Hosting Information
- Offer Deadline: Fri, 9 Oct 2026 - 10:00
- EU Research Framework Programme: Horizon Europe - MSCA
- Country: Spain
- City: Madrid
Organisation/Institute
- Organisation / Company: CSIC
- Department: National Centre for Metallurgical Research (CENIM-CSIC)
- Laboratory: Phase transformations in the solid state (MATERALIA)
- Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? Yes
Contact Information
- Organisation / Company Type: Public Research Institution
- Website: http://www.csic.es - https://cenim.csic.es/en/research-group/phase-transformations-in-the-solid-state-materalia/
Description
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 Hosting Offer
High-Performance Steels from Recycled Feedstocks
Organisation/Institute: Spanish National Centre for Metallurgical Research (CENIM-CSIC)
Research Group: Phase Transformations in the Solid State (MATERALIA)
Supervisor: Carlos Capdevila Montes
Location: Madrid, Spain
Hosting Information
- Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF) – Horizon Europe
- Type of Fellowship: European & Global Fellowships
- Expected Duration: 12–36 months
- Application Deadline (MSCA): September 2026 (TBC)
Organisation / Institute
CENIM-CSIC is part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the largest public research institution in Spain. The institute is internationally recognized in the field of materials science and metallurgy, with strong links to industry and participation in European collaborative projects.
Research Group
The proposed research will be carried out within the MATERALIA Group at CENIM, a leading team in Spain and internationally recognized for its expertise in phase transformations in steels. Comprising 21 researchers—including 8 senior scientists—MATERALIA has built a strong reputation for advancing the fundamental understanding of processing–microstructure–property relationships, a cornerstone for the design of next-generation steels.
Within this high-impact environment, the MSCA beneficiary will contribute to a new and strategic research line focused on embedding circular economy principles into steel design. The core objective is to develop innovative metallurgical strategies and microstructural control approaches that enable the upcycling of scrap-derived steels into high-quality AHSS (Advanced High Strength Steels) for demanding automotive sheet applications. This ambition directly addresses one of the most pressing challenges in sustainable metallurgy: maintaining performance while increasing recycled content.
The research is framed within the Horizon Europe CiSMA project, which tackles key barriers to circular steel production, including the presence of residual (tramp) elements in scrap. While CiSMA advances technologies for refining contaminated liquid steel and develops digital tools for process optimization, this project focuses on a critical and underexplored scientific gap: understanding how residual elements affect processing–microstructure–property relationships in high-performance sheet steels.
By integrating advanced characterization, metallurgical design, and modelling, the project aims to establish robust knowledge and actionable strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of residuals. This will contribute to a paradigm shift toward a “metallurgy of complex alloys,” where compositional variability is actively managed rather than avoided.
Strong industrial collaboration further reinforces the impact of the research. MATERALIA’s track record in developing advanced steels—such as nanostructured bainitic grades—demonstrates its ability to translate scientific insight into validated industrial solutions. Ultimately, this project aligns scientific excellence with societal needs, contributing to the transition toward a circular, climate-neutral steel industry.
Supervisor
Carlos Capdevila-Montes received his PhD in Physics from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1999 and is currently a Research Professor at the National Center for Metallurgical Research (CENIM-CSIC), where he served as Director (2021–2025) and is now Deputy Director for Science. His research focuses on phase transformations in steels, microstructural characterization, and the optimization of mechanical properties through integrated thermodynamic and kinetic modelling.
He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge (1998–2001) under Prof. H. K. D. H. Bhadeshia, working on heat-resistant steels for biomass-based power systems. Since joining CENIM in 2002, he has led research on advanced heat-resistant steels for extreme energy applications, combining alloy design, nanoparticle dispersion, and thermomechanical processing.
He has coordinated six projects, led eight as principal investigator, and participated in fifteen more, contributing to developments in 9–12Cr steels and FeCrAl alloys for nuclear and energy systems. His work includes strong technology transfer, with 44 industry contracts, and involvement in additive manufacturing initiatives, including co-founding the CSIC PTI-FAB3D platform.
He has supervised multiple PhD and Master’s theses and delivered over 70 outreach seminars. Recently, his research has focused on steel decarbonization, including hydrogen-based processes and the European CiSMA project, aimed at enabling near-100% scrap-based steel production in electric arc furnaces.
Research Topics (indicative)
Candidates are encouraged to propose innovative MSCA projects aligned with or complementary to the group’s expertise, including:
- Thermodynamic and kinetic simulation of scrap-related impurity effects
- Contaminants in scrap: origin, removal, and effects on steel quality
- Impurity-tolerant process and microstructure design
- Additive manufacturing and novel processing routes
- Design of crossover, broadband, and multipurpose steels more scrap compatible.
Interdisciplinary proposals are particularly welcome.
Candidate Profile
Applicants must comply with MSCA PF eligibility criteria:
- PhD degree at the call deadline
- Maximum of 8 years of research experience (post-PhD)
- Compliance with MSCA mobility rule
- Strong publication record and scientific independence
- Interest in collaborative and interdisciplinary research
What We Offer
- Full support in proposal preparation and project design
- Integration into a highly recognized research group
- Access to advanced characterization and modelling capabilities
- Strong academic–industry interaction environment
- Career development and training within MSCA framework
MSCA fellowships provide:
- Competitive salary (including mobility/family allowances)
- Research, training, and networking budget
- International mobility and career development opportunities
Application Procedure
Interested candidates should send:
- CV (including publications)
- Short research proposal (1–2 pages)
- Motivation letter
Contact
Carlos Capdevila Montes
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