BIOMA Institute for Biodiversity and the Environment-Environmental Biology/CEIT Laboratory
Chemistry / CEIT Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Contact Information Organisation / Company Type
Higher Education Institution Website
Email
adrianduran@unav.es
tsoria@ceit.es State/Province
Navarra Postal Code
31009 Street
Campus Universitario Phone
Description
The University of Navarra (UNAV) is a non-profit private university founded in 1952 and based in Pamplona, Spain. It confers 56 official degrees and administers more than 90 postgraduate programs (including 20 doctoral programs and 42 master's programs) through 10 schools, two 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 5 campuses: Pamplona, San Sebastian, Madrid, Barcelona, and New York, 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 126 European projects from FP4 to Horizon Europe, including LIFE, ERASMUS+, and INTERREG Programs; of which 22 projects were coordinated by the university. The University also has a thorough experience in MSCA and ERC grants, with over 26 signed grants. UNAV has been awarded 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 BIOMA Institute seeks to be a reference in biodiversity and environmental research, promoting scientific excellence, innovation, and partnership among professionals from different disciplines. In line with these values, BIOMA develops several research projects that seek to understand and sustainably manage core issues related to nature and the future of our planet. One of the strategic areas of the Institute is the Sustainability and Economics Circular, which applies the sustainability principles and the Economics circular in society and Economics, research of new biodegradable materials, innovative recycling techniques, reduction of the industrial carbon footprint, sustainable urban planning, etc.
CEIT is a non-profit technology center, created on the initiative of the University of Navarra in 1982, and whose main task is to carry out industrial research projects in close collaboration with the R&D; departments of the companies. At CEIT, we specialize in every stage of additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy. We develop comprehensive solutions that cover everything from the research and development of new materials in the form of metallic or ceramic powders to the optimization of advanced processes using state-of-the-art technologies. Our expertise spans both additive techniques and conventional powder consolidation processes, enabling us to design solutions tailored to the functional, mechanical, and economic requirements of each client.
- Offer description
The European Commission has identified cobalt as a critical raw material with a potential risk of future supply shortages and has also classified it as a potentially harmful substance. The substitution of cobalt with alternative materials, such as cemented carbides (hardmetals), is of great interest because these materials can provide an excellent combination of hardness, toughness, and fatigue resistance. In this context, WC-Co-Ni-Cr and WC-Fe-Ni-Co-Cr systems are being investigated as alternatives to conventional cobalt-based binders. Within the framework of circular economy policies, the sustainable recycling of hardmetals components has become an urgent necessity for the European Union from both environmental and economic perspectives. The recovery of W, Co, Fe, Ni, and Cr involves two main stages: 1. Adsorption of the metals, which we aim to achieve using ceramic adsorbent materials such as hydroxyapatite, bentonite, kaolin, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). 2. Desorption and recovery of the adsorbed metals, which we propose to carry out through chemical treatments, displacement reactions, or electrochemical methods. All samples will be characterized using a range of analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), colorimetry, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To address these challenges, we are seeking a candidate with an interdisciplinary background spanning materials science, metallurgy, and analytical chemistry. This project aims to provide new insights into the adsorption and recovery of hardmetal components, complementing and expanding our established research activities in this field. Join us in exploring new perspectives and advancing the frontiers of scientific discovery.
- Key words Cobalt, cemented carbides, WC-Co-Ni-Cr, WC-Fe-Ni-Co-Cr, adsorbent ceramics, adsorption-desorption
- Research Field Materials science, metallurgy, Analytical chemistry, Environment
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CANDIDATE
- Main research field Metallurgy (preferably), Analytical chemistry, Materials Science
- Specific requirements Laboratory research experience, knowledge, and use of analytical techniques (XRD, SEM-EDX, AAS, FTIR, XPS, etc.), and kinetics adsorption studies.
- Language/Level English (Excellent) Spanish (Good)
- Level Excellent Good
- Required research Experience Experience in techniques employed in metallurgy and materials science issues. Experience in kinetic studies. It will be valuable knowledge in computational chemistry.
- PhD. No more than 8 years of full research work since the date of PhD defence at date 2026 September 09.
- The candidate must not have lived or worked in Spain more than 12 months in the last 36 months calculating from 2026 September 09.
- Applications: documents to be submitted
CV (including grades), letter of motivation, letter of references
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