Organisation/Company Universidad de Alicante Department Earth and Environmental Sciences Research Field Geosciences » Geology Computer science » Modelling tools Engineering » Materials engineering Environmental science » Earth science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 15 Apr 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37,5 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101226989 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
University of Alicante is recruiting a PhD researcher for a three-year period in the framework ofProject 101226989— CHARM (Conservation Heritage Architecture, buildings and sites by Resilient Methods: hydro-climate factors), financed byEuropean Research Executive Agency under action HORIZON MSCA Doctoral Networks
Project description and objectives:
Project title:Climate impact modelling on the built heritage affected by alteration processes caused by salt crystallisation
Objectives: The objective of this project is to develop innovative tools, strategies, and guidelines to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental and climatic factors on built cultural heritage, thereby ensuring its long-term preservation. The project combines fieldwork in historic buildings with advanced laboratory and modelling approaches.
It will deliver the following scientific advances: (i) parameterization of microclimatic changes through the evaluation of future climate change scenarios and their impact on heritage environments; (ii) development of an original methodological framework, based on a geochemical approach, to model and simulate salt depletion and crystallization processes in building materials under changing thermo-hygrometric conditions; and (iii) analysis of climatic and microclimatic data and time series to elucidate the relationships between thermo-hygrometric variability and the deterioration of historic structures.
These results will be integrated through the definition of environmental and climatic proxies into a comprehensive predictive model addressing stone alteration induced by salt crystallization associated with seasonal meteorological variability and medium- to long-term climate change, using climate projection scenarios.
Supervisory Committee of the offer:
* Supervisor: David Benavente, University of Alicante (academics)
Planned secondment(s):
* Secondment 1: B. Menendez (CY), 4 weeks, experimental work (academics).
* Secondment 3:T. De Kock and S. Godts (KIK-IRPA), 4 weeks, Salt crystallisation modelling (academics).
Enrolment in Doctoral degree(s):Doctoral Programme in Science (University of Alicante)
Conditions of employment: We offer a 3-year full-time PhD contract.
The full-time gross salary for the 3-year period amounts to €163,568.16. This amount includes both the Living Allowance and the Mobility Allowance. A Family Allowance will be paid if applicable. This amount is gross, and all compulsory deductions under national law will apply, including: Social security contributions (both employee and employer shares), and any applicable direct taxes. The salary and terms of employment for this position will comply with the provisions set out in the Statute of Workers’ Rights, the Science Law (Law 14/2011 of 1 June, as amended by Law 17/2022 of 5 September), and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions regulations.
Contract type: Temporary, we offer a 3-year full-time PhD contract.
Where to apply
E-mail
Requirements
Research Field Geosciences » Geology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field Environmental science » Earth science Education Level Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field Computer science » Modelling tools Education Level Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent
Specific Requirements
* Applicants should hold a relevant Master’s degree in sciences or engineering.
* Applicants should not have been awarded a PhDdegree.
* Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitmentdate.
* Proficiency in written and spokenEnglish.
* Be highly motivated.
* Creativity and high level ofindependency.
* Demonstrated interest in material degradation processes and the conservation of cultural heritage.
* Proven ability in data processing, analysis, and interpretation.
* Demonstrated competence in designing and performing laboratory experiments in accordance with state-of-the-art methodologies.
Languages ENGLISH Level GoodAdditional Information
* International PhD training excellence
* Academic and nonacademic supervisors
* Interdisciplinary & multi sectoral research
The following documents must be updated with your application in an anonymous form:
* Written documentation concerning prior education, including a certified copy of your Master certificate and list of grades (with certified translation for languages other than English orSpanish);
* Apersonalletterofmotivation,indicatingwhyyouwishtoconductthisresearchproject offered by University of Alicante, and why you expect that you will be able tocomplete the research and training programmesuccessfully;
* Detailed curriculum vitae, including – if applicable – relevantpublications;
* The applicant should have a minimum level of proficiency in English language, which could be demonstrated by providing an English language certificate and that will be confirmed in a later interview, ifneeded.
Selection procedure
The selection of the candidates will be carried out in a two-step procedure:
1.Candidates will be pre-selected according to their CVs and motivation letter.
2.Pre-selected candidates will go through online selection interviews in which they will give a short talk on their background and the topic of the PhD and answer the questions from the committee.
The recruiting committee will be formed by the PhD supervisors, researchers from the secondment centres and a member of the CHRAM coordination team.
Provisional Timeline:
* Deadline for submission applications: April 15, 2026
* Candidates pre-selected for interviews will be informed: May 2026
* Selection interviews: May 2026
* Successful candidates will be informed: June, 2026
* Acceptance by successful candidates: June, 2026
* Start of employment: September 2026
Selection Criteria:
* Relevant academic background: 0-30
* Interview and presentation: 0-40
* Motivation statement: 0-10
Additional comments
Organisation
The University of Alicante (UA) was created in 1979. Today it educates and trains more than 20.000 national and 3.000 international students and offers 43 undergraduate and 80 postgraduate programmes: consequently, it is proportionally one of the fastest growing universities in Spain. Thus, the UA employs 3.862 researchers and management staff (46% women), which involves an annual budget of 200 million Euros. Currently, UA is investing near to 39M Euros for boosting frontier research and technology transfer processes via spin off, licensing and international promotion mainly. In 2018 the University generated an income of 19 million Euros from research funded projects on a National, Regional, European level and private R&D thanks to its 251 research groups in many knowledge areas and its 13 Research Institutes, most of them multidisciplinary-based.
The campus is considered one of the best campuses in Europe: one million square meters with the best urban design, the most innovative architecture in a framework of environmental excellence (large green areas, landscape design, pedestrian, cultural, sporting, educational areas...) and a wide variety of services. In addition to the strong commitment by the innovation and technology, the University of Alicante reaches the most prestigious heights in its firm commitment to culture and heritage. A virtual tour to the 100% pedestrian campus is available at http://web.ua.es/tour-virtual-ua/ua.html .
Laboratory
The Laboratory of Applied Petrology belongs to the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences of the University of Alicante and is composed of a multidisciplinary team of researchers with complementary expertise in geology, geochemistry, petrology, petrophysics, and environmental sciences. The group conducts research at the interface of fundamental and applied Earth sciences, with a strong focus on low-temperature geochemistry, gas geochemistry and transport processes, and the petrological and petrophysical characterization of rocks and materials.
The Laboratory of Applied Petrology specializes in the study of natural materials within a broad geological framework and in specific applied sectors such as construction materials, cultural and archaeological heritage conservation, environmental studies, and materials science. Research activities integrate mineralogical, geochemical, and petrophysical approaches to understand material properties, alteration processes, and responses to environmental conditions. The group also conducts research on stone decay processes in architectural heritage, environmental control and degradation of historic and monumental sites, and the application of non-destructive techniques for the diagnosis and monitoring of heritage materials. Additional research lines include the assessment of salt-induced deterioration patterns in cultural heritage under climate variability and change, as well as the conservation and sustainable management of show caves and other hypogean environments. This research investigates how microclimatic conditions, low-temperature geochemical processes, gas exchange, and geomicrobiological activity drive material alteration and conservation risks.
The Laboratory of Applied Petrology is supported by advanced analytical facilities for the analysis of gases, waters, and solid materials. Laboratory infrastructure includes environmental chambers and a wide range of chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural techniques, such as SEM-EDS, XRF, XRPD, ion chromatography, Raman and FTIR microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis coupled to mass spectrometry (TGA/MS), ICP analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and gas adsorption systems. These facilities enable integrated, high-resolution characterization of materials and processes across multiple spatial and temporal scales.
#J-18808-Ljbffr