Doctoral Degree - Doctoral Programmes

After completing my Masters in Environmental Engineering at FEUP in 2016, I took up the challenge of scientific research in search of alternative solutions to remove emerging pollutants from water and wastewater. The opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. came later, in 2017, when I received a scholarship from the Foundation for Science and Technology. I chose FEUP and the Doctoral Programme in Environmental Engineering (PDEA) to pursue my PhD because they offer excellent conditions for its development.

FEUP has excellent laboratory facilities and research teams, while the PDEA gives us the freedom to grow as professionals in the field of environmental engineering, with great pedagogical and scientific support along the way. I am currently in the final stage of my PhD, focusing on the application of chemical and biological treatments for the removal of organic pollutants from aquatic systems, and I can confidently say that I have made the right choice.

At PDEA and FEUP, I have had the opportunity to attend and organise international conferences, share knowledge and grow as a professional in the field. With the PhD, I have enriched my CV and acquired skills and tools that will enable me to tackle the most challenging projects. Whether in teaching, industry or research, I believe the PhD will enhance my value as a professional and distinguish me as I apply all my knowledge in the pursuit of professional rigour and excellence. The PhD experience is both challenging and enriching, and we should make the most of it for our personal and professional development.

Before I started my journey at PDEA, I was a student in the Integrated Master's in Bioengineering at FEUP. Studying at one of the best engineering schools in the country, with an international reputation, was crucial in shaping my career path. In fact, it was the stimulating, multidisciplinary environment and the wealth of opportunities I found at FEUP and its research and development centres that motivated me to pursue research.

After completing my Master's degree, I became a researcher at the Laboratory of Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE) in the Department of Chemical Engineering at FEUP. I worked closely on emerging pollutants, studying the occurrence and potential environmental risks of chemicals used in personal care products in different matrices. I was then awarded a PhD scholarship funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology to study the presence of contaminants in fertilisers produced from organic waste and to assess the impact of their use on agricultural soils and plant growth.

I applied for the PDEA knowing that FEUP provides the necessary resources to carry out the research I am dedicated to, as well as the ability to foster institutional links with relevant bodies for my training. However, I believe that FEUP's most valuable asset is its people. It is in its human resources and its students that the identity and values of the Faculty resonate, characterised by excellent teaching, demanding quality standards, international openness and impact, and the promotion of a collaborative and synergistic environment among its participants.

My journey at FEUP began 10 years ago when I enrolled in the Integrated Master’s in Environmental Engineering. Shortly after completing the programme, I started a research scholarship in the area of air quality and low-cost sensors. Therefore, the decision to join the Doctoral Programme in Environmental Engineering and pursue my PhD in this field made perfect sense in my academic and scientific journey, being a very natural transition. In 2020, I was awarded a doctoral scholarship funded by FCT through the LEPABE Multiannual Funding Programme.

The Doctoral Programme in Environmental Engineering is particularly appealing due to its multidisciplinary nature, with the aspect linking science and the general public being the one that particularly attracts me in my PhD thesis. The aim of my research is to use low-cost sensors as a tool to reduce air pollution in nurseries and primary schools. FEUP, as well as the research unit I am part of (LEPABE), provide all the essential working conditions for carrying out the tasks involved in my PhD, enabling me to continue my research.

Moreover, the excellence of the teaching staff and supervisors, along with various partnerships with other institutes and research units, further strengthens the quality of FEUP as a reference institution with international recognition. In this way, this PhD is undoubtedly a significant contribution to my scientific and professional growth.