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Price Euryi 2007: on twenty prizes winner, four CNRS

Have been just revealed the names of the 20 prizes winner of the price European Young Investigator (Euryi) 2007. Intended for young researchers, among most talented, wishing to integrate a European research laboratory, this reward aims at attracting in Europe of the promising scientists. For this fourth and last edition (1), four young researchers introduced by CNRS saw their projects selected for their excellence and their originality. With an envelope from 1 to 1,25 million euros over 5 years, free with these prizes winner to constitute their own team of research, in a laboratory CNRS. Proof of the attractivity of CNRS for best young talents expatriates, this result testifies to the vitality and the excellence of French research. To recognize and promote the excellence of European research in all the disciplines, and consequently, to recruit, retain or repatriate young scientists, such are the principal objectives of the Euryi price. Created in October 2002 on the initiative of the persons in charge for European organizations of research (Eurohorcs) and coordinated by the European Foundation of science (European Foundation Science), this price, financed collectively by 17 organizations of research emanating from 15 country, particularly aims at attracting the best enquiring young people of the whole world in Europe. It financed each year the projects from 20 to 25 prizes winner, to a total value of 1,25 maximum million euros per prize winner over 5 years. An amount approaching that given to the Nobel Prize… And especially, of what, for these leaders of tomorrow, to train their own team within a European organization of research. Without restriction of nationality, the candidates, who they are statutory or post-doctorands, are selected initially at the national level by the organizations of research, then, at the European level, by panels of international scientists of reputation. Selected for their scientific qualities, their potentiality of leader, the excellence of their project like that of the laboratory of reception, these young talents will have to be devoted full-time to their project. Extremely of 4 prizes winner this year, the CNRS - which introduced 8 candidates on a total of 132 for all 15 country - can only be satisfied with this result, proof of the scientific excellence of the organization which counts from now on 11 researchers rewarded since launching for the Euryi price. These prizes winner would not have had any difficulty in integrate the most prestigious American universities. It is particularly the case for three of the four prizes winner of CNRS who worked in the United States until now. By helping them to be established in a laboratory of CNRS, the Euryi price was determining in their choice to return to Europe.

News Inside News:

Prizes winner:
36 years old, Philippe Schlenker, from French nationality, obtained a first thesis in linguistics (Sept. 1999) and a second in philosophy (janv. 2002). Entered at CNRS in 2003 as in charge of research, it is detached at the department of linguistics at the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA), where it works as full professor (“Associate Professor with tenure”), while maintaining bonds regular with the Department of cognitive studies (ENS Paris). Its project has as a subject “the presupposition: an approach of pragmatic formal”. To carry it out, it will return to work with L ¹ Institut Jean-Nicod (CNRS/EHESS Paris/ENS Paris), directed by Pierre Jacob and true interdisciplinary laboratory with the interface between social sciences, social sciences and cognitive sciences. It moreover was named director of research this year. Contact: schlenke@humnet.ucla.edu

Sylvia Serfaty, young person French 31 years, is in charge of research at CNRS, detached since 2001 at the Institute Running of mathematical Sciences (University of New York). It works as a full professor (“Associate Professor”) in this place dedicated to research and teaching advanced in mathematics and data processing, particularly famous in the field of the partial derivative equations and their applications. A field whose Sylvia Serfaty made his speciality. Its research project relates quite naturally to “the mathematical study of certain equations to the applications in physics, mechanics and optimal control”. To lead it, it will join the Laboratory Jacques-Louis-Lions (CNRS/Université Pierre and Marie Curie - Paris VI), directed by Yvon Maday. Moreover, it obtained in 2002 its accreditation to supervise resear in mathematics. Contact: serfaty@cims.nyu.edu

Terence Strick, 34 years, French, chose, after studies pushed in physics, to direct itself towards molecular and cellular biology for his DEA (1996) and his thesis (1999). It is thus not a chance if this in charge of research at CNRS since 2004 works at the department “Biology of the genomes” at the Institute Jacques Monod (CNRS/Universités Paris VI and Paris VII), which constitutes today one of the principal poles franciliens of fundamental research in biology. He will continue his Euryi project there concerning “the single molecules and their assembly out of biological nano-machines”. By using techniques of nano-handling of individual molecule, it studies in real time the interactions between a protein and an ADN, thus offering a mechanical and dynamic vision behavior of the macromolecules. The whole of its work concentrates on fundamental biological processes, the such transcription, the replication and the repair of the ADN. Contact: strick@ijm.jussieu.fr

Rufin VanRullen
At 33 years, of French nationality, Rufin VanRullen, in charge of research at CNRS since 2001, acquired a real competence in cognitive Sciences. Researcher invited to the university of Harvard since 2005, it works in the cognition and Research center brain (CERCO, CNRS/Université Paul Sabatier - Toulouse 3), directed by Michele Fabre-Thorpe. Gathering experts of the visual system, this center is one of the 4 units founders of the Institute of “Sciences of the brain” of Toulouse. There, Rufin VanRullen will carry out its project entitled “Dynamic of perception and the attention: periodic processes of the brain”. It is interested in the periodic and nonconstant mechanisms which come into play during the visual data processing. Often ignored processes that it wishes to characterize, in order to improve our comprehension of biological perception. Its fertile work is rewarded in 2007 by the medal for bronze for CNRS. Contact: rufin.vanrullen@cerco.ups-tlse.fr