The Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA) has successfully completed the selection process for the position of Director of the research centre. The appointment has gone to Vicenç Acuña, a researcher at the Institute since 2009 and currently head of the Resources and Ecosystems area.

With a PhD in Stream ecology obtained at the University of Barcelona in 2004, his main research interest are the ecology of temporary streams, the chemical fate and the ecological effects of emerging contaminants, the integrated management of the urban water system, and the nature-based solutions for water sanitation in urban areas. Thus, encompassing both basic and applied research, and fostering inter- and transdisciplinary research.

The new director’s main challenge will be to promote ICRA-CERCA’s research excellence in the field of natural and urban waters.

Succeeds Prof. Josep Paradells, who took up the management of the institute at the end of 2015

Dr Sergi Figuerola Fernández has been appointed new director of the i2CAT Foundation by the board of trustees in a meeting held last January 17th. Figuerola succeeds the professor of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) Josep Paradells, who led the entity since October 2015.

Sergi Figuerola is a Telecommunication Engineer and PhD in Telecommunication Engineering from the Department of Theory and Communication of Signals of the UPC, PDG-2019 for IESE and Master in Project Management for La Salle (URL). He joined the i2CAT Foundation in 2004 as coordinator of the Technologies Network Area, becoming director of the Networks and Distributed Applications Area in 2010 and Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) in 2013.

In the last twenty years, he has participated in leading roles in various research projects funded by the European Commission in the field of telecommunications, 5G and the new generation of the Internet, and has contributed to more than 50 scientific publications. Currently, he is a member of different technical programs of international conferences and evaluator of projects and national and international research programs. He will also participate as a coordinator in the definition of the New Space strategy of the Government of Catalonia.

In the words of the new director, “it is an honour to assume this role, and I am committed to working so that the centre continues to generate impact through research and innovation of excellence. The talent of the i2CAT team is the cornerstone, and I have the certainty I will continue to support an environment that promotes collaboration with the solid foundation of the mission, vision and values of the centre. i2CAT stands out because it acts as a unique link between the academic, public and private sectors, but now our goal is going further to contribute to the transformation of the Catalan ecosystem and creating an advanced digital society in Catalonia”.

Figuerola will work to “consolidate the institution, strengthen sectors and technologies and to position i2CAT as a leading European centre in R+D+I and prepare it for the future”.

I3PT is seeking applicants with a proven-track record in leadership, a distinguished record of scientific excellence and the innovative thinking necessary to lead a dynamic organization. The elected candidate must meet the challenge of increasing the scientific level of the I3PT and boosting the institute’s translational research being carried out.

The I3PT is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are strongly encouraged to send their applications.

I3PT’s mission is to promote an environment that favours translational research to improve the health of people, with a vision to be a biomedical research centre that contributes to be a leading international institution in healthcare innovation that promotes clinical and translational research, recognized for developing a healthcare, organizational, teaching and research model of excellence focused on the patient and the effective generation of wealth.

Application deadline ends February 15th.

She will succeed Robert Sala i Ramos, who has held this position for the last eight years.

The Board of Trustees of the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES) has appointed Dr Marina Mosquera Martínez as the new director of the institute in a meeting hold on Wednesday 27 December with the participation of all members.
Dr Mosquera, who is a professor at the Universitat Rovira Virgili (URV) and an associated researcher of IPHES since its inception, holds a PhD in History, with more than seventy publications. She focus her research in the first occupations of the European subcontinent, technology and behaviour, and the evolution of cognition and the origin of technological behaviour through ethoprimatology.

The appointment follows an international selection process coordinated by the CERCA Institution with the participation of the IPHES-CERCA External Scientific Advisory Board. Dr Marina Mosquera will be the third director of the centre, succeeding Dr Robert Sala i Ramos, who has been director of the centre during eight years and Dr. Eudald Carbonell, who was its founding director.