Profiles

Érica Castanheira, a PhD candidate in MIT-Portugal's Sustainable Energy Systems program, recently earned an FCT grant to study the assessment of biofuels. She will present some of her results at the 25th Mini EURO Conference at the University of Coimbra (April 15-17, 2010) as co-author of a paper titled "GHG Emissions Assessment of Palm Oil: Uncertainty and Scenario Analysis for Increased Production." This interview, conducted by the university's Energy for Sustainability (EfS) initiative, first appeared on the group's website.

EfS: What motivated you to apply for the PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems of the MIT-Portugal Program?

Érica Castanheira

EC: I have learned about the PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems (SES) in 2008 through Professor Fausto Freire, after applying for a research position in the FCT Project “Biofuel systems for transportation in Portugal: An "well-to-wheels" integrated multi-objective assessment” at ADAI- LAETA, University of Coimbra. During the interview we have also discussed that it could be an excellent opportunity for my future career to apply for the SES doctoral program. At that time, I was finishing my master’s on Energy and Environmental Management at the University of Aveiro. My MSc thesis was about environmental life cycle assessment of agricultural products. A PhD on Sustainable Energy Systems permits to extend my previous research experience towards an emergent field integrating engineering, energy, economics and environmental systems analysis. Furthermore, the Energy for Sustainability (EfS) initiative at the University Coimbra brings together faculty from various teaching and research institutions, and offers an interesting and diversified number of courses.

A Springboard for Catalyzing the Innovation Ecosystem in Portugal

Frederico Ferreira (IST), Ana Teixeira (ITQB), and Luísa Ferreira Lopes (FCT-UNL) on the MIT campus.

We recently spoke with Jean Pol Piquard about his business, teaching and consulting careers—how they led him to become EDAM Industry Professor at FEUP (Porto), and why developing “projects that fit the agenda of potential industry affiliates” is key to the EDAM mission.

EDAM Industry Professor Jean Pol Picard

MPP: What is your background?
I am Belgian, and received my degrees in civil engineering and management in Belgium. For many years my career was in management, sales, marketing and global projects for European industrial companies. I have been based in Portugal since 1988, where I first assumed management roles in Portuguese companies. Since 1995 I have taught and have consulted on issues involving the internationalization of companies and clusters, as well as on international marketing.

MPP: How did you connect with the MIT Portugal Program?
In 2008 Prof. António Torres Marques [Coordinator of the EDAM program at Porto] contacted me to discuss project development and internationalization challenges for the EDAM [Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing] program. I saw this as an interesting opportunity, one that would complement my teaching and consulting. I applied to become an EDAM Industry Professor. I and Prof. Eduardo Beira (at the University of Minho) now hold those positions.

PhD student Travis Dunn

PhD student Travis Dunn recently answered questions about his graduate studies in Transportation, his involvement in MIT Portugal—even his philosophy about toll collecting.

MPP: What is your hometown?

TD: San Antonio, Texas, USA.

MPP: What degree are you pursuing?

TD: An interdepartmental PhD in Transportation at MIT.

MPP: Where did you do your previous studies?

TD: I have undergraduate degrees in civil engineering and in a humanities program called Plan 2, both from the University of Texas at Austin. I’m also a graduate of the MS in Transportation program at MIT.

MPP: Have you had any work experience?

TD: Before returning to MIT for the PhD program, I worked for two years in the transportation practice of the consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton, in the Washington, D.C., area.