team

Rita Almeida

Third-year student of Applied Mathematics and Computing, former participant in HAC and AfterSchool. Loves reading and cooking, having spent 2 years perfecting the art of making macarons. By her count, now only 1/3 come out ugly.

Catarina Belém

Originally from Almada, after completing her Master’s in Computer Engineering in Lisbon, Catarina is now in California pursuing a PhD in Computer Science. In her free time, she enjoys sports, cooking, and exploring Nature. She has even explored the sky in free fall at 5000 meters altitude and, according to her, survived.

Bruno Bento

PhD student in Cosmology / String Theory. Enjoys acting and dancing, and has a great relationship with books, movies, and series. He has a special fascination with the theme of time travel.

Íris Brée

Fifth-year student of Engineering Physics at Instituto Superior Técnico. A native of Mafra now living in Trondheim, she loves talking about everything, from her passion for science to her love for any food that can be immersed in olive oil, garlic, and chili.

Paulo Cortesão

Third-year Computer Engineering student at the University of Coimbra, and participant in International and Ibero-American Olympiads. His secret method for learning programming is to explain code to a rubber duck on his desk.

Francisco Duque

PhD student in Physics at Instituto Superior Técnico, specializing in Black Holes and Gravitational Waves, after a Master’s in Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge. From Caparica, besides physics, he enjoys exploring Lusitanian culture, from the baroque origins of Fado to obscure Hip-Hop mixtapes.

Bruna Fernandes

Aerospace Engineering undergraduate, participant in TreeTree2 since 2020, and national finalist in Informatics Olympiads. In summer, she practices water sports and goes sailing. During the rest of the year, she dedicates herself to gymnastics and running. Loves watching shooting stars and eating berries.

Mafalda Ferreira

Physics undergraduate and TreeTree2 participant since 2019. A compulsive reader, writer, and violinist, she confesses she would like to live 'somewhere in the past' or 'at another point in the universe'. That’s why she dreams of having a time machine.

Rui Fonseca

Born and raised in Lisbon, Rui is a fifth-year Computer Engineering student at Instituto Superior Técnico. He enjoys reading, tennis, and chess. Besides programming languages, he can also speak three human languages.

Sofia Freitas

Originally trained in Physics, she is now studying decision-making and timing processes in the Champalimaud Centre’s PhD program in Neuroscience. When not training rats, she enjoys long surf sessions and good books.

Beatriz Lopes

PhD student in Particle Physics. A scout, and a book lover. Currently living in Hamburg. Insists she has no talent for music, though she played the violin for 15 years.

Tânia Machado

Has dedicated her whole life to the stars. Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiads, Director of the NFIST Astronomy section, and author/instructor of the Astrophysics course at AfterSchool. She also studied Engineering Physics and Technology and knows how to ride a horse. She would like to learn to read other alphabets but, for now, she reads the sky from Padova.

Tiago Marques

Medalist in Mathematics, Informatics, and Physics Olympiads, now a sophomore at MIT. If you want to catch him, just hand him a book. He can spend an entire day reading – and has done so many times. He also competed in swimming and plays chess.

Laura Martins

Physicist. Interested in politics, cinema, and music, and has a superpower: she can fall asleep in any mode of transport, even if the trip is only 3 minutes long.

Tiago Mourão

Third-year Applied Mathematics and Computing student at Instituto Superior Técnico. Medalist in Math Olympiads, and in his free time he likes solving Rubik’s Cubes and playing computer games.

Margarida Nabais

Electrical and Computer Engineer by training, Margarida is a born curious mind, so passionate about facts and trivia that she became a Data Scientist. She divides her time between books and puzzles, while never missing training sessions. She never misses an opportunity to ask foreigners for a coin from their country for her collection.

Catarina Pereira

Catarina is a final-year Aerospace Engineering student at Instituto Superior Técnico. From Lisbon, she loves studying languages and dancing. Her biggest secret is being addicted to off-brand chocolate Filipinos.

Diogo Pires

Studied Engineering Physics and Technology at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). For his thesis, he modeled the evolution of collective behavior in the Artificial Intelligence for People and Society Group. He was also part of the IST Physics Student Club, where he discovered his passion for sharing knowledge.

Martim Rosado

Master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at IST and a professional board gamer at a table near you. Hard to believe, but he swears he has never chewed gum.

Patrícia Roxo

Undergraduate student in Applied Mathematics and Computing. Has collaborated with TreeTree2 since 2019 and considers it a privilege. Interested in Geology and addicted to documentaries.

Francisco dos Santos

Master’s student in Aerospace Engineering. Has taught programming to children, and during high school was national champion in Ballroom Dancing.

Tiago Sousa

Biological Engineering student and finalist in multiple science Olympiads, including Informatics. Loves talking with people, learning, writing poems, running, playing table tennis, and watching the news. Has ridden the Alfa Pendular train at least 45 times!

Carolina Tavares

Medical student and participant in TreeTree2 activities since 2019. Loves reading and watching movies. She is saving up to travel and already plans to do clinical internships abroad. In study breaks, she plays film soundtracks on the piano, especially Hans Zimmer.