The so far unique role of our Solar System in the universe regarding its capacity for life raises fundamental questions about its formation history relative to exoplanetary systems. Central in this research is the accretion of asteroids and planets from a gas-rich circumstellar disk and the final distribution of their mass around the central star, our Sun. The key building blocks of the planets may be represented by chondrules, once molten silicate spherules that are the main constituents of chondritic meteorites, which in turn are primitive fragments of planetary bodies. Chondrule formation mechanism(s), as well as their subsequent storage and transport in the disk are still poorly understood and their origin and evolution can be probed through their link to unprocessed dust that accreted together with chondrules in chondrites. Contrastingly, while bulk chemical and isotope analyses of this dust (the matrix) and chondrules indicate that these components formed co-genetically in a single reservoir, individual analyses of chondrules suggest that they formed over a range of space and time, requiring storage and transport mechanisms. The candidate proposes to unify these seemingly opposing data in a single model that will result in significant and timely progress on the frontiers of Solar System research, including a bridge to astrophysical simulations that tackle planet formation and physicochemical constraints on the origin of chondrules. This model invokes bulk chondrule-matrix complementarity as a result of genetic relationships between individual chondrules and their dust rims. The necessary development of analytical methods to verify this hypothesis will contribute greatly to the advancement of small sample analyses, including cometary grains from sample return missions and interplanetary dust particles.

Dental tissue loss involves the manufacturing of prosthetic restoration bonded to residual dental tissue. Clinical studies show that in-service fracture is the main cause of failure for thin ceramic restorations, called overlay. However, overlays offer less invasive treatment therapies and are part of the innovative paradigm of dental care base on tissue preservation. Thus, faced with this public health issue, the current prosthetic biomaterials and their shaping processes do not allow the realization of durable thin overlay. These restorations are currently made with biomaterials whose homogeneous and isotropic mechanical properties do not reflect the mechanical properties of the natural tooth, an organ with remarkable fracture restistance porperties. The design of an overlay with a gradient modulus of elasticity inspired by the natural tooth is a promising development avenue to adress the issue of minimally invasive and durable dental restoration. To overcome these technological obstacles, the consortium associated with the SmarTeeth project is collaborating on the development of a range of feldspathic ceramics that can be shaped in thin layers using low environmental impact additive manufacturing technology.