Marta Gangolells: "We want research to help people make real decisions"

How would you sum up your profile and your career as a researcher at the UPC?

I am an industrial engineer and hold a PhD from the UPC. I am currently a full professor and carry out my teaching and research at the Terrassa School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering (ESEIAAT). Since 2026, I have also been director of the UPC's Department of Project and Construction Engineering (DEPC).

My research has focused mainly on sustainability in the construction sector, with particular emphasis on the decarbonisation and climate resilience of buildings. I am a member of the Construction Research and Innovation Group (GRIC), through which I have taken part in numerous competitive research projects, both national and European, and have led several of them in collaboration with universities, research centres, public administrations and companies.

Throughout my career I have combined research with teaching, knowledge transfer and university management, always with the aim of ensuring that research results have practical applications and help address today's environmental and social challenges.

What have been the most significant milestones in your career?

One of the most important was becoming a full professor, because it represents recognition of many years of dedication to teaching, research and knowledge transfer. I value it especially because it is the result of a long journey built on effort, perseverance and learning.

Another significant milestone has been taking on the leadership of the Department of Project and Construction Engineering in 2026, a responsibility I am taking on with great enthusiasm and which opens a new chapter in my professional career.

On a more personal level, one of my greatest satisfactions has been supporting students and young researchers in their academic and professional development, especially the GRIC's doctoral students. Seeing them grow, achieve their goals and consolidate their own careers is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding parts of university work.

As for recognition in scientific rankings, such as the CSIC's ranking of women researchers, what I value most is that it might serve as a role model for a girl considering a career in engineering or research, and help her see that she can get there too. That said, I think it's important to point out that I have been lucky enough to have a very strong support network, both at home and at work, and that has been essential. Although recognition is individual, there are always many people behind it who help you and accompany you along the way.

"Although recognition is individual, there are always many people behind it who help you and accompany you along the way."

Which research projects are you currently leading and what are their future prospects?

I am currently leading the RESILIENT project, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, which began in 2025 and will end in September 2028.

The starting point is that the buildings we have today will have to keep functioning in climate conditions very different from current ones, with higher temperatures and increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. That's why we are studying how buildings will perform under different future climate scenarios, up to the end of the century, and which retrofitting measures could be most effective in improving their comfort, energy efficiency and resilience.

We analyse solutions such as improved insulation, green or reflective roofs, shading systems and the integration of renewable energy. We work with simulation tools and AI-based decision-support methods to identify which measures, or combinations of measures, are best suited to each building. In doing so, we take into account not only each measure's ability to improve resilience to climate change and reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, but also the associated costs and the environmental impact across the entire life cycle.

We are also launching a pilot project: we will install a set of planters on the roof with different types of vegetation, such as sedum and lettuces, combined with conventional and semi-transparent photovoltaic panels. We want to study experimentally how these combinations affect the building's thermal performance and, at the same time, check whether the vegetation helps lower the temperature of the solar panels and improve their efficiency. The idea is to compare different configurations to see which work best and to explore new ways of making use of roofs to make buildings more sustainable and resilient to climate change.

What impact do the results of these projects have?

One of the things that motivates us most about the research we do at the GRIC is that the results have practical applications and help improve people's lives.

A good example is the IAQ4EDU project, in which we studied how to ventilate classrooms properly to ensure good indoor air quality without compromising thermal comfort or unnecessarily increasing energy consumption. Based on the results, we produced a guide with practical recommendations to help schools manage ventilation better. I am particularly pleased with it, because the project generated highly relevant scientific output and because the results can reach schools directly and benefit both pupils and teachers.

As for RESILIENT, the impact we are seeking is, above all, to help people make better decisions about how to retrofit buildings. Financial resources are limited and not all measures have the same effect. That's why we want to provide tools that enable public administrations, professionals and owners to identify the most suitable solutions for reducing energy consumption, emissions and vulnerability to climate change, while also taking costs into account.

For me, one of the most important aspects of research is that the results are useful and help public administrations, professionals in the sector and users alike to make real decisions. We don't want our work to remain only in scientific papers; we want it to translate into recommendations, tools and practical solutions. And if, in addition, we can help shape public policy and move towards healthier, more sustainable buildings that are ready to face climate change, even better.

"We don't want our work to remain only in scientific papers; we want it to translate into recommendations, tools and practical solutions."

In 2024, the UPC and TÜV SÜD launched a company chair. What are its aims and what is your role?

The TÜV SÜD-UPC Chair was created to bring the academic and business worlds closer together and to promote sustainability in companies, covering not only environmental aspects but also social and governance aspects – in other words, ESG criteria.

The chair works mainly in three areas:

• Training and talent identification. We encourage TÜV SÜD professionals to take part in teaching and to supervise bachelor's and master's theses linked to real business challenges. This brings students closer to the professional world and, at the same time, opens the door to future job opportunities at the company.
• Research and knowledge transfer. The aim is to identify the needs of the business sector and seek solutions together, as well as to promote research projects and industrial doctorates.
• Outreach and knowledge exchange. We organise conferences, seminars and activities to share experiences between the university, companies and professionals in the sector.

I am the co-director on the UPC side. My role is to coordinate these activities, facilitate the relationship between the company and the university, and identify opportunities for collaboration that benefit both parties.

What do you think an international certification, inspection and testing company looks for in a university like the UPC?

TÜV SÜD is a German multinational specialising in inspection, testing, certification and technical consultancy services. It works in a wide range of sectors and has very close ties with industry: it helps companies ensure safety, quality and regulatory compliance, and also move towards more sustainable models.

I believe a company like TÜV SÜD looks to a university like the UPC above all for talent, knowledge and capacity for innovation. The university gives it access to highly qualified professionals and provides scientific and technological knowledge and research expertise, but above all a perspective that often goes beyond companies' immediate needs.

What has been done so far within the framework of the chair?

Since it was launched, we have promoted a range of activities in the institutional, teaching, research and outreach spheres.

At institutional level, TÜV SÜD has taken part in the ESEIAAT Business Forum and has sponsored the awards for the best academic records, which recognise our students' talent and strengthen the relationship between the university and the company.

In teaching, we have co-supervised numerous master's theses on topics of interest to TÜV SÜD. Some have laid the methodological foundations for services the company then offers its clients. TÜV SÜD professionals have also given lectures in the Environmental Science and Technology module of the bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology Engineering, offering students a very practical view of the challenges companies face.

In terms of research and innovation, we have explored opportunities to take part jointly in national and European consortia and innovation projects, looking for common ground between the company's needs and the UPC's research capabilities.

Finally, we have organised several events with professionals in the sector to share knowledge and discuss current issues. One example is the "Building and real estate asset value" conference, which we held at the ESEIAAT in April 2026.

Conversely, what does the company bring to the university?

For the university, having this direct contact with the business world is very valuable, because it allows us to better understand the sector's real challenges, focus part of our activity on those needs and offer students training opportunities more closely linked to professional practice.

Ultimately, it's about making the most of what each party can contribute: the university generates knowledge and trains professionals, and the company brings experience, real challenges and a very direct view of market needs.

"The university generates knowledge and trains professionals, and the company brings experience, real challenges and a very direct view of market needs."

How do you rate the support provided by the Philanthropy Unit? In which processes is it most relevant?

The work of the Philanthropy Unit is particularly important in facilitating the relationship between the university and companies and in helping to turn an initial willingness to collaborate into a concrete project.

In the case of the TÜV SÜD-UPC Chair, I would highlight above all the support in formalising the agreement and with the administrative and management aspects. These processes are often fairly complex, and having a specialised team makes things much easier.

Having a unit that understands both how the university works and what companies need is essential for driving this kind of collaboration and ensuring it continues over time.

Interview published in the October 2026 issue of the "Coffee Break" newsletter, dedicated to the UPC Philanthropy Unit.