Resume

Work Experience

01/10/2019 - Present - Madrid, Spain

Science Operations Development Manager for Ariel and SMILE missions

European Space Agency

  • Responsible for designing and implementing the ESA-funded science operations systems for the Ariel and SMILE science missions

  • Manager of the Science Operations Teams for Ariel and SMILE missions

  • Chair of the SMILE Data Formats and Calibration Working Group

  • Chair of the Ariel Science Ground Segment Management Group

  • Mentor of ESA trainees

01/11/2012 - Present - Madrid, Spain & Baltimore, USA

Science Operations Scientist for James Webb Space Telescope mission

European Space Agency

  • Subject matter expert on NIRSpec spectrograph calibration, commissioning activities and data analysis
  • Test shift-lead on NIRSpec ground-test campaigns and operational rehearsals
  • Involved in JWST community engagement activities
  • Additional responsibilities while outposted at Space Telescope Science Institute (USA) between 2015 and 2019:
    • Calibration lead for the NIRSpec instrument
    • Project manager for development of commissioning software tools
    • Liaison with JWST operations centre for implementation of pipeline algorithms
  • Member of ESA Science Operations research fellowship selection committee
  • Research activities on low-mass star formation in nearby young stellar clusters

01/12/2011 - 01/10/2012 - Madrid,Spain

ESA Research Fellow

European Space Agency

  • Research on Herschel surveys of filaments and disks in star forming regions

  • Lead organizer of Star and planet formation workshop, ESAC, 2013

  • Lead organizer of Astronomical programming in Python, ESAC, 2012

  • Visiting observer at the NTT Telescope in La Silla, Chile (2012)

  • Member of the ESAC Faculty Council (2011 - 2015)

  • Co-mentor of ESAC trainee working on discs around young stars

01/11/2008 - 31/10/2011 - Grenoble, France

Marie-Curie Fellow

Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble

  • Principal investigator for large imaging and spectroscopic surveys of star forming regions

  • Visiting observer at the Very Large Telescope in Paranal, Chile (2009, 2010)

  • Visiting observer at the NTT Telescope in La Silla, Chile (2009)

  • Visiting observer at the TNG Telescope in Gran Canarias, Spain (2009)

  • Co-organizer of Recipes for making brownies (brown dwarfs), ESTEC, 2009

01/09/2005 - 30/09/2008 - Munich, Germany

Graduate student, International Max-Planck Research School on Astrophysics

European Southern Observatory

  • Research on infrared variability of young stellar objects

  • Junior member of HAWK-I instrument development & commissioning team

  • Supported commissioning of HAWK-I instrument at the Very Large Telescope in Paranal, Chile (2007)

  • Visiting observer at the NTT Telescope in La Silla, Chile (2007)

01/05/2005 - 31/07/2005 - Cape Town, South Africa

Research internship

Southern African Astronomical Observatory

  • Research on asteroseismology of Ap stars

  • Principal observer at the 0.75m telescope, Sutherland, South Africa (2005)

01/06/2003 - 31/08/2003 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Research Assistant

Royal Observatory of Edinburgh, Astronomy Technology Centre

  • Research on debris disks around stars

Skills & Expertise

Managerial

Project Management

Team Management

Technical Training

Scrum Product Owner

Python for Scientists

Architecture and Systems  

       Engineering, MIT xPro

Memberships

Portuguese Astronomical Society

International Astronomical Union

Languages

Portuguese (mother tongue)

English

Spanish

French

German

Communications

Regular contributions to

    workshops, conferences, and   

    public events

ESA- Science ambassador

Other interests

Training in classical music

  • 1st violin at Orchestre Symphonique Universitaire de Grenoble, France (Sep 2009-Jun 2011)

  • 1st violin at Galway Chamber Orchestra, National University of Ireland (Sep 2002-Jun 2003)

  • 1st violin at Portuguese Youth Orchestra, Évora, Portugal (Jul 2000-Aug 2000)

  • Music Conservatory Diploma, Music Conservatory of Alto-Minho, Viana do Castelo, Portugal (Sep 1992-Sep 2000)

Sports

  • Regular practice (running, hiking, cycling)

  • One-time experiences: sky-diving, scuba-diving

  • Training-Ship Expedition with the Portuguese Navy (‘Creoula’ Ship, 07/1999)

Education

01/09/2005 - 30/09/2008 - Munich, Germany

Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich

Dr. rer. nat. Astronomie

01/09/2004 - 31/08/2005 - Strasbourg, France

International Space University

M.Sc. in Space Studies

01/09/2000 - 30/06/2004 - Porto, Portugal

School of Sciences University of Porto

Physics/Applied Maths degree

01/09/2002 - 30/06/2003 - Galway, Ireland

National University of Ireland, Galway

ERASMUS student in Physics