José Paulo Esperança
Vice President of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Representative of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
PEOPLE
The MIT Portugal Program collaboration is based on a contractual agreement between the MIT and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation, FCT).
The governance structure of the program is based on the Program Governing Committee (PGC), responsible for policy oversight with respect to overall objectives of the relationship, as well as approval of the annual plan and budget allocation for the proposed activities. An independent External Review Committee (ERC) formed by members from the international scientific community shall review the research program and make recommendations to the Program Directors and the PGC.
FCT appoints a Director(s) of the MIT Portugal Program in Portugal and MIT appoints a Director(s) of MIT Portugal Program at MIT. Together, they will oversee, direct, and coordinate the activities of all entities participating in the collaboration.
The coordination team oversees the day-to-day operations of the program, manages the calls for proposals, distribution of grants, and reports on all of the activities and projects conducted by the program to ensure its effective development. Area Leaders help the coordination team defining and running the Program’s operations in specific MPP’s strategic research areas.
The foundation of the MIT Portugal team was built by its former directors, collaborators, and participants. Former Directors of the MIT Portugal Program include MIT Professor Bruce Tidor, MIT Professor Daniel Roos, and IST Professor Paulo Ferrão. The program’s current MIT Director, Professor Dava Newman, also served in the role previously.
While Phase 3 places a strong emphasis on research, Phases 1 and 2 featured robust PhD and Master’s programs. To learn more about our alumni and faculty, click here.
Governing Committee
Richard K. Lester
MIT Associate Provost for International Activities
MIT senior administration representative
Maria Zuber
Vice President for Research at MIT
MIT senior administration representative
António M. Cunha
President of the Digital Transformation CoLab
Representative of the Portuguese participating entities
Isabel Furtado
CEO of TMG Automotive
Portuguese Industry Representative
External Review Committee
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John Beddington
Former UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser
Pascale Ehrenfreund
President of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
Mohan Munasinghe
Former vice-chair, UN Intergovt. Panel on Climate Change that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize
Melany Hunt
Dotty and Dick Hayman Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Caltech
Program Directors
Pedro Arezes
Full Professor in Human Factors Engineering at UMinho
National Director of MIT Portugal Program
Zita Martins
Associate Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico
National Co-Director of MIT Portugal Program
Dava Newman
Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics at MIT
Current and Former Director of MIT Portugal Program at MIT
Doug Hart
Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT
Co-Director of MIT Portugal Program at MIT
Former Program Directors
Paulo Ferrão
Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST)
Former National Director of MIT Portugal Program
Daniel Roos
Japan Steel Industry Professor, Emeritus, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Former Director of MIT Portugal Program at MIT
Bruce Tidor
Professor of Biological Engineering and Computer Science
Former Director of MIT Portugal Program at MIT
Dava Newman
Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics at MIT
Current and Former Director of MIT Portugal Program at MIT
Coordination Office
Alexandre Ferreira da Silva
Executive Coordinator - Portugal
Catarina Silva
Program Manager - Portugal
Leah Lovgren
Program Manager - MIT
Joana Soares
Communications Officer – Portugal
Raina K. Puels
Administrative Assistant II - MIT