Organisation/Company EURECAT Department HUMAN RESOURCES Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 30 Apr 2026 - 12:55 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
EURECAT
Eurecat (www.eurecat.org) is the main Research & Technology Organisation in Catalonia and the second largest private research organisation in southern Europe. It brings together the experience of more than 700 professionals who generate an annual turnover of 55,8 million euros and provides services to more than 2,000 companies. Applied R&D, technological services, highly specialised training, technological consultancy or valorisation and exploitation of industrial property are some of the services that Eurecat offers for both large and small and medium‑size enterprises in all sectors. The technology centre participates in more than 200 large national and international consortium projects of high strategic R&I and has 181 patents and 10 spin‑offs. The added value provided by Eurecat accelerates innovation, reduces spending on scientific and technological infrastructures, reduces risks and provides specialised knowledge tailored to each company. It has eleven centres in Catalonia (Spain) and one in Chile (Latam).
Eurecat Metallic and Ceramic Materials Unit develops solutions for obtaining advanced light materials and functional surfaces which can withstand demanding mechanical and environmental requirements.
Eurecat’s Metallic and Ceramic Materials Unit in collaboration with Estudis – Escola Politècnica Superior d’Enginyeria de Manresa. EPSEM – UPC. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya are seeking a PhD fellow to develop a doctoral thesis focused on next‑generation aluminium alloys for sustainable electric vehicles. Although aluminium is infinitely recyclable, impurities accumulated during repeated recycling cycles can degrade its properties. As a result, current secondary aluminium alloys are mostly used in low‑performance components for combustion vehicles—applications that are becoming increasingly obsolete with the transition to electric mobility.
This PhD project will contribute to the development of new high‑performance aluminium alloys that are more tolerant to impurities, supporting the shift toward truly sustainable electric vehicle technologies. The intern will collaborate on a research project studying how common and uncommon impurities affect key properties of aluminium alloys, such as fluidity, surface tension, and overall processability. The work will combine laboratory testing and advanced characterization techniques, including thermal compression tests, trials at Eurecat’s pilot plants (HPDC, extrusion, metal powder atomisation and sintering).
Functions and Responsibilities:
* Activities in the metallurgy laboratory, including metallography, sample preparation and analysis, heat treatments, tensile testing, and the use of dilatometry and DSC equipment.
* Conducting experiments and preparing result reports
* Contribution to journal publications and ongoing research initiatives related with the thesis topic
Qualifications:
* Master’s degree (MSc) in Materials Science, Metallurgy or a closely related field.
* Familiarity with work in a Materials Science laboratory.
Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent
Languages SPANISH Level Good
Languages CATALAN Level Good
Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering
Additional Information
* Full-time contract
* Duration: 3 years
* 27 days of paid holiday leave
* Reduced work hours on Fridays and during the summer
* Access to a wellness platform
* Annual gross compensation and coverage of university PhD enrollment fees
* Flexible benefits package
* PhD training program
Submission of Applications:
In order to formalise their application, applicants must:
* Complete the registration forms, making sure they provide all of the information requested and provide the following documentation:
o A photocopy of their valid NIF, NIE or passport.
o A CV and covering letter explaining their reasons for applying to the program.
o A photocopy of the official academic certificate (or payment receipt for it) that grants them access to the doctoral program.
o The academic transcript of their master’s degree studies. Applicants who have not yet completed their master’s degree studies must submit their most recent academic transcript.
o Accreditation of any other relevant achievements.
before April 30th, 2026
Selection Process
The selection process will be led by a committee that includes the Scientific Management department, a specialist from the People and Organisation department, and the person who will be responsible for supervising the thesis connected to the vacancy.
Once the applicants’ compliance with the requirements has been verified, the Commission will evaluate the merits of each application based on the curriculum, academic transcript, previous research activity, previous experience in the field of the thesis in the industrial/company sector and their fluency in English.
The evaluation process will include selection interviews.
* Curriculum: Up to 20 points
* Motivation Letter: Up to 10 points
* Academic Transcript: Up to 20 points
* Previous research activity: Up to 10 points
* Previous experience in the field of the thesis in the industrial sector or company: Up to 10 points
* Fluency in English: Up to 20 points
* Fluency in Spanish: Up to 5 points
* Fluency in Catalan: Up to 5 points
The committee will then create a prioritised list of applications that received positive evaluations. If no application reaches the minimum score of 60 points based on the criteria outlined in the previous section, the committee may void the call. In this scenario, Eurecat may restart the selection process, establishing new deadlines for application submissions and the selection procedure.
Every applicant will be informed about the status of their application in the programme. By submitting an application, the applicant agrees to these terms. Non‑compliance with these terms, incomplete documentation, or any other formal defects will result in the exclusion of the application from the selection process.
Decisions will be communicated to applicants via the email address provided during registration.
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