Project researcher - Post-Doc researcher at U. Porto

• Currently Pedro is working as a full-time researcher on the project JOIN3D at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, having concluded his PhD dissertation on the mechanical characterisation of sustainable composite material systems for the transportation industries. Previously worked in the SUSTICS project, regarding sustainable alternative materials for crash-structures, and the TREAL project as a full time researcher, performing material characterisation of CF-thermoplastic for the generation of virtual design allowables for aeronautic design.

• Awarded an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the same university on the study of the ratios of PC-ABS blends in compression at high strain-rates. 

• Previously taught for 3 years at the Poltitechnic of Porto (ISEP) on final year dissertation and Technical Drawing courses.

• Acted as an external advisor for the FEUP Formula Student team for material selection and FE analysis and is since 2023 IAD (Impact-attenuator documentation) reviewer for Formula Student Portugal.

• Has been working as a researcher since 2016 for the University of Porto on the FE analysis of the impact of gas canisters for Amtrol-Alfa, currently Worthington Industries. During this period, also worked part-time first in welding processes assessory and safety standards at Quantal Group, and later SMED implementation on the punching presses lines and factory floor optimisation in the same company. 

• Since 2021, has collaborated in projects including manufacturing and testing of composite materials at INEGI, as well as having supervised and co-supervised several BSc and MSc theses, respectively, related to the same topics.

Project PI - Assistant Professor at U. Porto

• As an early-stage Assistant Professor, Carolina Furtado has dedicated the past 2 years to establishing an independent research group. Her team is composed of 3 early-stage PhD, 5 master and 5 undergrad students, integrated in a larger context through the PIs active participation in the LAETA, the Largest R&D Unit and Associated Laboratory in Portugal serving the fields of Energy, Transports and Aerospace. Through regular 1-1 and group meetings, R&D Unit level seminars and exposure to industrial projects, she cultivates a collaborative environment, promotes student synergies, fosters critical thinking and nurtures students' growth in coding, scientific writing and oral communication.

• She is one of the founders and team member of the “Advanced Analysis Models For Polymer Composite Materials” Industrial Affiliate program, where 5 companies (Solvay, Nashero, Embraer, Airbus and Leonardo) and 1 research institute (INEGI), actively contribute to aligning their knowhow and priorities, maximizing the potential for disruptive research impact. In this context, she has been the task leader of 4 and participated in 6 industrially funded activities, coordinating teams of 3-4 people in a framework of ~7 international researchers.

• She has been a team member in 6 public-funded projects (5 in the USA and 1 in Portugal). Currently, she is involved in a 4-year European Project (DIDEAROT), collaborating with 6 international industrial and academic partners.

• She has also led 2 successful synchrotron experiments (ESRF in France and Spring-8 in Japan), where after 6+ months of preparation, a team of 6 international researchers executed the experiments in a tight nonstop 48-hour timeframe. The success of the missions showcases her project management skills, ability to foster collaborative environments and effective stress/fatigue management.

• As a university professor and a mentor of two technical student clubs at FEUP, she aims to foster student development and their seamless integration into the industrial environment.

Project co-PI - Postdoc fellow at INEGI

• Currently a research fellow at INEGI, working within the European Clean Aviation project Concerto that focuses on the construction of novel certification methods and means of compliance for disruptive technologies. 

• Denis joined the Universidade do Porto in 2021 as a H2020 Research Fellow, working on the H2020 TEMPEST project (Towards Carbon-Neutral Composite Crashworthiness), collaborating with McLaren Racing, Bcomp, Instron and the FIA, focusing on improving the experimental characterisation and numerical modelling techniques of composite crushing, as well as the introduction of natural fibre composites in crash structures. 

• Denis previously obtained a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Queen's University Belfast in 2020, in the area of composite crashworthiness, having graduated with an MSc in Motorsport Engineering from Cranfield University in 2016. 

• Apart from his main research area of composite crashworthiness, he has also been involved in other projects covering numerous topics such as fracture toughness testing development, thermoplastic composite welding, fatigue modelling of metallic structures, and offshore energy transmission and storage systems.