MSCA-PF-2026 EoI - Theory, History, and Criticism of Architecture. ETSAM-UPM

**Supervisor and research team
**Manuel Sánchez García is the first Ramón y Cajal researcher ever appointed at ETSAM-UPM, and the first nationwide in the field of Architectural History and Theory. Previously based at Dumbarton Oaks/Harvard University (US), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), and Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), he holds a MSCA-PF Seal of Excellence and has served as Associated Editor of Architectural Histories, the leading Open Access journal in its field, published by EAHN/OLH.

The Research Group on Theory, History, and Criticism of Architecture (iTHACA) brings together a diverse team of 16 researchers (7 women, 9 men) representing all stages of the academic career. The team has developed international research projects such as Mapping Global Architectural Histories on Modernism, in collaboration with MIT, and has contributed to initiatives such as the Global Architectural History Teaching Collaborative (GAHTC). At the national level, they have developed projects include Re-Translates (2022-2026) and ArchiteXt Mining (2016-2019), both focused on the critical analysis of modern/contemporary Spanish architectural culture.

Keywords
Architecture History, Theory and Criticism; Architectural Analysis; Archival research, Colonial Landscapes, Early Modern Iberian Worlds,

Open Research Lines
History of Architecture and Urbanism, Latin American Architecture and Urbanism, Early Modern Architecture and Urbanism in the Iberian Worlds, Architectural Theory, Architectural Criticism and Communication, Cultural Landscapes, Digital Landscapes and Architecture in the videogame industry.

Research Focus
ITHACA seeks candidates with a background in architecture, preferably with a range of professional experiences apart from a strong track record in academia and research. As the first Spanish research group in an architectural history department to host a Ramón y Cajal senior researcher, ITHACA is especially well suited to bolstering the careers of pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellows with high international mobility. ITHACA’s research focuses on architectural history and theory in a wide sense, with a particular interest in the Iberian Worlds and, especially, in Spain and Latin-America. The group is currently deploying a larger research strategy focused on architecture archives // architectural archiving, supporting the critical interrogation of archival sources through ground-breaking methodologies (including text mining and AI), as well as the analytical deconstruction of the professional processes and institutions involved in managing, ordering, preserving, interpretating, and providing access to such materials. During their stay, candidates will receive further training in research methodologies and management, including research-grant writing workshops with an emphasis on actions within the EU Horizon and the European Research Council programs.
Application documents
CV (3 pages max.) + Letter of motivation

In case of MSCA Global Postdoctoral Fellowships: Letter of support from the non-EU host

In case of secondment: Letter of support from the secondment institution

Deadline: April 15, 2026