Dr. Magda Posani

Magda Posani got her integrated master’s degree in Building Engineering and Architecture from the University of Bologna in 2017.

In the period 2017 - 2021, she developed her Ph.D. research under the Doctoral program for Eco-constructions and Rehabilitation, in Civil Engineering. Her Ph.D. thesis on “Thermal insulation solutions for historic buildings: feasibility, efficacy, compatibility” was delivered in the beginning of 2022. 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). The focus of her PhD research lied on 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.

She has experience in the hygrothermal characterization of insulation materials and systems based on thermal mortars: from laboratory testing to numerical modelling. She has practical knowledge of dynamic hygrothermal simulations of building components and whole buildings, especially with the software WUFI Pro and WUFI plus. Her research interest currently involves bio-based materials and insulation solutions, reuse of bio-waste, hygroscopic plasters for passive control of indoor relative humidity. Since 2021 she is a member 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.

Magda Posani joined the Chair of Sustainable Construction in January 2022, to work on a project related to the use of bio-based materials for climate-neutral buildings.