Ricardo Ferreira

Ricardo Ferreira serves as Research Scientist Group Leader of the Spintronics research group at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL). With a PhD in Physics Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) completed in 2008, his career has focused on advancing spintronics technology through Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs). His research group develops high-yield fabrication processes for both micro-scale (down to 1μm²) and nano-scale (down to <50nm) devices using CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB tunnel barriers on 200mm wafers.

Dr. Ferreira's research interests span multiple cutting-edge areas in spintronics, with primary focus on nano-oscillators, neuromorphic computing architectures, and advanced magnetic field sensors. His work bridges fundamental physics with practical applications, particularly in developing devices that exploit spin transfer and spin Hall effects for next-generation computing paradigms. The group has made significant contributions to RF signal processing, true random number generation, and physical unclonable functions using spintronic devices.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward neuromorphic computing applications, with multiple papers on spin-torque nano-oscillators for reservoir computing, weighted neural networks, and RF signal classification. The research demonstrates increasing sophistication in controlling vortex states and coupled oscillator dynamics for computational applications, while maintaining strong contributions to fundamental spintronics phenomena and sensor development.

• Co-author of 150+ peer-reviewed publications
• Co-inventor in 4 patent applications submitted at INL
• Participant in 6 European projects in the last decade
• Leader of multiple high-TRL industrial application projects

Ferreira actively mentors PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, with several alumni having completed their doctoral work under his supervision. His group engages in both fundamental research and applied projects targeting Industry 5.0 ready production systems and space applications. The laboratory maintains advanced fabrication capabilities including UHV sputtering systems, ion milling equipment, and comprehensive characterization tools for spintronic device development.