The University of Navarra (UNAV) is a non-profit private university founded in 1952 in Pamplona, Spain. It confers 37 official degrees (14 are double degree) and administers 43 master’s programs, including 19 doctoral programs, through 16 faculties and Schools, 2 superior colleges, the IESE Business School and its 5 comprehensive Research Centres: CCUN (Cancer Centre Clínica Universidad de Navarra), BIOMA (Biodiversity and Environment Institute) and DATAI (Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence), ICS (INSTITUTE FOR CULTURE AND SOCIETY and CIN (Centre for Nutrition Research).

UNAV has more than 14,000 students in 7 campuses: Pamplona, San Sebastian, Madrid, Barcelona, New York, Munich and, Saö Paulo with a wide network of international universities and research centres.

UNAV has a sound track record in participating in European Research Programs. The university has participated in 241 European projects from FP4 to Horizon Europe, including LIFE, ERASMUS+ and INTERREG Programs; of which 28 projects (11,6%) were coordinated by the university. The University also counts with a thorough experience in MSCA and ERC grants with over 31 signed grants. 5 MSCA in the 2024 call.

UNAV is awarded with the HR Excellence in Research quality seal (HRS4R) that guarantees the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. 

The University of Navarra will provide training to the fellow in proposal preparation, including individual info sessions to explain the call and address any questions.

Hosting Group and research offer

The MATCH group, led by Prof. José Ignacio Álvarez, would welcome a postdoctoral researcher to work on one of its research lines, which is the development of VC3 ecological concretes. The group seeks to improve the original LC3 with vaterite, to obtain VC3 concretes and mortars, with lower cement content and more efficient, and aims to implement other routes of improvement; in addition, it seeks to develop electrically conductive nanoparticles, with the aim of including them in the VC3 mortars and concretes developed to enhance their conductive capacity by seeking self-heating elements, in which concrete and cement-based structures can act as heating elements of buildings when subjected to weak electrical currents; and also to enhance the synergy of these concretes and cements by combining their activity with phase change materials (PCM), in different forms (microencapsulated or silica supported) to optimize the energy efficiency of the systems. 

We are looking for a researcher with interest in building materials and in the improvement of their energy efficiency, with initiative to propose improvements and own ideas on the above mentioned lines of work.

The researcher would be integrated in a very active group, with availability of numerous characterization techniques especially oriented to building materials and materials science, supervising also PhD students and with capacity to increase his/her scientific productivity and experience.

Key words

Eco-concrete, LC3, VC3, conductive nanoparticles, self-heating, phase change materials, Built Heritage, energy efficient, latent heat storage, microstructure

Research Field

Materials Science, Chemistry, Civil Engineering

REQUIREMENTS OF THE CANDIDATE

Main research field

Materials Science, Chemistry, Civil Engineering

Specific requirements

The proposed field of research admits different backgrounds, from experts in Materials Science, Chemistry or Civil Engineering. All these profiles will allow the candidate to successfully develop his/her activity. We are looking for a researcher with autonomy, able to design experiments in the field of binding materials for building, with basic knowledge of thermal, mineralogical (X-ray diffraction) and microstructural (scanning electron microscopy) characterization techniques.

Language

English (optional Spanish)

Required research Experience

Some previous experience in materials characterization is required.

No more than 8 years of full research work since the date of PhD defence at date 2025 September 10.

The candidate must not have lived or worked in Spain more than 12 months in the last 36 months calculating from 2025 September 10.

Applications: documents to be submitted and deadlines

CV and letter of motivation.