Magda Posani joined the Chair of Sustainable Construction

In 2017, she got an integrated master’s degree in Building Engineering and Architecture from the University of Bologna.
In the period 2017 - 2021, she developed her Ph.D. research under the Doctoral program for Eco-constructions and rehabilitation, in Civil Engineering.
She is currently delivering her Ph.D. thesis on “Thermal insulation solutions for historic buildings: feasibility, efficacy, compatibility”. The doctoral research was developed through a collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) and the National Laboratory for Civil engineering of Lisbon (LNEC). In addition, the Ph.D. program included a period of research at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). She is part of the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM), and she is the European representative of RILEM Youth Council.

The focus of her research lies in the use of thermal insulation for retrofitting historic walls, aiming to improve indoor thermal comfort while reducing operational energy demands. The research was related to the study of the hygrothermal behaviour of porous building materials, with a specific focus on moisture dynamics. Her interest in sustainable construction and hygroscopic behaviour of plant-based insulation materials led her to join ETH to participate in a project on the use of bio-based materials for climate-neutral buildings.