Nine researchers affiliated with Portuguese institutions selected for hands-on collaboration at The University of Texas at Austin
The UT Austin Portugal Program is pleased to announce the 2025–26 cohort of Short-Term Research Internships (STRI), reinforcing its commitment to advanced training and transatlantic collaboration.
Between October 15, 2025, and June 30, 2026, nine researchers from Portuguese universities and research institutions will spend between three and six months at The University of Texas at Austin, working side by side with world-class UT faculty across the Program’s flagship areas: Nanotechnology, Advanced Computing, Space–Earth Technologies, and Clean Energy.
Selected by an independent evaluation panel external to the Program, these researchers will deepen their scientific skills, access UT’s state-of-the-art facilities, and expand their international networks while laying the groundwork for the development of projects of mutual strategic relevance in the future.
The Short-Term Research Internships instrument is one of Phase IV’s core opportunities for talent development and international scientific networking. Designed for researchers at various stages of their careers, the initiative – carried forward from Phase III with new features – has been particularly attractive to early-career scientists. For them, exposure to dynamic academic environments such as UT Austin’s provides valuable opportunities to connect with leading researchers, raise their scientific profile, and build long-lasting partnerships. These collaborations often extend into other Program instruments, such as the Exploratory Research Projects, with former visitors teaming up with their former hosts at UT for joint proposals.
Our mission in Phase IV remains clear. “Mobility is a cornerstone of the Program’s mission. By providing researchers with the opportunity to work alongside leading UT faculty, we’re not only investing in skills and careers, but also in the long-term sustainability of the UT Austin – Portugal partnership,” says Andreia Passos, Executive Director of the Program in Portugal.
First co-hort of 2025:
| Visiting Researcher | UT Austin Host | Program Area |
|---|---|---|
| Afonso Pinho Lourenço, Polytechnic Institute of Porto | Lizy Kurian John, Professor, Chandra Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering | Advanced Computing |
| Vicente Lopes, INL | Deji Akinwande, Professor, Chandra Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering | Advanced Computing |
| Mafalda Rodrigues Luis Correia, University of Coimbra | Nicholas A. Peppas, Professor, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering | Nanotechnology |
| Maria Francisca Pestana de Freitas de Sousa Cardoso, University of Porto | Brian A. Korgel, Professor, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering | Nanotechnology |
| Alexandra Francisco Ramôa da Costa Alves, INESC TEC | Scott Aaronson, Professor, Computer Science, College of Natural Sciences | Advanced Computing |
| Guilherme Alexandre Correia Canas Martins, University of Lisbon | Jamie Warner, Professor, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering | Nanotechnology |
| Nuno Alexandre Gonçalves Mendes, University of Coimbra | Javad Mohammadi, Assistant Professor, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering | Clean Energy |
| Rafael Duarte Ribeiro das Neves, NOVA FCT | Brian A. Korgel, Professor, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering | Nanotechnology |
| Paloma Carollo Toscan, University of Minho | Gengchen Mai, Professor, College of Liberal Arts | Space–Earth Technologies |
The full table will be published on the Phase IV Selected Researchers page and updated regularly as new cohorts are confirmed.
A Bridge for the Future
By investing in people, the Short-Term Research Internships embody the Program’s mission of aligning research excellence with advanced training and societal impact. The 2025–26 cohort adds to a growing community of Portuguese researchers who have trained at UT Austin, many of whom now lead collaborative projects and strengthen bilateral ties.
Stay tuned for more updates on our website and follow the Program on LinkedIn to meet the researchers and discover their work.
