Paloma Grau, deputy director of Tecnun , appointed Vice President for Research and Sustainability at the University of Navarra.

The deputy director of Tecnun, Paloma Grau, head of academic staff in 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.

The newly appointed Rector of the University of Navarra, María Iraburu, thus 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 for her PhD in the Industrial Engineering program, encouraged by the then President José María Bastero. It was her thesis director , Eduardo Ayesa, who got her excited about research. "From the very first moment I was surrounded by a team of excellent researchers and in an environment like the one in Gipuzkoa where research and innovation are strongly encouraged. Since then, I have found a career in research exciting," says Grau.

The new Vice President for 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 2025 Strategy of the University of Navarra. In this sense, he considers that "we are at a time core topic for research to be translated 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 oriented to water management and treatment.

He has directed and participated in national and international research projects, has been a member of different working committees within the IWA (International Water Association) and has carried out research stays at universities in Belgium and Canada.

goal Paloma Grau also oversees the Sustainability Commission that the School launched at the beginning of the academic year with the aim of developing sustainability at different levels: 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 of the University of Navarra, an initiative of a group of women in scientific, technological or medical careers (STEM), 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-chancellors

Likewise, Pablo Sánchez-Ostiz, Vice President of Office of Academic Affairs until now, becomes Vice President of academic staff; Secundino Fernández, Dean of Medicine until now, occupies the position of Vice President of Office of Academic Affairs; and Rosalía Baena, professor of the School of Philosophy and Letters, that of 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 for Research; Pilar Lostao, until now Vice President de International Office; and Tomás Gómez-Acebo, Vice President for Students, leave the Office of the Executive Council team. Professors Astiasarán, Lostao and Gómez-Acebo continue with their teaching and research tasks in their respective faculties.