Professor Curchod has received funding of €2.2M over five years to study the photochemistry of atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in and at the surface of aqueous aerosols.
His ERC project, ISPAMIA (In Silico Photochemistry of Atmospheric Molecules in Aqueous Aerosols), will develop novel theoretical frameworks to simulate the photochemistry of representative VOCs in the complex environment created by aqueous aerosols.
ISPAMIA goes beyond pure theoretical curiosity as it aims to calculate actual photochemical observables and determine simple rules that can be included in atmospheric models in collaboration with atmospheric scientists to achieve, ultimately, a direct social impact.
Meanwhile, for Dr Palmer, who joined the School of Chemistry in September 2025, this award follows his successful ERC Starting Grant (CRYSTALEYES) which was carried out during his previous position at Ben-Gurion University in Israel.
During his Starting Grant, Ben discovered how animals exquisitely control the properties of highly reflective crystals to manipulate light in coloration and visual systems. This led to a series of high-profile articles on the topic of ‘organic biomineralization’ and was recognized by the 2025 Blavatnik Award.
His new 'CRYST_ALGAE' Consolidator Grant will explore a new frontier in this field - the functions of crystals in photosynthetic microalgae. Recently, molecular crystals, like those investigated in animals, were found to be widespread in superabundant and ecological important microalgae. However, rather than performing optical functions, in these organisms, the nitrogen-dense crystals function as nitrogen-storage reservoirs, enabling cells to circumvent periods of nutrient starvation.
He will use the grant to explore the functions of nitrogen-storage crystals in microalgae as well as the biotechnological and biogeochemical implications of this behaviour.