Rodrigo Ventura is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon. He is also a senior researcher at the Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisbon), leading the Space and Aeronautics thematic line. His research focuses on the intersection of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing human-robot interaction, space robotics, and cognitive architectures. He coordinates the Minor in Space Sciences and Technologies at IST and the MBE on Space Systems for Tecnico+. As Adjoint Faculty at the International Space University (ISU), he contributes to global academic initiatives. His work includes experiments on the International Space Station and participation in analog space missions. Research interests span biologically inspired systems, machine learning, and teleoperation interfaces. Recent publications address reinforcement learning for UAVs, microgravity experiments, and pseudo-haptic feedback for robotic control. He teaches subjects like Artificial Intelligence and Decision Systems, Satellite Engineering, and Autonomous Systems.
Zita Vale is a Full Professor at the Institute of Engineering (ISEP) of the Polytechnic of Porto (IPP), where she holds the first Full Professor position since 2017. She is a co-founder of GECAD (1999) and coordinates GECAD's Power and Energy (PES) activities. GECAD is recognized by FCT since 2004 and classified as Excellent. She has served as GECAD director (2010-2017), vice-director (1999-2009, 2017-present), and is a member of the administration board. She is also co-founder and member of the coordination board of the National Associated Laboratory on Intelligent Systems. Her educational background includes a PhD (1993) and Agregação/Habilitation (2003) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Porto. She began her academic career at the University of Porto as a Teaching Monitor (1985), Assistant (1985-1993), and Professor (1993-1998) before moving to ISEP in 1998. Zita Vale's research focuses on the design and development of artificial intelligence-based models for Power and Energy Systems. Her work spans knowledge-based systems, multiagent systems, machine learning, metaheuristics, and semantics, with applications in smart grids, energy management, electricity markets, and renewable energy integration. She has an extensive international network and has participated in 80 R&D projects, raising over 22 million Euros for GECAD. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on optimization techniques, explainable AI, energy storage systems, and the integration of distributed energy resources in power systems. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of Applied Energy (Elsevier), a leading journal in the field with an Impact Factor of 11.2. Her citation metrics are impressive, with over 17,000 citations on Google Scholar and an H-index of 64. Editor-in-Chief of Applied Energy (Elsevier) Over 17,000 citations on Google Scholar H-index of 64 Zita Vale has supervised 29 PhD students (25 completed) and 72 MSc students (66 completed), demonstrating her strong commitment to academic mentorship. She has also been involved in numerous international and national evaluation processes, including project proposals, faculty positions, and PhD juries across 15+ countries. She has contributed to over 225 evaluation processes from 2018-2023, including 150+ project proposals/execution, 50+ Faculty/Researchers positions, 2 Habilitation juries, and 25+ PhD juries. She leads GECAD's involvement in several major research initiatives, including the National Associated Laboratory on Intelligent Systems and various European projects such as IoTalentum, TRADERES, DOMINOES, and EcoRural-IoT from Horizon 2020, as well as PRODUTECH EU DIH from Horizon Europe. Her leadership extends to international organizations where she serves as President of Intelligent Systems Applications in Power (ISAP) and Technical Committee Program Chair of IEEE PES Analytic Methods for Power Systems Committee.
Luís Miguel Mendonça Rato is an Associate Professor at the Universidade de Évora and a Senior Researcher with a PhD at Centro ALGORITMI. He is affiliated with the CST R&D Group and VISTA Lab R&D Lab, focusing on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Agricultural/Biomedical applications. Academic Degree: PhD Current Position: Associate Professor Labs: VISTA Lab Researcher IDs: ORCID 0000-0003-4492-7548, ResearcherID A-9152-2013, CiênciaID A914-6344-CD2D His research spans machine learning applications in Agricultural Engineering (Sentinel-2 satellite data for nutrient analysis), Biomedical Imaging (MRI-ADC texture analysis for tumor classification), and Control Systems (predictive control algorithms for water delivery canals and solar fields). With an h-index of 11 and 51 publications, his work emphasizes hybrid systems combining traditional engineering with computational innovation. Recent publications highlight trends in SLAM efficiency (2024), cloud service optimization (2022), and deep learning for medical imaging (2022-2023). He has contributed to Smart Cities initiatives through projects like M-Traffic (2006) and NanoSen-AQM (2020). As a senior researcher, he leads projects in the CST R&D Group and VISTA Lab , with notable work in the Universidade de Évora ecosystem.
David Lindlbauer is an Assistant Professor at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) within Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. He leads the Augmented Perception Lab and co-directs the CMU Extended Reality Technology Center (XRTC) . His research bridges Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Graphics, and Computer Vision to create adaptive interfaces that enhance human-digital interaction. Education : PhD (summa cum laude) from Technische Universität Berlin , MSc and BSc from University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria Previous Affiliation : Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich (2018-2020) David's research focuses on understanding human perception of digital information and developing computational approaches to optimize AR/VR interface usability. Key areas include: Context-aware adaptive interfaces Visual saliency and attention modeling Spatial audio-haptic systems Optimal placement algorithms Object manipulation in Remixed Reality Diminished/ambient MR interfaces His 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) span topics in adaptive XR interfaces, multimodal notifications, haptic systems, and spatial cognition. These works appear at venues like ACM CHI, ACM UIST, IEEE VR, and Frontiers in VR. Common themes include: Machine learning for interface adaptation Human factors in XR design Real-time environment analysis Privacy-aware display systems Collaborative MR interfaces Accessibility enhancements Scientific Recognition : Best Paper Honorable Mention Award (ACM CHI 2024) Best Paper Award (ACM ISS 2023) ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship Multiple best paper recognitions at CHI, UIST, and IEEE VR Teaching & Leadership : Course developer for CMU's "Interactive Extended Reality" Mentor for NASA SUITS Challenge team Co-chair roles at CHI and UIST Overseeing PhD students and research interns
Henrique O'Neill is an Associate Professor (with Habilitation) in the Department of Marketing, Operations and General Management at ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal. He is an Integrated Researcher at ISTAR-Iscte - Research Center in Information Sciences, Technologies and Architecture. His research focuses on information systems adoption, organizational strategy, and process optimization in healthcare, finance, and public administration. Education: PhD in Business Organization and Management - University of Cranfield (1995) Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Higher Technical Institute (1987) Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering - Higher Technical Institute (1983) Research Interests: His work spans business/IT strategy, systems modeling, process analysis, and technology implementation. Key domains include healthcare informatics, banking systems, and Industry 4.0 applications. He emphasizes practical solutions for organizational performance through technology integration. Publication Trends: Recent articles explore intelligent business systems, telemedicine, design science methodologies, and supply chain innovation. His work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with sector-specific applications in healthcare, education, and logistics. Professional Engagement: Member: Portuguese Telemedicine Association, Order of Engineers Commissioner: INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency) reform study Director: Center for IT Development (2010-2014) Advising & Projects: Supervises 7 graduate students (1 PhD, 6 Master's). Leads EU-funded projects including: Atlantic Crossing (2024-2025): US-Portugal academic collaboration in AI/cybersecurity AAL4ALL (2011-2015): Ambient Assisted Living ecosystem UNITE (2000-2002): Ubiquitous teamwork platforms
João Paulo Costeira is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon. He holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from IST (1995) and was a Visiting Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute (1991–1995). His research focuses on Computer Vision, 3D Reconstruction, and Structure from Motion, with contributions to object recognition, robotics, and multimedia analysis. Education: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, IST (1995); Visiting Scientist, CMU Robotics Institute (1991–1995). Roles: Coordinator of the Signal and Image Processing Group (SIPg), Co-director of the Carnegie Mellon|Portugal Dual PhD Program in ECE and Robotics (2007–2018), and Scientific Director of Carnegie Mellon|Portugal (2014–2018). Research Interests: João's work emphasizes 3D reconstruction from video, rigid and non-rigid motion analysis, and applications in robotics and urban surveillance. He has pioneered methods for motion segmentation and robust correspondence problems in computer vision. Publications: His recent work includes advancements in apple counting systems, rotation averaging for robotics, and domain adaptation for traffic density estimation. These contributions highlight his expertise in real-world computer vision challenges. Awards: None explicitly listed. However, his extensive publication record and academic leadership reflect significant scholarly impact. Advising & Grants: Supervised 13 PhD students, many co-advised with CMU faculty. Active in projects like CityCam (vehicle counting) and MultiDrone (robotics collaboration). Funded by FCT, EU, and industry partnerships. Labs/Teams: Leader of the Signal and Image Processing Group (SIPg) at ISR. Involved in NETSyS program for networked systems and robotics.
Luís B. Elvas is an Assistant Professor at ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon's Department of Social and Business Sciences (SINTRA) and a Research Assistant at ISTAR-Iscte Research Center. He holds qualifications including a Technical Specialization in TensorFlow for AI (Coursera, 2021) and certifications in IoT/Blockchain from ISCTE and cybersecurity from Palo Alto Networks. His research spans artificial intelligence, healthcare informatics, smart cities, and blockchain, with applied work in medical imaging, data sharing, and urban analytics. Research interests include: Healthcare AI : Developing deep learning models for cardiac diagnostics, medical imaging analysis, and blockchain-based health data systems Smart Cities : Implementing IoT solutions for urban mobility optimization, disaster management, and sustainable transportation Data Science : Creating predictive analytics frameworks for clinical decision support and urban planning His publications demonstrate a strong focus on AI-driven healthcare solutions (67% of recent works) and smart city technologies (33%), with emerging interests in blockchain and NLP. Research consistently targets real-world applications in clinical settings and urban environments. Awards: Award for best internship, Order of Engineers (2022) Distinction for best internship, Order of Engineers (2021) He leads/contributes to multiple EU research consortia including AMR-EDUCare (antimicrobial resistance education), NEEM (e-health in Nepal), and Blockchain.PT. Coordinates the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Student Branch Chapter at ISCTE and developed the ManagiDiTH master's program in digital health transformation.
Armando J. D. Silvestre is a Full Professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro. He holds academic degrees including a Licenciatura in Chemistry (1990), PhD in Chemistry (1994), and Agregação in Chemistry (2008) from the University of Aveiro. His research focuses on renewable materials, circular economy, and functional biomaterials. Research interests include: Development of biopolymer-based functional materials Valorization of biological residues for value-added chemicals Novel polymeric materials from renewable resources Sustainable nanocomposites and coatings Professor Silvestre has supervised 18 MSc and 11 PhD students to completion and currently mentors 3 PhD and 3 MSc candidates. Research projects include EU-funded initiatives like AFORE (Forest Biorefineries) and national projects on membrane technology and biomass valorization. Scientific contributions include over 180 SCI journal publications and patents on extraction methods. He serves on editorial boards for Industrial Crops and Products and actively participates in academic activities including Erasmus coordination and Bologna process implementation.
Nuno Miguel Fonseca Ferreira is a Full Professor at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra (ISEC), part of the Polytechnic of Coimbra, where he currently serves as President of the Scientific Council. His academic career spans over 25 years at ISEC, progressing from Assistant to Professor Coordenador Principal. He has held significant leadership positions including Vice-President of ISEC (2001-2005), Pro-President of the Polytechnic of Coimbra (2009-2010), President of ISEC (2010-2013), and Vice-President of the Polytechnic of Coimbra (2013-2017), where he was responsible for internationalization initiatives. His educational background includes a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Porto (1996), a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (2006), and a Habilitation Title (Aggregation) from the same institution (2020). His research focuses on Robotic Systems, with specialization in cooperative robotic systems as evidenced by his Habilitation work. Professor Ferreira's research spans multiple domains of robotics and intelligent systems, with particular emphasis on multi-robot coordination, environmental applications, and medical robotics. His work bridges theoretical control systems with practical applications across diverse fields including forestry, healthcare, manufacturing, and education. He has developed innovative approaches to robotic manipulation, sensor integration, and human-robot interaction, often incorporating advanced techniques from artificial intelligence and machine learning. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward practical applications of robotics in real-world environments, particularly in forestry maintenance, industrial automation, and medical applications. The research shows progression from theoretical control systems to applied robotics in challenging environments, with increasing integration of computer vision, deep learning, and collaborative systems. His work spans both fundamental robotics research and immediate industrial applications, reflecting a balance between academic inquiry and practical implementation. Professor Ferreira has supervised two doctoral theses and participated in numerous research projects with substantial funding. His leadership extends to coordinating 15 of the 33 national and international R&D projects he has participated in, demonstrating significant grant acquisition and management capabilities. His international collaborations through Erasmus+ and other European programs highlight his role in fostering global research partnerships. He is an integrated member of GECAD (Research Group in Engineering and Intelligent Computing for Innovation and Advanced Development), a Portuguese R&D unit classified as Excellent by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation. Additionally, he is a member of LASI (Associated Laboratory for Intelligent Systems), the Portuguese laboratory associated with Artificial Intelligence, connecting him to a broader national research ecosystem.
Luis Amaral is an Associate Professor at the School of Engineering, University of Minho, where he has served since 1998. He holds a PhD in Computer Science (Information Systems) from the University of Minho (1995) and has extensive experience in teaching, research, and administrative leadership. His research focuses on Information Systems in social and organizational contexts, particularly in public administration, with over 400 publications including books, journal articles, and conference papers. Key roles include Vice-Rector for Organizational Transformation and Administrative Simplification, Director of the Information Systems Department (2005–2006, 2010–2012), and leadership in projects like the Virtual Campus (e-UM). He has held numerous administrative positions, including President of the School of Engineering’s Council (2013–2016) and Pro-Rector (2006–2009). His work emphasizes e-government, digital transformation, and public procurement systems. Recent research trends include digitalization of public services, regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR in higher education), and optimization of renewable energy systems. He has contributed to international initiatives such as the ICEGOV conference and projects in Mozambique and Timor-Leste. His publications highlight innovation in administrative processes, citizen engagement, and institutional digital readiness. Luis Amaral has coordinated postgraduate programs, including the Master’s in Information Systems (2001–2002, 2016–2017), and led research centers like IDITE Minho. His career reflects a balance between academic rigor and practical impact in technology-driven governance and organizational change.
Adriano Jorge Cardoso Moreira is an Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Information Systems, School of Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Portugal. He is also a Senior Researcher at the Algoritmi Research Centre and Scientific Coordinator of the Urban and Mobile Computing department at Centro de Computação Gráfica. His research focuses on indoor positioning , mobile and context-aware computing , urban computing , and simulation of wireless networks . Research Interests : Indoor Positioning, Mobile Computing, Urban Mobility, Sensor Networks, Wi-Fi and UWB Localization, Smart Cities. Leadership : Coordinated the Computer Communications and Pervasive Media Group (2008-2016), Scientific Committee member (Director of MAP-tele PhD program in multiple terms), and leads the Master in Telecommunications and Informatics since 2021. Publications : Over 100 papers, including IEEE Transactions and Sensors journal articles, with an h-index of 23 and 2136 citations. Awards : First and second prizes in EvAAL-ETRI Indoor Localization Competitions (2015, 2016, 2017).
Maria Leonilde Rocha Varela is an Associate Professor with Habilitation at the School of Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal, where she also serves as a Senior Researcher at the Algoritmi Research Centre. She has been an integrated member of the Algoritmi Research Centre since 2012 and works in the Department of Production and Systems. Dr. Varela earned her degree in Production Engineering from the University of Minho in 1994, completed a Master's in Computer Integrated Production at DPS-UMinho in 1999, and received her Ph.D. in Production and Systems from the University of Minho in 2007. Her primary research focuses on Manufacturing Management, particularly Production Planning, Control and Optimization, and Collaborative Paradigms, Networks and Decision Making Models. She maintains extensive international collaborations with institutions worldwide including the National Institute of Industrial Engineering, VSB-Technick Univerzita Ostrava, University of Belgrade, and others. Her research spans Web Applications and Services for supporting Engineering and Production Management, with increasing emphasis on Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation, and Industry 4.0/5.0 applications. She has made significant contributions to scheduling algorithms, optimization techniques, and decision support systems for manufacturing environments. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating Artificial Intelligence with traditional manufacturing processes, particularly in Robotic Process Automation applications. Her research increasingly focuses on sustainable manufacturing practices, with numerous publications addressing energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and resource optimization. There is a clear emphasis on multi-objective optimization approaches to solve complex manufacturing problems, particularly in distributed job shop scheduling. Her work demonstrates an evolution from traditional production planning methods to more advanced AI-driven approaches for Industry 4.0 and 5.0 environments. Dr. Varela has held significant academic leadership roles, currently serving as the director of the master's course in Engineering and Quality Management at DPS-UMinho. She previously coordinated the industrial management and systems subgroup from 2012 to 2021 and was part of the steering committee for the master's course in systems engineering between 2016 and 2019. She has successfully supervised more than 70 MSc projects, with over 15 currently ongoing, focusing on Production and Systems Engineering. Her supervision encompasses collaborative management models, traditional decision approaches, and web-based platforms incorporating AI techniques. She coordinates research projects including 2 concluded Ph.D. projects and 6 ongoing ones. She collaborates as a research member in several R&D projects with national and international industrial enterprises and institutions, and in international Erasmus projects. Dr. Varela is an active participant in the academic community, serving on editorial boards of several international journals and as a member of organizing and scientific committees for numerous international conferences. She is a member of several prestigious research networks including the Euro Working Group of Decision Support Systems (EWG-DSS), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Industrial Engineering Network, and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE).
José Manuel Ferreira Machado is a Full Professor at the Department of Informatics, School of Engineering, University of Minho, where he has been affiliated since 1988. His research integrates Artificial Intelligence, Medical Informatics, and Data Mining, with applications in healthcare, industrial systems, and public services. He founded ALGORITMI's 'Knowledge Engineering' group and served as Director of the ALGORITMI R&D Center (2018-2024). Education: Agregado in Informatics (AI), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (2011-2012) PhD in Informatics (AI), Universidade do Minho (1995-2002) Licenciatura in Systems and Informatics Engineering, Universidade do Minho (1982-1988) Research Interests: Machado's work focuses on intelligent systems for healthcare (e.g., AIDA medical platform), industrial automation, and smart cities. He emphasizes real-world applications, including clinical decision support, predictive maintenance, and sustainable urban infrastructure. Publications: His recent articles (2022-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on healthcare AI (e.g., disease prediction, COVID-19 analytics) and smart systems (e.g., traffic optimization, energy sustainability), utilizing data mining and machine learning. Awards: Hospital of the Future (2007, 2008, 2009) Good Practices in Health (2014) Portugal Digital Awards (2016) IHF Awards (2021) Advising & Grants: Supervised 16 PhD, 101 MSc, and 4 post-doc students. Leads sub-projects in PRR agendas GReenAuto and Be.Neutral. Secured funding from FCT, EU, and industry partners (e.g., Bosch) for 50+ projects. Labs & Teams: Coordinates the 'Knowledge Engineering' research group at ALGORITMI, focusing on intelligent decision support and interoperability in healthcare and industry.
Rui Manuel Teixeira Santos Dias is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Finance at the State University of Feira de Santana (Brazil) , affiliated with the Department of Exact Sciences. His work bridges finance, econophysics, and sustainability, focusing on market efficiency, cryptocurrency dynamics, clean energy investments, and commodity market interdependencies. Education : PhD in Management (University of Évora, Portugal), DEA in Financial Economics (University of Extremadura, Spain) Research Themes : Cryptocurrency markets, sustainable finance, portfolio optimization, oil-currency nexus, and behavioral finance His recent articles analyze multifractal efficiency in green investing, cross-market contagion, and the role of precious metals as safe havens in clean energy portfolios. Publications span journals like Fractals , PLOS ONE , and Energy Procedia , with a strong emphasis on quantitative and econophysics approaches. No explicit scientific awards are mentioned in the provided data.
Rui Prada is a Full Professor at the Department of Computer Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence , Game Development , and Human-Machine Interaction , with emphasis on socially intelligent agents and affective computing. His work explores Multi-Agent Systems , XR Testing , and Educational Game Design , particularly for neurodiverse populations. Recent publications highlight Procedural Content Generation , Human-AI Collaboration , and Social Power Dynamics in agent-based systems. Scientific contributions include the Best Poster Award and leadership in projects like PartiPlay and RAGE , advancing Inclusive AI and Game Technologies Marketplace frameworks.
