J. C. Páscoa

J. C. Páscoa is a Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Beira Interior (UBI), where he also serves as Vice-Rector. He is the founder and former head of the ClusterDEM research laboratory and acts as Line Coordinator for Energy and Fluids at the Center for Mechanical and Aerospace Sciences and Technology, a recognized research center funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

His research interests are centered on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), aerodynamics, plasma actuators, magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), propulsion systems, and electrospray technology. His work integrates advanced numerical modeling with experimental validation, particularly in aerospace and energy applications, including hypersonic flow, combustion control, and sustainable automotive processes.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in plasma-based flow control, thermal management, and optimization using machine learning. Key themes include the development of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuators for active flow and combustion control, MHD modeling for space propulsion, icing mitigation in wind turbines, and CFD-driven optimization of industrial processes such as automotive painting and fuel cell design.

He has secured substantial funding from national and European agencies, including FCT, the European Commission, and Agência Nacional de Inovação, for projects like SpaceProp, UNsteady boundary layer control, GreenAuto, and INFANTE satellite development. These grants reflect his leadership in interdisciplinary, high-impact research.

He actively mentors students and researchers, with several appearing as co-authors on his publications. His lab, ClusterDEM, fosters collaborative work in computational and experimental fluid dynamics, materials for aerospace, and sustainable energy systems.