, valleytronic and twistronic applications. These fascinating properties are all contained in the quantum mechanical wavefunctions associated with the charge carrying electrons and holes of the semiconductors. Here, I will prepare heterostructures of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors and use the strong many-body interactions in the materials to generate condensates of electron-hole pair excitations. The many-body wavefunctions of these so-called exciton condensates will be visualised for the first time using advanced photoemission spectroscopies that provide complementary access to the energy-, momentum-, time- and length-scales of the excitations. I hypothesise that this fundamental level of control of the underlying quantum mechanisms of the semiconductors will ultimately enable highly specific quantum engineering of 2D optoelectronic devices. I will combine my expertise on non-equilibrium femtosecond dynamics of 2D semiconductors with the capabilities of my host group at Aarhus University, Denmark, in order to gain access to multiple photoemission spectroscopy experiments with nanoscale spatial resolution and femtosecond time-resolution, as well as 2D material fabrication facilities. These new skills and networking opportunities will ultimately enable me to obtain a permanent academic position.

Through synergies between archaeology and physics, JOINTIME proposes to provide the first reliable radiocarbon-driven grid synchronising critical parts of Europe, from Scandinavia over the Carpathian Basin to the Aegean, between 1700 and 1500 BCE. Building on mathematically advanced software pioneered by AU Astronomy & Physics (AMS unit), this time-geography will be used as a springboard to pursue answers to the main project question: when and where the Bronze Age was first consolidated as a geographical and culturally interweaving process. This will further prompt comparisons with prevalent macro-models and involves testing an alternative frame recently proposed by AU Dept of Archaeology: here the Bronze Age is conceptualised as an interconnecting web-like process, which unfolded decisively c. 1700-1500 BCE when large tracts of Afro-Eurasia became knit by bronze and by many other transactions. Jointime aims to pinpoint the mode, direction and intensity of sociocultural interactions in the decisive period of Bronze Age consolidation. The anticipated results will be ground-breaking in Bronze Age studies as well as beyond. The project is timely since advanced modelling methods are now available and rich data are merely awaiting targeted, systematic and explorative analyses. The training of Tibor-Tamás Daróczi as experienced researcher at AU will ensue along these interdisciplinary lines in tune with the objectives of the planned research. The training will follow a detailed scheme of supervision and courses, with a full integration into the hosting department of archaeology and with a transfer to the AMS unit twice a week: embracing elements from scientific statistics to culture theory. His academic network will complement the ones of the host and guarantee mutually beneficial success. Passion, stamina and curiosity will ensure completion of the fellowship and results of excellence. The obtained skills crossing natural sciences and SSH will ensure high employability