Electroactive Smart Materials Group

Teambuilding 2026 at Castro de Sabroso, in Guimarães! 🏛️🌿

We started our teambuilding day by focusing on our next steps. During our team meeting, we talked about goals, science and resilience, drawing inspiration from Ernest Shackleton’s expedition. In research, just like on the ice, success is never individual. It relies on trust, teamwork and the ability to adapt to the unexpected.

After a great lunch, we wrapped up the day at Castro de Sabroso. Walking through this Iron Age hillfort alongside an archaeologist was a powerful reminder of our shared mission. Thousands of years ago, this community was already observing its environment, using available resources and building solutions to survive and thrive. In their own way, they were also driven by curiosity, ingenuity, and the will to leave a lasting mark. 💪🏻⛓️

We return to the lab with recharged batteries, Shackleton’s spirit of resilience, and the inspiration of those who paved the way millennia ago. Sometimes, to understand where we are going, we need to look back. 🚀🔬

Building the future with an eye on the past. 💪🏻🏛️✨

Closing the week in the best possible way, with a shared snack to celebrate the successful PhD defenses of João, Eduardo, Joana, and André. 🤗

Huge congratulations to our newly awarded PhDs:

🎓 Dr. João Serra
PhD thesis: Natural polymer-based multifunctional materials for sensing, actuators, and battery applications
Supervised by: Carlos Costa, Pedro Costa and Senentxu Lanceros Mendez

🎓 Dr. Eduardo Pimentel
PhD thesis: Printable piezoresistive materials based on natural polymers for medical device applications
Supervised by: Carlos Costa, Daniel Miranda and Senentxu Lanceros Mendez

🎓 Dr. Joana Queirós
PhD thesis: Wide range polymeric membranes towards water remediation of contaminants of emerging concern
Supervised by: Pedro Martins and Senentxu Lanceros Mendez

🎓 Dr. André Macedo
PhD thesis: Multi-responsive structures based on electroactive polymers and hydrogels as a novel approach for tissue engineering
Supervised by: Clarisse Ribeiro, Vanessa Cardoso and Senentxu Lanceros Mendez

Four PhD journeys, four important scientific contributions, and a shared celebration of advanced functional materials for applications ranging from healthcare and tissue engineering to sensing, energy and environmental remediation.

Congratulations João, Eduardo, Joana and André. Wishing you all great success in this new chapter. 👏🎉

PhD ALERT!!! 🚨

Huge congratulations on the successful defense of André's PhD thesis, “Multi-responsive structures based on electroactive polymers and hydrogels as a novel approach for tissue engineering”! 👏

This remarkable work represents an important contribution to the field of tissue engineering, highlighting the potential of electroactive polymers and hydrogels as advanced and multifunctional platforms for biomedical applications. A promising and innovative step forward in the development of smart biomaterials for regenerative medicine. 🔬⚡

This important achievement was made possible under the guidance of Clarisse Ribeiro, Vanessa Cardoso, and Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez. Congratulations to all on this excellent collaborative journey!

A special note to everyone who attended the defense and helped make this moment even more memorable with such a strong presence. 🫂

A well-deserved milestone that reflects dedication and hard work throughout the PhD path. We look forward to seeing the next steps and future impact of this research. 🚀✨

Well done, Dr. André! 🎓