Doctoral Candidate (DC11) – Circular and techno-economically feasible design of MFP production

Doctoral Candidate (DC11) – Circular and techno-economically feasible design of MFP production

ENDURE is looking for a doctoral student for the project “Circular and techno-economically feasible design of MFP production”.

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: (i) natural fibre material (NFM) engineering; (ii) product design and production engineering of MFPs; (iii) digital manufacturing technologies and Industry4.0 for MFP industry - the ENDURE Doctoral Network comprising 12 Doctoral Candidates is designed to train this next generation of scientists and engineers.

ENDURE is a new Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSCA) Doctoral Network Programme funded by the European Commission, that brings together 5 universities, 2 RTOs and 8 industry partners for four countries. Find more information at:

https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101227649.

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 beneficiary partner IPC (Industrial Technical Center for Plastics and Composites). 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 program at UNIZAR and will be based primarily at ITA in Zaragoza, with research stays at partner institutions across Europe.

The project focuses on designing circular and economically viable MFP production using recycled materials from diverse sources. It aims to develop SSbD methodologies, conduct techno-economic analysis, and provide decision-making guidelines for alternative valorization routes. Additionally, it includes sustainability assessments of ENDURE solutions across dry, wet, and injection moulding production lines. The goal is to enable efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective MFP manufacturing.

The candidate will gain experience in both fundamental research and industrial applications.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a 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 are:

• Experience in pulp and paper technology and science.
• Knowledge about papermaking chemistry.
• Background in sustainability and techno economical assessments.
• Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and potential for laboratory work
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken (minimum B2 level) is required.

To succeed as a doctoral student at ITA you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her 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 and experience.

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 2026).

Eligible candidates must be, at the time of the recruitment, in the first 4 years of their research career and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

We offer

This position offers a 36-month contract under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks program, 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 possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to ITA Doctoral student salary agreement.
• Possibilities to contribute to highly industrially relevant research.
• Opportunities to develop advanced computational and experimental skills.

Apply for the position and admission through 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 at 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 (pablog@ita.es).

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, about 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, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON- MSCA-2024-DN-01, grant agreement No. 101227649 - ENDURE. Project duration: 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2029.