Offer Description
Included in Project 101226989 — CHARM (Conservation Heritage Architecture, buildings and sites by Resilient Methods: hydro-climate factors), financed by European Research Executive Agency under action HORIZON MSCA Doctoral Networks.
Supervisor: Angelo Giuseppe Landi, Politecnico di Milano – IT (academics)
Co-Supervisor: Chiara Bertolin, NTNU (academics)
Mentor: Chiara Bondioni, Musei Cremona – IT (non-academics)
Salary including social cover and other expenses (per month)
Living Allowance 3 years in Italy: EUR 3.821,53 €
Mobility Allowance: EUR 710 €
Family Allowance: EUR 660 € (depending on family situation)
Architectural heritage reflects the history of cultures occupying the space for centuries or thousands of years. CHARM (Conservation of Heritage Architecture, buildings and sites by Resilient Methods: hydro-climate factors) project focuses on sustainable conservation of architectural heritage, including buildings surroundings, from vernacular architecture to monuments and from archaeological sites to modern buildings. Materials and methods for the conservation of Architectural Heritage have evolved in the last years and continue to do so, in order to propose solutions respecting the environment and the health of people restoring, occupying or working in the buildings. In the past, cultural heritage conservation professionals have employed materials and techniques based on their own experience and traditional knowledge transmission, founded on the behaviour of materials in past climate. Environmental and climate conditions have very fast evolved in the last few years and will continue to change, so previously employed procedures, in many cases, are no longer adequate. Environmental sensitivity of society is fast developing and existing conservation procedures will not always fulfil new environmental legislation and population and decision makers’ wills. For all these reasons, new conservation solutions must be proposed responding to the new climate conditions and also to socio-economical society requirements.
Objectives
The research aims to study and verify the durability of a widespread historical construction technique, i.e. earthen mortars (also used for plasters), and their effectiveness in regulating the humidity contained in the walls, with the purpose of identifying suitable conservation techniques to preserve existing earthen coating and to validate their use on restoration sites also to improve the energy efficiency of the building envelope. Characterize and reproduce the historical recipes with specific additives which may contribute to control the humidity, and monitor in situ the efficiency of these systems. PhD student will stay three years at Politecnico di Milano (Polimi, IT) [secondment: 4 weeks c/o Musei Civici in Cremona (IT)].
Expected Results
The recovery of an ancient know-how and the verification of the energy efficiency of these mortars in order to re-introduce on the market a product that has now disappeared compatible with built historical heritage, capable of mitigating effects of climate change; and environmentally and economically sustainable.
Planned secondment
Secondment 1: Musei Civici di Cremona (Cremona, IT): 1 month, real case study.
Where to apply
Website: https://forms.office.com/e/KfMm59Buts?origin=lprLink
Skills/Qualifications
Cultural heritage buildings conservation
Materials Sciences
Laboratory experience
Specific Requirements
- Applicants should hold a relevant Master’s degree in architecture, materials sciences, medieval archaeology or engineering;
- Applicants should not have been awarded a PhD degree;
- Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting institution for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before the recruitment date;
- Proficiency in written and spoken English;
- Be highly motivated;
- Ability to collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary team;
- Creativity and a high level of independence.
Additional Information
Benefits
- 3-year full-time PhD contract. The full-time gross salary is 3.821,53 € and 710 € for Mobility Allowance (a Family Allowance will be paid, if applicable). This amount is gross, and all compulsory deductions under national law will be applied, including: Social security contributions (both employee and employer shares), and any applicable direct taxes. The salary and terms of employment for this position will comply with the provisions set out in the Italian Laws, the Politecnico di Milano and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions regulations.
- International PhD training excellence.
- Academic and nonacademic supervisors.
- Interdisciplinary & multi sectoral research.
- Competitive MSCA salary & allowances.
- Non-academic secondments.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates:
- must not have a doctoral degree at the date of their recruitment;
- can be of any nationality;
- should not be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project;
- should comply with the mobility rules: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.
Selection process
Deadline for submission applications: April 15th 2026
Candidates pre-selected for interviews will be informed: May 1st 2026
Selection interviews: May 2026
Successful candidates will be informed: June 1st 2026
Acceptance by successful candidates: June 15th 2026
Start of employment: September 2026
Selection criteria, rate
Relevant academic background: 0-30
Interview and presentation: 0-40
Motivation statement: 0-10
Relevant publications/work experience: 0-20
Additional comments
PhD candidate will work in Italy (c/o Politecnico di Milano) and Cremona (c/o Musei Civici, 1 month). Further secondments should be discussed with the supervisors. Please don’t hesitate to contact us angelogiuseppe.landi@polimi.it and beatriz.menendez@cyu.fr
Website for additional job details: https://charm-project.eu/doctoral-network
