Cerca is promoted to Investigador Coordenador

Investigador Coordenador (Research Professor) is the highest career rank any Portuguese researcher can achieve. It not only requires a significant contribution towards any research field, but often this rank is reserved for those scientists who contributed to the society beyond the fundamental research discoveries. In Portugal, one can only become an Investigador Coordenador after passing the Habilitation exam. Since February 14th, I’m honored by this distinction, and became the first Investigador Coordenador of the School of Engineering at the University of Minho.

Reaching this recognition at the age of 45 was only possible due to a combination of hard work and extremely good luck, and this would not have been possible without the efforts of an amazing research team, and my first thanks goes to all of them: Aliona Rosca, Ana Carvalho, Ana Freitas, Ana Henriques, Ana Magalhães, Ana Pinto, Andreia Magalhães, Ângela França, Ângela Lima, António Machado, Beatriz Peixoto, Beatriz Pinto, Begonã Perez, Carla Ferreira, Cármen Sousa, Carolina Felgueiras, Cláudia Lima, Daniela Machado, Débora Silva, Diana Sousa, Esra Cece, Fernando Oliveira, Filipa Macedo, Helena Teixeira, Inês Lameira, Inês Santos, Joana Bento, Joana Castro, Lúcia Sousa, Luciana Almeida, Luís Melo, Nathalie Lopes, Patrícia Alves, Paula Jorge, Paula Martins, Pedro Soares, Sofia Oliveira, Sofia Pereira, Susana Brás, Tatiana Cereja, Tiago Fernandes, Vanessa Acúrcio, Vânia Gaiom Vânia Pinheiro e Virgínia Carvalhais.

I also would like to acknowledged my colleagues and friends whose scientific collaborations help me (and us, research team) reach this stage: Alexander Kirollov, Ana Palmeira-de-Oliveira, Carina Almeida, Carlos Cavaleiro, Carlos Vasconcelos, Christina Muzny, Christopher Taylor, Diana Sousa, Etelvina Gomes, Freddy Haesebrouck, Gail Christie, Gerald Pier, Holger Rohde, Joana Azeredo, José Martinez-de-Oliveira, Kimberlly Jefferson, Lígia Rodrigues, Lígia Salgueiro, Manuel Vilanova, Mario Vaneechoutte, Nuno Azevedo, Olívia Pereira, Patrícia Poeta, Rita Palmeira-de-Oliveira, Rui Vitorino, Sanna Sillankorva, and Simone Morais, and a lot more authors from their research groups.

I would also like to thank previous CEB directors (Manuel Mota, José Teixeira, Eugénio Ferreira and Madalena Alves) and DEB directors (Armando Venâncio, António Vicente and Lígia Rodrigues) for the career opportunities given by both CEB and DEB.