PhD in Materials Science, Faculty of Sciences and Technology at Coimbra University. Associate Professor in Materials Science in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at Coimbra University (DEM-FCTUC). Main research areas: Main areas of scientific activity: (i) Production of "advanced materials by sputtering and mechanical alloying (carbides, nitrides, intermetallic materials, metal matrix composites, intermetallic matrix composites, ultralight alloys, and solid oxide fuel cells). (ii) Structural and mechanical properties of metastable materials. Range order vs. mechanical properties (hardness, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness). (iii) Thermal stability of metastable advanced materials: amorphous -> nanocrystalline transformation. (iv) Sintering of nanocrystalline powders for structural and functional applications. (v) Surface engineering: texturing of surfaces by laser; reinforcement of surfaces with metal matrix composites. (vi) Chemical, structural, mechanical, and tribological characterization of thin films, and (vii) Polymer matrix composites. More than 90 papers published, of which 56 are in international journals of SCI. About 900 citations.