David Fernández Barba

Head of Large Research Infrastructures and Strategic Projects

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

About

PhD in Physics with extensive experience in both scientific research and the management and implementation of public science policies. Possesses deep knowledge of the Catalan and Spanish research systems and has held responsibilities across a wide range of areas, including: large-scale research infrastructures, strategic project funding, research evaluation, EU-funded grant schemes, intergovernmental agreements, programme contracts for CERCA research centres, budget monitoring, and science communication, among others. He has also served as an evaluator in competitive calls for funding of scientific infrastructure and equipment. In 2022, he secured a permanent civil servant position within the Government of Catalonia by ranking 3rd out of more than 4,600 candidates in a competitive public examination (Convocatòria núm. 242 de l'Escala Superior d'Administració General del Cos Superior d'Administració – DOGC núm. 8000, 12.11.2019). Google Scholar's profile: http://scholar.google.es/citations?hl=ca&user=ez8ffHAAAAAJ

Experience

  • Generalitat de Catalunya (Lifetime Civil Servant · 16 yrs 10 mos)
    • Head of Large Research Infrastructures and Strategic Projects
      Feb 2026 - Present · 5 mos

      Directorate-General for Research - Direcció General de Recerca Ministry of Research and Universities - Departament de Recerca i Universitats

    • Deputy Director-General for Research
      Apr 2025 - Jan 2026 · 10 mos

      Directorate-General for Research - Direcció General de Recerca Ministry of Research and Universities - Departament de Recerca i Universitats

    • Head of Large Research Infrastructures and Strategic Projects
      Jun 2023 - Apr 2025 · 1 yr 11 mos

      Directorate-General for Research - Direcció General de Recerca Ministry of Research and Universities - Departament de Recerca i Universitats

  • Postdoctoral Researcher at Institute of Cosmos Sciences (ICCUB)
    Mar 2008 - Aug 2009 · 1 yr 6 mos

  • Postdoctoral Researcher at Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya - IEEC
    Mar 2007 - Mar 2008 · 1 yr 1 mo

  • Scientific Director at CONSORCI DEL MONTSEC
    Dec 2001 - Mar 2008 · 6 yrs 4 mos

  • University of Barcelona (Greater Barcelona Metropolitan Area)
    • Associate Lecturer
      Feb 2000 - Dec 2001 · 1 yr 11 mos

      Astronomy & Meteorology Department Faculty of Physics

    • Doctoral Researcher
      Sep 1996 - Feb 2000 · 3 yrs 6 mos

      Astronomy & Meteorology Department Faculty of Physics