25 years of Science and Innovation
PhD Student awarded EES Solar best oral presentation
Posted on June 23rd, 2026
Andrés Soto, PhD student from the Processes, Product and Energy research group at LEPABE, participated in the international workshop ESEMA 2026 – Emerging Solar Energy Materials and Applications, held from June 1 to 5, 2026, in Porquerolles, France.
During the event, Andrés Soto delivered an oral presentation entitled “Advanced Interconnection Engineering in Flexible Inverted Perovskite Solar Modules.” In recognition of the scientific quality and impact of his work, he was awarded the EES Solar Award, a distinction that highlights the excellence of his contribution to advancing research in solar energy.
Congratulations!
Know more about this here.
LEPABE Researchers Win iUP25k 2026 with Innovative Solution to Decarbonize Industry
Posted on June 19th, 2026
João Pedro Freitas, a researcher, and Vicente Silva, a PhD student, both members of the Processes, Products and Energy research group at LEPABE, won first place in the 12th edition of iUP25k 2026 with their project Latent Energy Systems.
The winning proposal focuses on the decarbonization of industrial heat through an innovative thermal battery capable of storing renewable electricity, generated either on-site or supplied by the grid, and delivering heat to industrial facilities whenever needed. According to the researchers, the technology offers a sustainable alternative to conventional natural gas-fired boilers, enabling the storage and supply of heat with no direct emissions and at a competitive cost. The solution addresses one of the key challenges of the industrial energy transition by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering the sector’s carbon footprint.
The team was supervised by Professor Adélio Mendes and Dr. Tânia Lopes. For the project leaders, participation in the competition represented an important step toward commercialization, allowing them to move beyond the academic environment and develop a market-oriented perspective. The award is seen as a significant recognition of the team’s work, providing additional motivation and enhancing the project’s credibility as it seeks to attract strategic partners and advance toward real-world implementation.
Congratulations!
Know more here.
PhD Student Receives Honorable Mention at U.Porto 3MT® 2026 Competition
Posted on June 11th, 2026
Leonardo Rodrigues, a PhD student at LEPABE/ALiCE within the Processes, Products and Energy research group, has been awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2026 U.Porto 3MT® (Three Minute Thesis) competition, an initiative that challenges doctoral students to communicate the significance and impact of their research in just three minutes.
The distinction was granted by the competition jury following his presentation entitled “Optimization of Renewable-Based Systems for Households”. The research focuses on the simulation and optimization of renewable energy systems for buildings, with particular emphasis on photovoltaic technologies and energy storage solutions. By improving the integration and performance of these technologies, the work contributes to a more efficient and sustainable use of energy resources.
Organized by the University of Porto, the 3MT® competition aims to bring scientific research closer to society by encouraging doctoral students to communicate complex topics in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner.
Congratulations!
More information can be found here.
PhD Thesis by Miguel Leitão on biofilm infections treatment
June 9th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Miguel Leitão for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Development of innovative multi-target directed agents for biofilm infections treatment”, supervised by Anabela Borges, defended on June 9th, 2026 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Tiago Taborda on optimization and modeling of photobioreactors
May 29th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Tiago Taborda for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Refining, Petrochemical and Chemical Engineering, entitled “Static Optimization and Dynamic Modeling of Closed Photobioreactors”, co-supervised by José Carlos Pires, defended on May 29th, 2026 IST-UL.
PhD Thesis by Eva Salgado on microalgae-based removal of pollutans
May 29th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Eva Salgado for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Environmental Engineering, entitled “Microalgae-based removal of volatile methylsiloxanes and conventional pollutants from liquid and gaseous streams”, supervised by José Carlos Pires, defended on May 29th, 2026 FEUP.
Bárbara Nunes receives the Paul Ehrlich MedChem Euro-PhD Network Award of Excellence
Posted on May 28th, 2026
Researcher Bárbara Nunes, from the Biotechnology group of LEPABE, has been awarded the Award of Excellence by the Paul Ehrlich MedChem Euro-PhD Network, the highest distinction granted by this European network in Medicinal Chemistry to PhD graduates who demonstrate outstanding achievements in research and advanced training in drug discovery and development. The award was presented during the XV Paul Ehrlich Euro-PhD Network Meeting, held from 20 to 22 May 2026 in Santa Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy.
The distinction recognizes Bárbara’s doctoral research focused on the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents to address antibiotic resistance, one of the most pressing global public health challenges. Her work involved the design and development of new bioactive molecules, their biological evaluation, and the investigation of their mechanisms of action, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field and the search for innovative therapeutic solutions.
Congratulations!
PhD Thesis by Pedro Cerqueira on production of hydrogen from agro-industrial wastewater
April 17th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Pedro Cerqueira for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Autothermal sorption-enhanced reforming for the production of hydrogen from agro-industrial wastewater”, supervised by Miguel A. Soria, defended on April 17th, 2026 FEUP.
LEPABE Researcher Selected in IACOBUS Program - Scientific Papers 2025/2026
Posted on April 30th, 2026
Ana Cristina Afonso, a researcher from the Biotechnology group of LEPABE, has been selected as a beneficiary of the IACOBUS Program - Scientific Papers 2025/2026, highlighting her contribution to high-impact scientific research.
The recognition follows her involvement in the scientific article titled “Physicochemical, Structural, and Proteomic Insights into Drinking Water-Isolated Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Aggregation and Biofilm Dynamics”, developed in collaboration with CRETUS at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.
This distinction underscores the value of international collaboration in fostering high-quality scientific publications and advancing the dissemination of knowledge through impactful research.
Congratulations!
PhD Thesis by Hiten Chojer on indoor air quality monitoring in schools
April 14th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Hiten Chojer for his PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Environmental Engineering, entitled “Development of a low-cost sensors device for indoor air quality monitoring in schools”, supervised by Sofia Sousa, defended on April 14th, 2026 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Joana Martins on hybrid reactors for CO2 capture and valorization
April 7th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Joana Martins for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Design of hybrid reactors for CO2 capture and valorization through methanation - application to biogas and flue gas”, supervised by Luís Miguel Madeira, defended on April 7th, 2026 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Joana Príncipe on Perovskite Solar Cells
March 18th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Joana Príncipe for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Study and Optimization of Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells for Energy-Enabled Street Furniture” supervised by Prof. Luísa Andrade, defended on March 18th, 2026 FEUP.
Manuel Simões receives U. Porto 2026 Scientific Research Excellence Award
Posted on March 20th, 2026
Prof. Manuel Simões, a senior researcher in the biotechnology group at LEPABE, has been recognized as one of the winners of the U. Porto Scientific Research Excellence Award 2026 in the area of Exact Sciences, Engineering and Technologies.
This distinction honours researchers who are both nationally and internationally recognized in their fields and who, over the past five years, have demonstrated outstanding achievements in scientific output and success in securing research funding at the University of Porto.
Between 2020 and 2024, Manuel Simões was consecutively included in the Highly Cited Researchers list, an initiative by Clarivate Analytics that annually identifies the world’s most influential scientists. His research focuses on biofilms, the development of antimicrobial strategies to control microbial growth, and bioprocess engineering.
Congratulations on this achievement!
More information can be found here.
PhD Thesis by Joana Bôto on antimicrobial agents
March 3rd, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Joana Bôto for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Food Consumption and Nutrition Sciences, entitled “Assessing the sustainability of dietary patterns in Portugal: A multidimensional approach based on environmental, nutritional, and economic dimensions” co-supervised by Prof. Belmira Neto, defended on March 3rd, 2026 FCNAUP.
PhD Thesis by Bárbara Nunes on antimicrobial agents
January 26th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Bárbara Nunes for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts as antimicrobial agents: synthesis, biological evaluation, and mechanistic insights” supervised by Prof. Manuel Simões, defended on January 26th, 2026 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Francisca Cunha on protecting healthcare professionals from drugs' hazards
January 12th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Maria Francisca Cunha for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “The overlooked side of cancer therapy - tools to protect healthcare professionals from antineoplastic drugs' hazards”, supervised by Mónica Santos, defended on January 12th, 2026 FEUP.
PhD Thesis by Ana Rita Pereira on drinking water bacterial biofilms
January 9th, 2026
LEPABE would like to congratulate Dr. Ana Rita Pereira for her PhD thesis of the Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Engineering, entitled “Understanding the impact of parabens on drinking water bacterial biofilms”, supervised by Manuel Simões, defended on January 9th, 2026 FEUP.
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