The following interview was featured in Issue #1 of the INESC INOV-Lab Newsletter, published on 30 September 2025. You can read this and other articles in full by downloading it from the Newsletter section of our website. We hope you enjoy your reading!
How would you summarise your professional and academic journey?
I am a Coordinator Professor with Habilitation at ISEP/P.PORTO (since 1994) teaching Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence courses. Significant experience in master and PhD thesis supervision. Director of R&D Interdisciplinary Studies Research Center (ISRC) since 2019. I have been involved in more than 28 R&D projects from which I was PI of 4 R&D projects, mainly on the AI based development of intelligent systems and Data-driven Healthcare. I have published 8 books and over 150 papers in international scientific conference proceedings, journals and books. Have an active participation and different positions held at the IEEE organizational structure (OU’s), both at the national level, as chair and vice-chair of the Portuguese section of the IEEE, at the regional level, as secretary and member of some subcommittees of region 8, and at the international level, integrating several positions on MGA Committee. Member of the External Evaluation Committee of A3ES, for the scientific area of Informatics of Polytechnic Higher Education in Portugal, since 2012.
What is currently your main research area, and what motivates you in this field?
My main research areas are currently Data Science, Data Engineering and Data-Driven AI Decision-Making. My main motivation is related to the need to contribute to the different challenges and opportunities associated with current digital economy, where organizations fight to harness data’s full potential while facing data quality issues, integration of diverse data sources, lack of skilled professionals, privacy/security concerns and organizational resistance to change. In summary, contribute to a culture of data literacy to fully capitalize on the potential of data-driven decision-making.
Which project would you like to highlight among those you are or have been involved in?
It is not easy to highlight one, but maybe the first approved by FCT – the MasDScheGATS – after PhD conclusion for the motivation and engagement that brought at my younger research stage and the e-Hospital4Future for its impact goal is to boost international cooperation in health, strengthen national health systems through the development of digital tools and services, and improve the skills of clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals at European level.
What skills or attitudes do you consider essential for those who want to carry out excellent research?
Dedication, persistence, curiosity and creativity, but also the voluntarism to contribute to the global community wellbeing.
What does a “typical” day look like for you – if such a thing exists?
A typical work day for me includes: emails processing; support students in the topics of the different UC’s and in the development of master’s and PhD thesis; classes preparation; supervision of ongoing R&D project tasks; meetings.
What hobbies, habits, or interests outside research do you have and never give up on?
Cooking is not an obligation for me, on a daily basis, but also a way to create, innovate and give love to my family. In my free time, when I have it, I really enjoy gardening and walking on the beach. I pay some attention to my physical and mental well-being, with physical exercise and water aerobics.