The European Commission has announced the results of the 2025 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships call. Funding has been awarded to two researchers who submitted their proposals with Vilnius University (VU). 

A prestigious MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship has been granted to Dr Dimitra Ladika, a researcher at the Laser Research Center of the VU Faculty of Physics; her project will be supervised by Prof. Mangirdas Malinauskas. An ERA Postdoctoral Fellowship has been awarded to Dr Megha Deshmukh, whose supervisor will be Prof. Arūnas Ramanavičius from the VU Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences.

Shaping next-generation light-emitting nanostructures with lasers

Dr Ladika will implement the project ‘Multiphoton Lithography and Advanced Materials Engineering for the Generation of Shaped Single and Multispectral Emission at the Nanoscale (SHINE)’. 

The SHINE project aims to significantly expand the capabilities of multiphoton lithography (MPL) in the fabrication of active three-dimensional nanostructures that emit light in the visible spectrum. This additive manufacturing technology, based on femtosecond lasers, enables the creation of extremely fine 3D structures beyond the conventional physical limits of light focusing.

Although MPL has already been used to create light-emitting nanostructures, their performance has so far been constrained by material properties. The project will therefore focus on developing specially engineered materials enriched with rare-earth ions; after thermal treatment, these materials will become crystalline and exhibit enhanced light-emission properties. This will allow for enhanced precision in controlling light emission in ultra-small structures.

In addition, the project will investigate chiroptical properties with the aim of directly generating circularly polarised light. By integrating optical elements into active 3D nanostructures, researchers will control the interaction between the spin and orbital angular momentum of light. This approach is expected to open new possibilities for multidimensional beam control and contribute to advancing research on spin–orbit interactions in photonics.

Sustainable urea synthesis and wastewater treatment in a single system

Dr Deshmukh will carry out the project ‘Bioanode-Integrated Urea Electrosynthesis via Rationally Engineered Dual-Atom Catalysts (BIO-UREACT)’, which focuses on advanced and environmentally sustainable solutions for chemical synthesis.

The project aims to develop an innovative electrochemical system capable of simultaneously producing urea – a key raw material for fertilisers – and treating wastewater. At the cathode, specially designed high-performance catalysts composed of dual single metal atoms will promote the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into urea. In this way, greenhouse gases and environmentally harmful compounds can be transformed into a valuable product.

At the same time, microorganisms operating at the bioanode will break down organic pollutants in wastewater, enabling water purification while reducing overall energy consumption compared to conventional methods.

To better understand the underlying reaction mechanisms, advanced real-time monitoring techniques will be employed to investigate molecular processes, particularly the formation of carbon–nitrogen bonds. The project is expected to enable efficient urea production under ambient conditions and with low energy input, supporting the transition towards a circular, low-carbon economy.

This year, the European Commission has allocated €404.3 million for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships. The European Research Executive Agency (REA) received a record number of 17,066 proposals, of which 1,610 were selected for funding. Additionally, 41 ERA Fellowships were granted to researchers conducting their projects in Horizon Europe ‘widening countries’. The successful applicants represent nearly 80 nationalities and will conduct their research in 45 countries across Europe and beyond.

MSCA and ERA Postdoctoral Fellowships are considered among the most prestigious European Union funding schemes for early-career researchers. This year’s success rate of 9.6% underscores the highly competitive nature of the programme, thus the achievements of the VU applicants stand as a strong acknowledgement of their individual excellence and the University’s scientific potential.

Between 2021 and 2025, the number of applications submitted by Vilnius University increased more than sixfold – from 6 to 37 per year. Throughout this period, VU researchers have secured MSCA grants annually, while multiple highly evaluated projects have additionally received national funding or support through the mechanism for reallocating ERDF funds to the Horizon Europe programme.