Tecnun's Deputy Director Paloma Grau, appointed Vice President of research and Sustainability of the University of Navarra
She replaces Iciar Astiasarán from Guipuzcoa, who held the position since 2011.
24 | 01 | 2022
Tecnun's deputy director, Paloma Grau, faculty manager at the School of Engineering since 2016, has been appointed as Vice President for research and Sustainability at the University of Navarra. Paloma Grau replaces Iciar Astiasarán from Guipuzcoa, who held the position since 2011. Astiasarán, a native of Aretxabaleta, is Professor of Nutrition and Bromatology at the University of Navarra and Vice President of Jakiunde, the Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters of the Basque Country since 2021.
Thus the newly appointed president of the University of Navarra, María Iraburu, completes her team by appointing four new vice-rectors.
Paloma Grau Gumbau (Benifaio, Valencia) is full professor at department of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences of the School of Engineering and collaborating researcher at Ceit. An engineer Chemistry from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, she joined the School in 2001 to study doctorate in the Industrial Engineering program, encouraged by the then President José María Bastero. It was her director from thesis , Eduardo Ayesa, who got her excited about research. "From the very first moment I saw myself surrounded by a team of excellent researchers and in an environment like the one in Gipuzkoa where research and innovation are highly encouraged. Since then, I have found degree program research exciting," says Grau.
The new Vice President of research incorporates the term Sustainability to its position, as a reflection of the importance of this area in the research activity in the context of the Strategy 2025 of the University of Navarra. In this sense, he considers that "we are at a time core topic for the research to translate into a sustainable development where people and the natural environment are taken into account". Specifically, his line of research focuses on Environmental Engineering, specifically on the development of new solutions and technologies aimed at management and water treatment.
He has directed and participated in national and international research projects, has been a member of different work committees within the IWA (International Water Association) and has spent time at research at universities in Belgium and Canada.
Paloma Grau also oversees the Sustainability Commission that the School launched at the beginning of the academic year with the goal to develop sustainability at different levels: the educational (Degrees and Master's Degree); operations (infrastructure and events) and research.
Married and mother of 3 daughters, this scientist was one of the promoters of Women for Science and Technology at the University of Navarra, an initiative of a group of women in scientific, technological or medical (STEM) careers, which has as goal to promote the professional excellence of women in these areas, through programs and activities that provide support and training. Paloma Grau also collaborates actively in the organization of the activities of Emakumeak Zientzian, an event organized by 17 entities in Gipuzkoa to commemorate Women in Science Day, including Tecnun and Ceit.
New vice rectors
Likewise, Pablo Sánchez-Ostiz, Vice President of the Office of Academic Affairs until now, becomes Vice President of faculty; Secundino Fernández, Dean of Medicine until now, becomes Vice President of the Office of Academic Affairs; and Rosalía Baena, professor in the School of Philosophy and Letters, becomes Vice President of Students.
The former Office of the Vice President of Students, which assumes the competencies of the vice-rectorate of International Office, has changed its name to adopt the more common denomination currently used in universities.
With this restructuring, Iciar Astiasarán, who occupied the position de Vice President de research; Pilar Lostao, until now Vice President de International Office; and Tomás Gómez-Acebo, Vice President de Alumnos, leave the Office of the Executive Council team. Professors Astiasarán, Lostao and Gómez-Acebo continue with their teaching and research tasks at their respective Schools.
