News Archive 2016-21

INESC Brussels HUB Winter Event, 15-16 December

The INESC Brussels HUB is organizing a winter event in Coimbra on 15-16 December. Information about the program and registration can be found here

December 2021

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series - Dr Hugo Terças - November 30, 2021 @ 16h00 Lisbon time

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series
November 30, 2021 @ 16h00 Lisbon time
Registration here

Plasmonic instabilities in two-dimensional Dirac materials
Dr Hugo Terças, IPFN Assistant Researcher, Quantum Plasmas Team, IPFN and Invited Assistant Professor, Tecnico, ULisboa
Moderator: Susana Cardoso de Freitas, INESC MN

Abstract
The generation of coherent terahertz radiation is an outstanding challenge at both scientific and technological levels. In one hand, the quest for table-top THz solutions based on integrated-circuit technology puts graphene and other bi-dimensional in the run; on the other, plasma instabilities in bi-dimensional materials are an appealing mechanism for the production of low-power coherent THz signals. In this talk, we discuss how to produce plasmonic instabilities in graphene field-effect transistors based on electronic injection only.

Flyer here

November 2021

IEEE Engineering Day 2021 (ED'21) - 26 November 2021

IEEE Engineering Day is a yearly event promoted by IEEE Portugal aiming to join Academia and Industry to present and discuss relevant topics for the technological community. This year in a hybrid format (ISEP - Porto and online) with the topics Blockchain, Federated Learning and IoT.
Dr. Susana Freitas from INESC MN, will be responsible for the organization of IoT session.
IEEE Portugal award winners will be announced at the end of the event. 

Registration here

More information about the event ED-IEEE-PT and  Linkedin

November 2021

PT-UK Workshop on Quantum Sensing and Metrology​ - 19th November 2021

Dr. Susana Freitas from INESC MN will co-host EMPIR/MEMQuD project at PT-UK Workshop.
The event will take place on 19th November 2021 at 'Academia das Ciências de Lisboa' .

November 2021

INESC MN opens Call for Applications for 7 PhD Grants

There are 7 open positions for PhD grants at INESC MN in the scope of the La Caixa, INPhINIT Fellowship Program (2022 call).
The call is open until 27th of January 2022.
Information about the program and participation requirements can be found here

The open positions are in the following topics:

• Lab-on-chip devices for Point-of-care Biological Assays Enhanced by Sensor Fusion and Machine Learning

• Microelectronic Circuits for Spintronic-based Biomimetic Tactile Neural Networks

• Effect of ion irradiation on AlGaN compound semiconductors and devices

• Ga2O3 field effect transistors for sensor applications

• Gallium Oxide Membranes for Radiation detectors

• Optimization of ultrathin spintronic films with reduced intrinsic noise mechanisms for the next generation of high resolution magnetic sensors

• Process validation and quality assessment for magnetoresistive sensor microfabrication in 200 mm diameter wafers and CMOS integration
  
  

November 2021

New publication in Advanced Functional Materials

The recent work published in journal Advanced Functional Materials results from the work performed in a collaboration between INESC MN, Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon) and UA-CICECO (Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro).

"Organic Single Crystal Patterning Method for Micrometric Photosensors",
João Serra, Sara Sequeira, Ismael Domingos, Ana Paracana, Ermelinda Maçôas, Luís V. Melo, Bernardo J. Pires, Susana Cardoso, Diana C. Leitao, Helena Alves

Doi: 10.1002/adfm.202105638

"Single-crystal organic semiconductors, such as rubrene, present high detectivities and charge carrier mobility, making them attractive for light-sensing applications. Growth of high crystallinity organic crystals is achieved using vapor processes, forming crystals of arbitrary shapes and orientations and requiring posterior patterning processes.
Here the fabrication of patterned micrometric rubrene photosensors is demonstrated through a combination of photolithography and Reactive Ion Etching steps.
This opens a route for the industrial-scale fabrication process of high-performance optoelectronic devices based on organic crystals semiconductors."

Check out the full paper at:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202105638

October 2021

INESC MN at FIC.A - Festival Internacional da Ciência

Researchers from INESC MN have participated in FIC.A - Festival Internacional da Ciência (Oeiras), from 12 to 17 October 2021, at the Palácio do Marquês de Pombal, Oeiras.
Susana Freitas and João Serra showcased the work done at INESC MN to young students (ages 10 - 17), showing devices produced by INESC MN researchers and presenting the cleanroom facilities and garnments, bringing the world of nanotechnology and engineering to future scientists.

October 2021

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series - Dr. Ender Yıldırım - October 08, 2021 @ 16h00 Lisbon time 

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series
October 08, 2021 @ 16h00 Lisbon time
Registration here 

Flow-Rate-Controlled Delivery of Low Volumes of Valuable Liquids to Microfluidic Devices with Zero Dead Volume

Dr. Ender Yıldırım, Associate Professor, Middle East Technical University, Turkey

Moderator: Vania Silverio, INESC MN

Abstract: Although several different micropumps have been developed so far, the delivery of working liquids to microfluidic devices is often achieved through a syringe pump or a pressure pump. However, these methods introduce a significant amount of dead volume, caused mainly by the interconnects (tubings, fittings, etc.) between the microfluidic device and the pump that cannot be delivered to the microfluidic device. A well-known method to zero-dead volume delivery of liquids is using micropipettes, which allow the user to transmit a precisely controlled volume of liquid to the device. On the other hand, since it does not enable flow rate control, which is often a necessity in microfluidics, conventional pipetting could not make significant ground in delivering liquids in microfluidics. We have recently developed Flexible Hydraulic Reservoirs (FHR), which enable the delivery of liquids with zero dead volume and at controlled flow rates to microfluidic devices. FHR is an interface mounted at the inlet of a microfluidic chip via a pipette tip or a syringe needle and driven by an ordinary syringe pump. This interface is composed of a hydraulic casing filled with water and a sample casing separated with an elastomeric nitrile diaphragm. The hydraulic casing is connected to a syringe pump via a tubing filled with again water. As the syringe pump is actuated, the displacement of incompressible water in the tubing and the hydraulic reservoir causes the nitrile diaphragm to deflect. Deflection of the nitrile membrane results in the delivery of the liquid in the pipette tip, or the syringe needle connected at the outlet of the sample reservoir. The details of the operation principles of FHR, its fabrication, and characterization are presented. 

September 2021

INESC MN is partner in the NFFA-Europe Pilot Project

INESC MN is part of the H2020 NFFA-Europe PILOT project, a distributed research infrastructure that integrates nanofoundries designed to support excellence of science and technology. The consortium has twenty-two beneficiaries and also includes nine "third parties" as scientific service providers, with more than 180 techniques available.

 The Clean Room facilities located in Portugal are INL (Braga) and INESC MN (Lisbon). The participation in the NFFA project strengthen INESC MN role as a reference infrastructure with more than 25 year experience in providing training, services and technology transfer in science and engineering related with micro and nanotechnologies. For more details, contact Rita Macedo and Susana Freitas. 

NFFA offers free-of-charge access to advanced multidisciplinary infrastructures and tools on nanoscience and nano-to-micro technology, from theory, design, simulation, growth, fabrication and characterization. The overall objective is to strengthen European competitiveness in nanosciences and nanotechnologies by providing to its users a comprehensive and coordinated portfolio of facilities and services to carry out cutting edge research. 

The NFFA-Europe Pilot, supported by the H2020 framework programme of the European Commission, is now open for the 1st call for proposals. More information here

September 2021

Survey on leakage testing of microfluidic devices

The MFMET project in which INESC MN is partner, together with The Microfluidics Association is working on the development of leakage test protocols, later made available in the form of whitepapers dedicated to the needs of the microfluidics community.

More information about the project and how to participate in the Survey can be found here

August 2021

The INESC Brussels HUB presents the 1st edition of the H-Magazine

The INESC Brussels HUB along with the 5 INESC Institutes (INESC MN, INESCTec, INESC ID, INESC INOV and INESC-Coimbra) presents the 1st edition of the H-Magazine with input from researchers and staff of the INESCs.
Read the magazine online here.

August 2021

PhD Thesis Defense of Miguel Neto

"Design, Development, and Integration of a Flexible Array of Magnetoresistive Sensors for Tactile Sensing"
26th July 2021 @ 2pm
ZOOM link: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/84405398035

July 2021

Article of INESC MN was considered Journal Hot Paper in Micromachines

"Manipulation of Magnetic Beads with Thin Film Microelectromagnet Traps"
Vania Silverio, Miguel Amaral, João Gaspar, Susana Cardoso, Paulo P. Freitas
Doi: 10.3390/mi10090607

"Integration of point-of-care assays can be facilitated with the use of actuated magnetic beads (MB) to perform testing in less expensive settings to enable the delivery of cost-effective care.

In this paper we present six different designs of planar microelectromagnets traps (MEMT) with four external coils in series and one central coil connected for an opposite direction of manipulation of MB in microfluidic flows."

Check out the full paper at:
http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/9/607

June 2021

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series - Dr. Emilio Nogales - July 09, 2021 @ 16h00 Lisbon time 

Watch the seminar here

β-Ga2O3 nano- and microwires for widely tunable optical microcavities
Dr. Emilio Nogales, Associate Professor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
Moderator: Katharina Lorenz, INESC MN

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series - Dr. Filipe Cardoso - June 11, 2021 @ 16h00 Lisbon time 

Implantable biosensing devices: the future of biosensing?
Dr. Filipe Arroyo Cardoso
Research Scientist, Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, USA
Moderator: Verónica Romão, INESC MN

Abstract: In the past few decades, the miniaturization of biosensors allowed diagnostic systems to be brought out of traditional labs directly to patients’ bedsides. More recently, the increasing miniaturization of electronic systems (CMOS technology) has enabled those biosensors to operate inside the best lab in the world: the human body. This has opened multiple possibilities in rapid detection and monitoring of diseases as well as the study of living organisms. Very popular applications such as the real time monitoring of glucose for diabetes patients and the study of the human brain have been pursued in the last decade. However, most of the proposed implantable devices are still large leading to biocompatibility issues, complicated surgeries and short-term stability. But, how small can these devices be? Can we develop fully functional biosensing systems that can operate inside a living organism without affecting it? In this presentation, I will first discuss the miniaturization and biocompatibility challenges and how we are tackling them. I will then present our efforts toward wound infections monitoring and biosensing inside unicellular organisms. Finally, I will discuss the challenges ahead and future perspectives in implantable devices.

INESC MN is recruiting a Researcher with PhD

INESC MN is opening a call for applications for a Researcher position. More information here
Deadline: 30 June 2021.

World Metrology Day 2021 - Measurement for Health | Webinar, 20 May, 9h30-12h45

Our researcher Vania Silverio is an invited speaker at the WORLD METROLOGY DAY - 20 May 2021, organized by the Portuguese Institute of Quality (IPQ)

Watch the video here

May 20 is World Metrology Day, commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. This treaty provides the basis for a worldwide coherent measurement system that underpins scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing and international trade, as well as the improvement of the quality of life and the protection of the global environment.

The Measurement for Health was chosen to create awareness of the important role measurement plays in health, and thus in the wellbeing of every one of us. 

Indeed more widely metrology, the science of measurement, plays a central role in scientific discovery and innovation, industrial manufacturing and international trade, in improving the quality of life and in protecting the global environment.

World Metrology Day is an annual celebration of the signature of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875 by representatives of seventeen nations. The Convention set the framework for global collaboration in the science of measurement and in its industrial, commercial and societal applications. The original aim of the Metre Convention - the world-wide uniformity of measurement - remains as important today as it was in 1875.

The World Metrology Day project is realized jointly by the BIPM and the OIML. We hope that you enjoy this site and that your Country or Metrology Organization will join us and participate in this year's event.

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series: Dr. Bruno Mera - May 14, 2021 @ 16h00 Lisbon time

Watch the seminar here

Topologically Protected Quantization of Work
Dr. Bruno Mera, Post-doctoral fellow, Security and Quantum Information Group, Instituto de Telecomunicações and Invited Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Ulisboa
Moderator: Carlos Reis, INESC MN

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series: Students - Sofia Abrunhosa, Ph.D. student - April 23, 2021 @ 16h00

Watch the seminar here

Magnetic barcode readers: merging existent technologies into a new application
Sofia Abrunhosa, M.Sc., Ph.D. Student, INESC MN
Moderator: Susana Cardoso, INESC MN

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series - Dr. Naveen Verma - April 9, 2021 @ 16h00 Lisbon time

Watch the seminar here

AI Meets The Real World: machine perception through sensing technologies that preserve structure
Dr. Naveen Verma, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education, Princeton University
Moderator: Virginia Chu, INESC MN

INESC MN is hiring!

INESC MN announces the opening of recruitment of a M. Sc. in the area of Microfluidics.
For more information see the announcement here.

MA e-seminar - Dr. Vania Silverio - March 18, 2021 @ 11 a.m. CET

The European Magnetism Association (EMA) leads a series of online seminars to ensure the broad visibility of its members and their work, while maintaining a low carbon footprint. The series is a good opportunity to reflect on and otherwise encourage the geographical, thematic and gender diversity of the researchers working in the field of magnetism.
The e-seminar series are held via Zoom and are live-streamed on the twitch Chanel of EMA (twitch.tv/eumagneticassociation). Both abstract and seminars will have a video format and will be kept on the EMA website in the category «events».

 Next week Thursday the 18.03.2021 @ 11 am CET, Dr. Vania Silverio will discuss Advancing microfluidics with Magnetism and Magnetic Materials. The video abstract can be found here

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series - Dr. Tiago Costa - March 5, 2021 @ 16h00 GMT

Watch the seminar here

Ultrasonic microchips for modulating neuronal activity: a precise and minimally invasive tool for neuroscience and neurology
Dr. Tiago Costa, Assistant Professor, Department of Microelectronics, Delf University of Technology
Moderator: Verónica Romão, INESC MN 

2021 INESC MN Seminar Series - Dr. Hadi Heidari - February 12, 2021 @ 16h00

Watch the seminar here

Magnetic Sensors for Biomedical Microsystems
Dr. Hadi Heidari, Associate Professor, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow
Moderator: Diana C. Leitao, INESC MN

INESC MN 2021 Seminar Series, January 15 2021 @ 16h00 GMT

Watch the seminar here

Motion Sensing on the Moon
Dr. Savas Gider, Senior Hardware Engineer, Motion Sensing Group, Apple Inc.
Moderator: Mustafa Erkovan, INESC MN 

INESC MN opens Call for Applications for 3 PhD Grants  (15 December 2020 – 31 January 2021) 

INESC MN, within the R&D Research Units financing from FCT, is opening a call for 3 PhD research grants (bolsas de doutoramento) in the areas of Microsystems and Nanotechnologies.

Application Period: 15 December 2020 to 31 January 2021 (17h00 GMT). 

For more information, see the announcement on Eracareers

The PhD projects available can be found here

18HLT08 MeDD II is protecting patients in the COVID 19 sanitary crisis

The Project 18HLT08 MeDD II, in which our researcher Vania Silverio is involved, was selected by the European Commission as a core project in addressing the need for hospital and personal protective equipment. Because “protecting healthcare workers, patients and the general public is crucial to preserving lives and preventing the spread of disease, from personal protective equipment (PPE) to smart ways to isolate and transport patients”. 

See more here

Susana Cardoso leads 2nd session of ANI “Innovation Talks”  - 19 November at 12pm

ANI (Agência Nacional de Inovação - National Innovation Agency) promotes the 2nd session of 'Innovation Talks' in November.
This session will be led by INESC MN researcher Susana Cardoso, with the participation of INESC's President José Tribolet, and Dean of Aveiro University Paulo Jorge Ferreira.
The integration of qualified people in companies as well as the integration of innovative people at Universities, will be discussed.

 The event will be transmitted Live on ANI's social Media (Facebook), 19 November at 12 p.m.

Susana Cardoso Freitas elected member of General Council of EMA

Susana Cardoso Freitas was elected member of the General Council of the European Magnetism Association (EMA) for the 2021-2023 triennial. The General Council consists of representatives of the European countries active in magnetism research.

INESC MN coordinates new project SOLARIS

The project SOLARIS - Sistema Operacional de Colheita Portátil de Bioaerossóis was recently approved (Aviso 15/SI/2020 for R&D Projects related to COVID-19). SOLARIS will be coordinated by INESC MN (Susana Freitas, Vânia Silvério), in partnership with OPTIMAL SATELLITE and CINAMIL/ UMLDBQ.
The project duration is 6 months and has the objective to produce a portable and fast prototype for aerosol collection, which will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 tracing in a public, highly populated space.

INESC MN organizing JEMS 2020, 7-11 December 2020

The Joint European Magnetic Symposia JEMS2020 is an initiative from the EMA, and this year is being organized by INESC MN, jointly with IFIMUP, CICECO, and INL.
The conference will be held virtually from 7 to 11 December.
JEMS is the main and most comprehensive conference on magnetism in Europe, covering a broad range of topics addressing fundamental and applied magnetism, novel magnetic materials and key technical challenges.

INESC Brussels HUB announces a Webinar Series on Gender and Diversity – 8, 9, 11 September

More details with program here 

INESC celebrates its 40 year anniversary with “40 years of Science and Knowledge”

Events will be organized in Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon: 

• • Porto – “40 anos de Ciência e Conhecimento: capacitar as empresas para os novos desafios”  - 6 July at 14h30  at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. The session will be live streamed. To participate, register here

  • Coimbra – Details of event to be announced - October.

  • Lisboa - “40 anos de Ciência e Conhecimento: a capacidade de criação de novas empresas de base tecnológica” – 8 October at 17h in the Auditório II da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

See more details here

INESC MN winning project

The project “SARSChip - On-chip testing of SARS-CoV-2” led by INESC MN researcher Verónica Romão, was one of the winning projects of the 2nd Edition of the RESEARCH 4 COVID-19 competition, promoted by FCT. The project will develop a portable and universal diagnostic system that allows for the molecular detection of the virus and a serological analysis of the patients, both using the same device. The initiative counts with the collaborations of STABVIDA, INL, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás os Montes and Alto Douro, INESC-ID, CHTMAD (Clinical Pathology Service of Centro Hospitalar de Trás os Montes and Alto Douro) and CHUCB (Clinical Pathology Service of the Cova da Beira Hospital Center).

INESC MN and the EMPIR Project

EMPIR project 18HLT08 MeDD II – Metrology for Drug Delivery, in which INESC MN is partner, is on the news here and here.
The project strives to improve the accuracy of intravenous drug delivery and is contributing to hospitals’ response to COVID-19.
Read more about 18HLT08 MeDD II – Metrology for Drug Delivery here.

INESC MN Researchers in the fight against Covid-19

Our researcher Vania Silverio is involved in the improvement of dosing accuracy and traceable measurement of volume flow and pressure in existing drug delivery devices and in-line sensors at very low flow rates (18HLT08 MeDD II – Metrology for Drug Delivery).
The unprecedented conditions that Public Health Institutions are experiencing due to COVID-19 pandemic crisis has forced Hospital Administrations to take measures outside the usual work practices. To minimize dosing errors and consequently patient morbidity or mortality, the 18HLT08 MeDD II partners released the COVID-19 Crisis & Emergency Practices for Public Health Institutions (here), outlining potential dangers and recommending solutions to address them.
Read more about 18HLT08 MeDD II – Metrology for Drug Delivery here

IST launches "Explain it to me as if I were 5 years old"

ComunicaCiência group is launching an online biweekly talk called 'Explain it to me as if I were 5 years old' directed especially to children but also to curious minds. These talks will allow them to know more about Técnico's Research and give an opportunity to ask some questions to their Scientists.

• • 1st talk 'What if I want to build a robot?' will be on May 23 at 11h, live on IST Facebook page, with Isabel Ribeiro (Engineer and Teacher at IST);

  • 2nd talk 'Is zero an even or an odd number?' will be on June 6 at 11h, live on IST Facebook page, with Ana Moura Santos (from Centro de Análise Funcional, Estruturas Lineares e Aplicações Técnico CEAFEL)

"90 Segundos de Ciência" - Ep. 776

INESC MN researcher Susana Cardoso gives voice to episode #776 of Antena 1 radio show called '90 segundos de ciência' (90 seconds of Science).

She talks about how each electron has its own rotation direction, known as spin up or spin down, and how these characteristics of electrons can be filtered, in order to develop sensors able to detect small magnetic fields. 

Susana Cardoso's research group is studying how these sensors can be applied in common electronic devices from  Automotive industry to Biomedicine.

The interview is available in portuguese here

INESC MN researcher involved in a Project at Carnegie Mellon University

Our researcher Vania Silverio was at Carnegie Mellon University sponsored by a CMU Portugal Mobility Grant.
During the 3 months she spent at the Soft Machines Lab she engaged in researching material properties of Liquid Crystal Elastomers in collaboration with Professor Carmel Majidi
Read more about this program here
On the news here and here

INESC MN has been awarded with PRACE preparatory access project A 2010PA5012 - "Opto-Electronic Properties of Epitaxial Ge-Si-C Superlattices"

"The mission of PRACE (Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe) is to enable high-impact scientific discovery and engineering research and development across all disciplines to enhance European competitiveness for the benefit of society".

The scalability tests of our pseudopotential-plane wave code will run in the MareNostrum supercomputer at Barcelona.

AIM Doctoral Program Retreat,  8 - 9 November 2019

The FCT-funded Doctoral Program in Advanced Integrated Microsystems (AIM) held a retreat on 8 - 9 November at the Centro de Caparide. The dynamic event featured a session with 2 minute pitches from all AIM fellows; longer presentations by the first 3 fellows who will be defending their theses; presentations by members of the Advisory Board and invited speakers to talk about their research careers, a session on transversal skills in science communication and 3 breakout sessions to discuss Biosensors, Signal Acquisition and Bioprocessing. 

Image from INESC MN work receives Special Art Award by RAITH

A SEM image taken with a RAITH 150 system of a self-rolling MEMS structure developed by INESC MN PhD student Rui Pinto was selected for a Special Art Award by RAITH.

The image 'Self-rolling beam tubes' is featured on the RAITH webpage.

INESC MN presented 3 posters at the µTAS 2019 conference in Basel, Switzerland 27-31 October 2019

· “A microfluidic module for integrated lysis and genetic material detection of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria” – presented by Catarina Caneira , abstract here

· “Multiplexed detection of plant health biomarkers” – presented by Eduardo Brás, abstract here 

· “Microfluidic platform for targeted phage selection: in pursuit of personalized colorectal cancer treatments”, presented by Pedro Monteiro, abstract here

INESC MN participates in European Night of Researchers' (27 September 2019)

The European Researchers’ Night 2019 (NEI 2019) took place on 27th September at the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC-ULisboa) and Jardim do Príncipe Real.
INESC MN had a stand at the European Night of Researchers in Lisbon.
Colaborators of INESC MN presented demonstrations of work from INESC MN Research.

MAGNETOFON Summer School

INESC MN hosts 1st MAGNETOFON Summer School focused on ultrafast opto-magneto-electronics.
It will take place at Abreu Faro Auditorium of IST, from 23 to 27 September 2019.
Program available here

INESC MN hosts 1st MPFL Symposium 

INESC MN hosts the 1st MPFL Research Symposium to take place on 5-6 September.  On 5 September, a session of research talks will be open to the public. You can find the program of this session here

MPFL (Meeting Point Functional Layers) is a project financed by the DAAD with partners from INESC MN (Portugal), University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern (Germany), Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Germany) and University of Hasselt (Belgium).  

INESC MN at Carbon Based Photonics for (Aveiro, 9th July)

Oral presentations for OPELT project dissemination:

› Diana Leitão with “Overview of FCT Project OPELT - On-Chip Organic Crystal Photosensor with Enclosed Light Trapping";

› João Serra with “Design and Microfabrication of Rubrene Organic Single Crystals for Photosensors”;

› Sara Sequeira with “Non-Contact Printing: Next Generation Crystal Growth for Rubrene Photosensors".

INESC MN at Doctoral Congress in Engineering · 27 - 28 July, FEUP, Porto

João Serra awarded 1st Prize for Poster Presentation at Engineering Physics Symposium in 3rd Doctoral Congress in Engineering.

INESC MN was at Tranducers 2019 in Berlin with 2 posters:

“A PORTABLE MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM FOR THE DETECTION OF HEALTH BIOMARKERS IN GRAPES AT THE POINT OF NEED”, Eduardo J. S. Brás, Rui M.R. Pinto, Ana Margarida Fortes, Virginia Chu, Pedro Fernandes and João Pedro Conde

- Presented by Eduardo Brás.

“THIN-FILM SILICON RESONATORS ON ULTRA-FLEXIBLE 10 MICROMETER-THICK POLYIMIDE SUBSTRATES”, Tiago G. Pestana, Rui M. R. Pinto, Rosana A. Dias, Marco Martins, Virginia Chu, João Gaspar, and João P. Conde.

- Presented by Rui Pinto.

INESC MN now member of the European Technology Platform in Nanomedicine (ETPN)

The ETP Nanomedicine platform is an independent association, addressing applications of Nanotechnology in Healthcare. With more than 125 members from 25 different member states, it covers all relevant stakeholders operating in Nanomedicine, ranging from Academia, SME’s, Industry, to public agencies and representatives from both National Bodies and European Commission.  Strategic research priorities are centered on the topic areas of Regenerative Medicine, Biomaterials, Nanotherapeutics, Medical Devices, Nanodiagnostics and Imaging.

Click here for more information

INESC MN was present at Condensed Matter Physics National Conference – Porto

Invited Talk
› Advances in spintronic sensor materials and architectures,  S.Cardoso

 Oral Contributions
› Practical band interpolation with a generalised Luttinger-Kohn method, Carlos L. Reis and José Luís Martins
› Optimization of electron beam lithography parameters for dense arrays of circular and hexagonally shaped antidots in magnetic thin films, Pedro D. R. Araújo, A. V. Silva, S. Cardoso and D. C. Leitao
› Design of a Microfabrication Protocol Adapting Reactive Ion Etching for Organic Single Crystalbased Photosensors, J. M. Serra, S. I. Sequeira, I.Domingos, A. P. Oliveira, E. Maçôas, S. Cardoso, H. Alves, D. C. Leitão
› Effects of oxygen ion implantation on the structural and electrical properties of ɑ-MoO3 lamellar crystals, D. R. Pereira, C. Díaz-Guerra, M. Peres, S. Magalhães, J. G. Correia, J. G. Marques, A. G. Silva, E. Alves, K. Lorenz, S. Cardoso, P. P. Freitas
› Ion beam induced current analysis in GaN microwires, D. Verheij, M. Peres, S. Cardoso, L.C. Alves, E. Alves, C.Durand, J. Eymery, J. Fernandes, and K. Lorenz

Poster Contributions
› Study of Spin-valve sensors grown in Polymeric Substrates, M. V. Ferreira, J. Mouro, M. Silva, V. Silverio, S. Cardoso and D. C. Leitao.
› Study of sub-volume activation in CoFeB/MgO memory devices near spin reorientation transition, J. Fidalgo, H. LV, A. V. Silva, D. C. Leitao, T. Kaempfe, J. Langer, J. Wrona, B. Ocker, S. Cardoso

INESC MN is hiring!

INESC MN announces the opening of recruitment of a M. Sc. in the area of Microfluidics.
For more information see the announcement here
Application deadline: 14 June 2019

INESC MN students awarded 1st Prize at IEEE International Contest of Sensors and Measurement Systems 

A team of four INESC MN students (Pedro Ribeiro, Miguel Neto, Ana Rita Soares and Rafael Santos) have won the 2019 edition of the IEEE International Contest of Sensors and Measurement Systems.

This contest is jointly promoted and organized by IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (IMS) and IEEE Sensors Council (SC) and is sponsored by STMicroelectronics. STMicroelectronics provided each team with a SensorTile® kit and awarded the team with the best project a 2000$ cash prize. 

In this competition, master and PhD student teams from Universities and Institutions around the world were expected to propose a project and build a prototype where the SensorTile functionalities and small form factor are used to their fullest potential.

The contest demonstration session took place during the 2019 IEEE Sensors and Applications Symposium, in the University of Côte D’Azur, Nice, France, during which the INESC MN team presented their developed project, Spine Cop, a wearable and compact posture measurement and correction system, monitoring in real-time the back angle and curvature and providing the user with information of the quality of their posture during the day. Alongside their INESC MN team project, 3 other teams (ETH Zurich in Switzerland, Rowan University in Texas, USA and Kitakyushu University in Japan) were selected to demonstrate their projects for this contest.

Sensitec MR-Symposium 19 - 20 March, Wetzlar, Germany

INESC MN was present at the 15th XMR-Symposium "Magnetoresistive Sensors and Magnetic Systems" which took place at the 'Stadthalle' in Wetzlar, Germany.

It was a rewarding opportunity to be a part of this international platform that allows the presentation of the latest technological developments and innovative applications in the field of magnetoresistive technology and magnetic systems.

Women in Science 

Susana Freitas selected for the book "Women in Science", edited by the Ciência Viva to celebrate the impact of female presence on the scientific community in Portugal. In the book, the researchers were asked to describe the motivation for pursuing a career in science.
For more details please click here

AIM Doctoral Program – Call for applications

The FCT funded Doctoral Program AIM (Advanced Integrated Microsystems) is opening a call for applications for 7 doctoral grants.

The application period is 1 February to 31 March 2019. More details can be found here 

Diana C Leitao joins IOP’s Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics Editorial board

The INESC MN researcher has joined the J Phys D Editorial Board in the Applied Magnetism Section.

INESC MN at the Joint MMM - Intermag 2019 in Washington, DC - Jan. 14-18, 2019

Symposium presentation (Invited)
Magnetic biochip platforms: manipulating and detecting magnetic labelled bioanalytes in lab on chip devices.

› Paulo Freitas, Veronica Romao, Sofia Martins, Elisabete Fernandes, Carla Carvalho, Susana Cardoso de Freitas, Vania Silverio, Tomas Sobrino, Jose Castillo, Alexandre Chicharo, Lorena Dieguez, Begona Espina.

Oral Presentation
› Reconfigurable Wheatstone Bridge spintronic sensors with Offset Voltage Compensation at Wafer Level, Fernando Franco, Susana Cardoso de Freitas, Paulo Freitas.
› Optimization of the gap size of flux-concentrators: pushing further on low noise levels and high sensitivities in spin-valve sensors, Marilia Silva, Joao Silva, Diana Leitao, Susana Cardoso de Freitas, Paulo Freitas.

Poster Presentation
› The Seebeck Effect and Joule Heating in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB-based Perpendicular Magnetic Tunnel Junctions with Low Resistance Area Product, Hua Lv, Joao Silva, Diana Leitao, Ana Silva, Paulo Freitas, Susana Cardoso de Freitas, Thomas Kämpfe, Stefan Riedel, Berthold Ocker, Juergen Langer, Jerzy Wrona.

5th Workshop on Microfluidics Standards, 26-27 March 2019 hosted by INESC MN

The workshop is the fifth in a row of prolific debates and gathering of ideas and expertise and anticipates a step further into the discussion of future developments towards the standardization in the microfluidics areas of Flow Control, Metrology and Testing, Interfacing and Connectivity and Modularity and Sensor Integration. This workshop will reinforce the great and exciting opportunity for stakeholders from all over the world to join in, meet their working groups face to face and make the difference. For more information see here or contact Vania Silverio 

INESC MN recruiting Research Associate to work in H2020 project iGRAPE

INESC MN is currently accepting applications for a Research Associate position in a Horizon 2020 funded project “Integrated, Low-Cost and Stand-Alone Micro-Optical System for Grape Maturation and Vine Hydric Stress Monitoring” (iGRAPE). Application deadline: 15 February 2019. For more information, click here

Magnetic Frontiers 2019

INESC-MN would like to announce Magnetic Frontiers 2019: Magnetic Sensors Conference.
This is the 2nd event in the sequence of small topical conferences under a general title Magnetic Frontiers, which are technically sponsored by the IEEE Magnetics Society and IEEE Magnetics Letters.
Magnetic Sensors Conference will take place at IST - Lisbon, from 24 to 27 June 2019.
More info here

INESC MN meets high school!

On the 23rd of November, PhD student Eduardo Brás gave a lecture at his former high school, where he talked about the work done at INESC-MN and his own journey, as an effort to motivate students to pursuit scientific careers.
This lecture was part of the “Semana das Ciências” organized by the Agrupamento de Escolas de Gouveia.

Recruitment open for a Researcher with PhD in the STARCHIP project

INESC MN is recruiting for a position of Researcher with PhD within an FCT funded project STARCHIP.
Deadline: 19 November 2018
More information here

INESC MN at 11th Micro & Nano Event and MICRONORA Trade Fair · 25 to 28 September · Besançon, France

INESC MN was present at the 11th Micro & Nano Event promoted by the CCI Bourgogne Franche-Comté, the Enterprise Europe Network and the European Commission. This event has been organised since 1998 to bring forth research laboratories, technical centers, start-ups, SMEs and bigger companies towards transnational cooperation, collaborative projects and business. The event occurred during the International Microtechnology Trade Fair MICRONORA. More details about the 11th Micro & Nano Event here and Micronora here

Recruitment open for a Researcher with PhD in the MeDICI project

INESC MN is recruiting for a position of Researcher with PhD within an FCT funded project MeDICI. Deadline: 16 October 2018
More information in Portuguese here or in English here

INESC MN at COMS2018 · 24 to 26 September · Montreaux, Switzerland

Keynote lecture entitled: "Spintronic Sensors: A successful path from magnetic storage to biochips" at the COMS 2018 – Commercialisation of Emerging Technologies Conference.
The 23rd edition of COMS occured at the Swiss city of Montreux, from September 24-26, 2018.
More details about the conference here 

European Reseachers' Night · 28 September, Lisbon 

Once more, INESC MN will be present at European Researchers' Night themed 'Science in the city', that will take place in Museu Nacional de História Natural in Lisbon.

INESC MN at ESBES 2018 

Inês Pinto, Ruben Soares and Ricardo Fradique presented their research at ESBES 2018, which took place in Lisbon 9-12 September. Inês Pinto was one of the winners of the ESBES Award.

INESC MN is hiring

INESC MN announces the opening of recruitment of a PhD under the Decree-Law Nº 57/2016 in the area of Computational Physics.
For more information, see the announcement in English  or in Portuguese
Application deadline:  25 July 2018

AIM Workshop – 28 June 2018 at Faculdade de Farmácia

The Doctoral Program AIM is organizing a Workshop on 28 June at the Faculdade de Farmácia. For Workshop program click here 

INESC MN at Futurália · March 17 - FIL, Lisbon

In line with the Mission of contributing to a better Education, on the 17th of March INESC-MN was present at Futurália, one of the most important national job fairs. Futurália  intends to provide young students the opportunity to contact with the academic and industrial world and day-to-day activities, to discuss new challenges and opportunities and in this way, provide guidance for their future choices.

 3rd Workshop on Microfluidic Standards, 6-7 March @ Minatec, Grenoble

INESC MN was present at the 3rd Workshop on Microfluidic Standards held at Minatec, Grenoble, France from 6 to 7 of March 2018. The event, organized by Nicolas Verplanck (CEA-LETI) and Henne van Heeren (enablingMNT) on behalf of the embryonic Microfluidics Association, intended to gather volunteers to work towards formalization of standardisation protocols, processes and guidelines to serve the whole microfluidics community.
The multidisciplinary group of worldwide players – academics, end users, companies, industrial suppliers, … – focused the discussion on the standardization in the microfluidics areas of Flow control, Testing methods, Microfluidic interfaces and Modularity and their future developments.

INESC MN at MEMS 2018 

INESC MN was present at the MEMS 2018 Conference that took place 21-25 January 2018 in Belfast. Ruben Soares had an oral presentation and Inês Pinto had a poster presentation. The MEMS Conferences is the largest International Conference in the MEMS field. 

WARP · Health & Biotech Accelerators Conference and Technology Exhibition

INESC-MN was present at WARP-Oporto on the 11th of December, showcasing its technology and services portfolio. The event merged accelerators, investors, research groups and technology providers from the biomedical and health related fields, with the aim of exploring synergies and fostering innovation actions.

AIM Doctoral Program

The 2018 Call for the AIM Doctoral Program will open between 1 February 2018 and 31 March 2018. 
Click here for Call Flyer.
More information about the AIM Doctoral Program

Microbiotec'17 · Congress of Microbiology and Biotechnology 2017

INESC MN was present at Microbiotec 17 represented by the students Ricardo Fradique and Eduardo Brás.

Poster Presentations

• Ricardo Fradique et al  "Continuous Cell Concentration and Lysis using Inertial Microfluidics"
• Eduardo Bras "Affinity driven aqueous-two phase extraction of antibodies: a microfluidic approach" - AWARDED BEST POSTER

INESC-MN at MMM 2017 · Pittsburgh · 6-10 November

Oral Presentations

• Reading magnetic ink patterns with magnetoresistive sensors. Karla J. Merazzo, Tiago Costa, Fernando Franco, Marko Zander, Michael Turr, Torsten Becker and Susana C.Freitas
• Innovative compact design for ultra low field detection based on magnetoresistive sensors. Marília Silva, Diana C. Leitao, Susana C. Freitas, Paulo P. Freitas
• Fine-tuning the manipulation of micro-to-nano biomedical flows by thin film microelectromagnet traps. Vania Silverio, Miguel Amaral, Joao Gaspar, Susana Cardoso, Paulo P Freitas

Poster Presentation

• Barrier breakdown mechanism in nano scale perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions with ultra thin MgO barrier. Hua Lv, Diana C. Leitao, Z.Hou, Paulo P. Freitas, Susana C. Freitas, T. Kampfe, J. Muller, J. Langer and J. Wrona

Awards and Appointments

Marília Silva received a 2017 MMM Student Travel Grant;
Karla Merazzo  is a co-chair of the Next Generation Magneticians Advisory Board.

Welcome to new PhD students 

INESC MN welcomes all the new PhD students: Catarina Caneira, Pedro Fonseca, Pedro Ribeiro, Patrícia Zoio, Tatiana Arriaga and Sara Sequeira.

INESC-MN researcher published in Advanced Materials

INESC MN researcher and collaborators co-author a paper on Advanced Materials Journal entitled 'Highly Efficient Rubrene–Graphene Charge-Transfer Interfaces as Phototransistors in the Visible Regime'.

Access full text here

Prof. Paulo Freitas at Lisbon Science Academy

Professor Paulo Freitas was elected as one of the effective associates of the Physics Science Class at the Lisbon Science Academy. Each section includes typically 4 to 5 members.  Teacher of Department of Physics of Instituto Superior Técnico maintains a reputed scientific activity at INESC-MN and since 2012 at INL (where he is the deputy director) and was one of the national correspondents of the Physics section of the Academy since 2009. His career has been recognized nationally and internationally, always in line with the values of the Academy of Sciences in the development of science and promotion of scientific excellence.

INESC-MN students are European finalists

The Project "Stay on Target | Automated 5D Positioning System for Biomedical Applications" submitted by Fernando Franco, Marília Silva, Miguel Neto and Pedro Ribeiro was highlighted as one of the 6 european finalists under the scope of the IEEE International “Sensors and Measurement” Student Contest sponsored by STMicroelectronics, being the project presented at IEEE Sensors 2017 conference, Glasgow, UK.
The competition consisted in the development of an innovative prototype integrating a SensorTile module from STMicroelectronics as common platform for Bluetooth communication and as sensing/feedback system.

Physics Tech-Day · 16 November, IST

INESC MN was present at Physics Technology Day – IST , showcasing the work in research and development.
See more at Tecnico

Article on ACS Nano

Magnomics and INESC MN researchers published a paper on ACS Nano Perspectives (IF= 13.9), entitled "Lab-on-Chip Devices: Gaining Ground Losing Size".
Access the full text here

AIMs Fellowship activity

Doctoral candidates under the AIM Doctoral program received dedicated microfabrication training at INESC-MN Facilities.  The newcomers attended different workshops focusing on fabrication and sensing technologies.  During the projects, the students were encouraged to execute several practical tasks and present their final results. 

Ruben Soares awarded 1st Prize

 Congratulations to Ruben Soares, a PhD student at INESC MN,  who has received the First Prize in the Life Science Award of Merck  in the category of Food and Beverage Safety. Ruben received his award in Burlington, MA, USA on 18 October.
Announcements of this award was tweeted by Merck: https://twitter.com/Merck_lifesci/status/920749963059126272  

Thales Project Arduino

INESC MN students Rafael Girão and Nuno Milhomens won a place at the Thales Project Arduino workshop.  Congratulations!

MEFT meeting 1st edition · 23 September - IST 

INESC MN was present on the 1st MEFT meeting  'A Alargar os Limites da Ciência e Tecnologia'.  

Neuron,  13 September 2017 

INESC MN researchers co-author a paper in the journal Neuron, entitled “In Vivo Magnetic Recording of Neuronal Activity
Access the full text here

Academic activities reinforcement

INESC MN reinforces the academic activities at Técnico with new lectures starting this semester.

This year of 2017/18 researchers from INESC MN are the responsible professors in:

• • Nanotechnologies Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronics

  • Physics and Technology of Magnetic Materials (NEW)

  • Microfluidics (NEW)

  • Micro and Nanofabrication Techniques

  • Spintronics

INESC MN also supports

• • Condensed Matter Physics Laboratories 

  • Advanced Experimental Physics Laboratories

  • Characterization Methods in Solid State Physics (NEW)

People involved: Susana Cardoso, Diana Leitão, João Pedro Conde, Vânia Silvério and Ana Silva.

INESC MN recruiting 3 Research Associates

Within the Micro&NanoFabs@PT Project funded by the Program “Roteiro Nacional de Investigação de Interesse Estratégico”, INESC MN is seeking to recruit 3 contracted Research Associates with PhDs.
Applications are now open - Deadline: 16 November 2017.
More information can be found here

AIM Doctoral Program Workshop

The 4th AIM Doctoral Program Workshop will take place on 6-7 July 2017 in the Auditorium of the Complexo Interdisciplinar on the Instituto Superior Técnico Alameda campus. The theme of the presentations on 6 July is Industrial applications, industrial research and research with industry. On 7 July, there will be a class on Data Analysis. Sessions on both days are open to the public. The program can be found here

INESC MN work led by Dr. Susana Cardoso features in JPhys+ blog

Recently published INESC MN work entitled 'Challenges and trends in magnetic sensor integration with microfluidics for biomedical applications' (Cardoso et al 2017 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 50 213001) is featured in J Phys+ blog. The complete news can be found here

INESC MN at IST Day 2017

INESC MN was present at the 2017 IST day in the Keep in touch session.
More details here