Francisco Javier Planes, Full Professor in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, new director of Tecnun

The Chancellor of the University of Navarra, María Iraburu, has appointed Francisco Javier Planes as the new director of Tecnun of Engineering. Full Professor in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Planes will take up his new position on July 1, replacing Raúl Antón, Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Planes studied Industrial Engineering at Tecnun (2004), and completed his doctoral dissertation at Brunel University (2008), where he was awarded the PhD award . 

He teaches subjects related to operations research, data science and artificial intelligence. His research work focuses on the development and application of algorithms in bioinformatics and computational biology, with special emphasis on cancer and personalized nutrition. 

The new director of Tecnun is also a member of the team of researchers of the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra e Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DATAI).. He has participated in nearly 20 research projects, being principal researcher in most of them. In addition, he has directed and co-directed 12 doctoral theses and is the author of more than 50 publications in JCR indexed journals. He is part of the Tecnun board of directors since 2019, being first Deputy Director of Research (2019-2022) and, since June 2022, Deputy Director of academic staff.

The rector, María Iraburu, thanked Antón for his work at the head of Tecnun since June 2016. "Thanks to the guide of the director of Tecnun, the School has experienced with enthusiasm and work some years of growth and consolidation marked by its 60th anniversary or by the arrival of master's programs from San Sebastian to Madrid. In addition, thanks to Raúl's attitude, Tecnun maintains relationships with public and private institutions of great prestige inside and outside the Basque Country, which undoubtedly benefit the entire University".