In-Residency Ph.D. Research Internships at UT Austin | 2026 Cohort
Mobility | 2026 Cohort
In-Residency Ph.D. Research Internships at UT Austin
Meet the nine doctoral researchers selected for the 2026 cohort
Nine Ph.D. students from Portuguese higher education institutions have been selected to undertake in-residency research internships at The University of Texas at Austin through the UT Austin Portugal Program.
Starting between September 1 and December 31, 2026, the selected students will spend between six and twelve months at UT Austin, developing research directly connected to their doctoral work in Portugal while working alongside UT Austin faculty.
The cohort brings together students from six home institutions and work plans aligned with three of the Program’s strategic scientific areas: Clean Energy, Nanotechnologies, and Space–Earth Technologies.
2026 Cohort at a Glance
Expanding doctoral research across Portugal and Texas
The In-Residency Ph.D. Research Internships provide a dedicated mechanism for strengthening doctoral engagement between Portuguese institutions and The University of Texas at Austin.
Each selected student will carry out an extended research period at UT Austin under the guidance of a UT Austin faculty advisor, while maintaining the connection with their doctoral program and supervisor in Portugal.
Through this experience, participants will be able to advance their Ph.D. research in an international environment, engage directly with UT Austin research groups and facilities, strengthen scientific collaborations, and expand their academic and professional networks.
The 2026 cohort includes students from Instituto Superior Técnico, NOVA University of Lisbon, the University of Coimbra, the University of Lisbon, the University of Minho, and the University of Porto.
Meet the 2026 Cohort
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
A transatlantic research experience
Through these extended research stays, the UT Austin Portugal Program is creating new opportunities for doctoral researchers to work closely with UT Austin faculty while strengthening links between research groups in Portugal and Texas.
The 2026 In-Residency Ph.D. Research Internships cohort reflects the Program’s continued investment in advanced research training, international scientific collaboration, and the development of long-term connections between Portuguese institutions and The University of Texas at Austin.