Descripción de la oferta
Doctoral Candidate (DC9) – Optimization of eucalyptus fibres for new ENDURE products
ENDURE is looking for a doctoral student for the project "Optimization of eucalyptus fibres for new ENDURE products".
To succeed on the ambitious objectives of the European Growth Model, the European moulded fibre products (MFP) industry must have access to a new generation of innovative, entrepreneurial, and highly skilled research‑oriented cross‑disciplinary engineers with direct research experience in:
Natural fibre material (NFM) engineering
Product design and production engineering of MFPs
Digital manufacturing technologies and Industry4.0 for MFP industry
ENDURE is a new Marie Sklodowska Curie (MSCA) Doctoral Network Programme funded by the European Commission, bringing together five universities, two RTOs and eight industry partners across four countries.
This Doctoral Candidate will be hosted by Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón (ITA), a beneficiary organisation in the ENDURE network, and will be supported by the associated partner ENCE. ENDURE delivers a unique employability and skills development process for DCs ensuring that they can lead the scientific and technological developments in the European MFP industry.
The successful candidate will enrol in the doctoral programme at UNIZAR and will be based primarily at ITA in Zaragoza, with research stays at partner institutions across Europe. The research aims to apply the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) methodology to the entire MFP process, including recycling options, and to optimise industrial processes such as ECF, TCF, refining, additives and drying to enhance the properties of new fibre‑based materials derived from virgin eucalyptus kraft fibres and recycled sources (secondary fibres, wheat straw waste). The candidate will also analyse and apply commercial coatings with lower environmental impact and industrial potential, contributing to the production of a new 3D moulded fibre product with improved performance in a pilot plant. The PhD project is expected to lead to improvements in mechanical and barrier properties of the new MFPs, and to develop formulations incorporating recycled materials, thereby reducing environmental impact. Laboratory experiments will be complemented by pilot plant trials, serving as a preliminary phase for industrial implementation. The candidate will gain experience in both fundamental research and industrial applications.
Qualifications
Applicants should hold a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or an equivalent two‑year master’s degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Technology Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pulp and Paper Science, or a related field, and demonstrate a strong interest in sustainable industrial processes and fibre‑based materials.
Additional advantageous qualifications:
Experience in pulp and paper technology and science
Knowledge about papermaking chemistry
Background in mechanics of materials, sustainability and techno‑economic assessments
Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and potential for laboratory work
Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken (minimum B2 level), are required.
During the selection process, candidates will be assessed on their ability to:
Independently pursue their work
Collaborate with others (team working)
Effectively communicate technical concepts and results
Have a professional and scientific approach and analyse and work with complex issues
Special Requirements
Mobility: At the time of recruitment, the early‑stage researcher must comply with the MSCA mobility rule, which stipulates that candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding recruitment under the project (scheduled for June __). Eligible candidates must be, at the time of recruitment, in the first four years of their research career and not have been awarded a doctoral degree.
Position Details
This position offers a 36‑month contract under the Marie Sklodowska‑Curie Doctoral Networks programme, with a competitive salary that includes mobility and, where applicable, family allowances. The candidate will benefit from high‑level doctoral training at UNIZAR and participate in international networking and training activities with leading academic and industrial partners. The workplace offers many employee benefits and a monthly salary according to ITA Doctoral student salary agreement. The role provides opportunities to:
Contribute to highly industrially relevant research
Develop advanced computational and experimental skills
Application Process
Apply for the position and admission through the ITA recruitment system. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.
Applications must be received by the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time). Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.
For further information, please contact Dr. Pablo González at ITA (***)
Applications should include:
CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge
Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals (maximum 2 pages long)
Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements
Translations into English or Spanish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified
Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 MSCA-****-DN-01, grant agreement No. ********* – ENDURE.
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