Dr. David Martínez Álvarez is a young Lecturer (Assistant Professor - Professor Lector) newly appointed to the Department of Computer Architecture and Technology (ATC) at the University of Girona (UdG). His specialization focuses on the interdisciplinary application of computer architecture concepts, such as graph theory, networks, and cybersecurity, applied to various research lines. On the one hand, he is an expert in the development and analysis of digital privacy solutions and their compliance with regulatory standards, and on the other hand, he also has experience in solutions related to smart and sustainable cities. His current research centers on the systematic analysis of web privacy compliance, such as the use of cookies or other user-tracking technologies, a topic of significant social impact today. His doctoral research focused on innovations for the management and design of water networks, with training at UdG and prior experience as a contracted research technician at the prestigious Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA). His Google Scholar profile, as of February 3, 2025, shows an H-index of 5 and a total of 89 citations, notable achievements for just four years of research.
During his PhD (2021-2024), funded by the IF-UdG scholarship, he published seven articles in prestigious international journals, impacting the fields of water infrastructure resilience and urban sustainability, serving as the lead author in five of them. Among these, four standout articles are part of his thesis, published in first-quartile (Q1) journals with JCR impact factors of 13.35, 10.5, 8.2, and 3.4. Additionally, he conducted a brief research stay at the prestigious TU Delft University (Netherlands), where he initiated a collaboration with the Network Architectures and Services (NAS) group, resulting in a Q1 article with a JCR impact factor of 8.2.
His doctoral thesis was awarded the highest distinction of Excellent (Outstanding) with cum laude honors, making significant contributions to urban water network management through the integration of computer science, graph theory, and water sciences. The results and algorithms derived from his thesis have not only been published in prestigious academic journals but have also been integrated into projects such as CLEaN-Tour, ReUseMP3, and ReWaT.
As part of his dedication to applied research, Dr. Martínez Álvarez is also a member of the research team for the prestigious INCIBE Chair "Digitalization and Water Cybersecurity," endowed with 750,000€, a project aimed at promoting cybersecurity in the water sector in Spain.
In addition to his doctoral research line, Dr. David Martínez Álvarez initiated a collaboration with partners from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), and the UdG Department of Law, as well as the Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT), in the computational analysis of regulatory compliance in the use of web tracking technologies, such as cookies. With one Q2 article already published, one Q1 article under review, and results that have resonated in dozens of national media outlets, this research line aligns with challenges to privacy and security in smart cities, where data management and personal information protection are fundamental to providing sustainable and ethical solutions.
His undergraduate and master's studies also accumulated numerous accolades. He completed the Master's in Cybersecurity and Privacy at UOC with a final grade of 9.3 and a research project for his Master's Thesis (TFM), titled "Cookies and Similar Technologies on Websites: Degree of Regulatory Compliance." The results were so promising that he continued collaborating with UOC and UAB faculty, leading to fruitful future collaborations as mentioned earlier. In his undergraduate studies in Computer Engineering, he received the Extraordinary Award for Best Graduate of UdG 2018/19, with a grade of 9.45/10 in his fourth year and as the top student of his graduating class.