The 2026 In-Residency Ph.D. Research Internships cohort brings together doctoral researchers from six Portuguese higher education institutions for research stays of six to twelve months at The University of Texas at Austin.
The UT Austin Portugal Program has selected nine Ph.D. students to undertake extended research internships at The University of Texas at Austin as part of its 2026 In-Residency Ph.D. Research Internships initiative.
Selected through the Program’s Call for Expressions of Interest, the students will begin their research stays between September 1 and December 31, 2026, spending between six and twelve months at UT Austin while advancing research directly connected to their doctoral work in Portugal.
The new cohort represents an important step in expanding doctoral engagement between Portuguese higher education institutions and UT Austin. By providing researchers with an extended period in Austin, the initiative creates the conditions for sustained scientific collaboration, access to UT Austin research environments and expertise, and closer interaction between doctoral researchers and faculty on both sides of the partnership.
Six institutions, three strategic research areas
The nine selected students are affiliated with Instituto Superior Técnico, NOVA University of Lisbon, the University of Coimbra, the University of Lisbon, the University of Minho, and the University of Porto.
Their research plans align with three of the UT Austin Portugal Program’s strategic scientific areas:
- Clean Energy: 1 researcher
- Nanotechnologies: 3 researchers
- Space–Earth Technologies: 5 researchers
The selected work plans span fields including energy and materials engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, civil engineering, geoinformatics, electrical and computer engineering, and space-related research.
Each participant will work with a faculty advisor at UT Austin while maintaining the connection with their doctoral supervisor and research institution in Portugal. This dual research environment is intended to support the development of their Ph.D. work while strengthening links between research groups in Portugal and Texas.
Meet the 2026 Cohort
Space–Earth Technologies
Carla Larissa Fonseca da Silva
Instituto Superior Técnico
PhD in Civil Engineering (Hydraulics, Environment and Water Resources)
Supervisor in Portugal
Maria Manuela Portela
Instituto Superior Técnico, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment (DECivil)
Advisor at UT Austin
Dev Niyogi
Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Space–Earth Technologies
Diogo Alexandre Bento Ferro dos Santos Costa
NOVA University of Lisbon
PhD in Information Management, specialisation in Geoinformatics
Supervisor in Portugal
Miguel de Castro Neto
NOVA University of Lisbon, MagIC
Advisor at UT Austin
Gengchen Mai
Department of Geography & the Environment, College of Liberal Arts
Nanotechnologies
Guilherme Alexandre Correia Canas Martins
University of Lisbon
PhD program on Sustainable Energy Systems
Supervisor in Portugal
Killian Paulo Kiernan Lobato
University of Lisbon, Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL)
Advisor at UT Austin
Jamie Warner
Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Space–Earth Technologies
Guilherme Ruivo Lopes da Fonseca
Instituto Superior Técnico
PhD Advanced Studies Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Supervisor in Portugal
Mário Gonçalo Mestre Veríssimo Silveirinha
Instituto Superior Técnico, Instituto de Telecomunicações
Advisor at UT Austin
Emanuele Galiffi
Chandra Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Space–Earth Technologies
Luís Filipe Pino Gonçalves
University of Coimbra
PhD in Physics Engineering – Instrumentation
Supervisor in Portugal
Alexandre C. M. Correia
University of Coimbra, Physics Department
Advisor at UT Austin
Moriba Kemessia Jah
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Cockrell School of Engineering
Nanotechnologies
Mafalda Rodrigues Luis Correia
University of Coimbra
PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Supervisor in Portugal
Ana Cláudia Paiva Santos
University of Coimbra, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology
Advisor at UT Austin
Nicholas A. Peppas
McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Nanotechnologies
Maria Francisca Pestana de Freitas de Sousa Cardoso
University of Porto
PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering
Supervisor in Portugal
Filipe José Menezes Mergulhão
University of Porto, LEPABE
Advisor at UT Austin
Brian A. Korgel
McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Clean Energy
Nathalia Hammes
University of Minho
PhD in Materials Engineering
Supervisor in Portugal
Joaquim Alexandre Oliveira Carneiro
University of Minho, Department of Physics
Advisor at UT Austin
Jonathan Y. Chen
Division of Textiles and Apparel, College of Natural Sciences / School of Human Ecology
Space–Earth Technologies
Paloma Carollo Toscan
University of Minho
PhD in Civil Engineering
Supervisor in Portugal
Eduardo Nuno Borges Pereira
University of Minho, Department of Civil Engineering
Advisor at UT Austin
Gengchen Mai
Department of Geography & the Environment, College of Liberal Arts
Their UT Austin advisors represent research groups across the Cockrell School of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Sciences, and School of Human Ecology, providing access to different scientific environments and expertise throughout the University.
The In-Residency Ph.D. Research Internships add a dedicated doctoral pathway to the UT Austin Portugal Program’s mobility activities. Through longer research stays and direct engagement with UT Austin faculty, the initiative strengthens advanced research training while creating new opportunities for scientific relationships between Portuguese institutions and UT Austin to develop over time.
Meet the 2026 cohort and learn more about their research, Portuguese supervisors, and UT Austin advisors.