Valorization of existing methane in building ventilation systems. MSCA-IF candidate sought

Brief description of the Centre/Research Group

• The work team represented by the César Martín-Gómez has been working for years on projects that involve the integration of building services and energy systems in complex architectonical cases. Building services here involve fire safety, water management, electricity, data networks, HVAC and renewable energies.

• These research works include architecture and urbanism, history and biology, learning and complex buildings. It is not a mess but a puzzle where the keyword is integration.

• The UNESCO research lines are: 241109 - Regulation of human temperature; 330500 - Construction technology; 330503 - Large buildings and skyscrapers; 330506 - Civil engineering; 330517 - Industrial and commercial buildings; 330537 - Urban planning; 330800 - Environmental engineering and technology; 3322 - Energy technology; 332900 - Urban planning; 550601 - History of architecture; 550624 - History of technology; 580100 - Educational theory and methods.

• Since 2009, the team has participated in 9 research projects: 5 private, 3 regional, 2 national and 1 European, with an income of over 800,000 euros.

• The activity of the team has allowed the publication of more than 33 articles in indexed journals, 24 books or book chapters, and 56 collaborations in Congresses.

Project description

Methane is one of the main greenhouse gases, and its emission has increased by more than 100% in recent decades. The people, almost 7,500 million, produce methane by our own metabolic activity. However, there are no reliable studies on the quantitative emissions of methane by humans and how they vary depending on different aspects, such as diet or disease. In addition to its involvement in global warming, methane released by people has caused some serious incidents in indoor atmospheres, such as operating rooms, due to its high flammability.

We are looking for a motivated candidate who wish to analyse in energy, construction, economic and regulation terms, the feasibility of use the methane generated in buildings (focusing on residential) for its utilization as a support for heat production systems (energy resource use) or to produce other bioproducts (such as bioplastics, organic acids or vitamins). In parallel, but no less important is to reduce the release of methane into the atmosphere.

The researcher would apply for a MSCA-Individual fellowship (deadline 09 September 2020). If successful, the researcher would get a full-time research position at University of Navarra, one of the top rated universities in Spain (Number 1 in employability) for a period ranging 1-3 years depending on the subtype of grant and the interests of the applicant.

Research Areas

• Architectural Engineering

Applications

• Researcher with a PhD degree or equivalent research experience in the field of the project. She/he should not have resided or carried out main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the last 3 years before the deadline of the call (09 September 2020. MSCA-IF-2020).

• CV and letter of motivation. Include a concept note of the research proposal (up to 1 page).