I am a Geologist, working as an Assistant Professor with Habilitation at Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon (UL), Portugal. I am presently head of IDL-LATTEX Analogue Modelling Lab and a member of the Directive board of IDL Research Associate Lab. My research field of expertise is Structural Geology and Tectonics. My research is mainly focused on using analogue and numerical geodynamic modelling to study different tectonic problems at different scales. I’ve published more than 30 papers on specialized peer-review journals on a variety of science-research topics, e.g.: the unravel of the evolution of the SW Iberian Variscan orogen; the investigation of the potential seismogenic/tsunamigenic sources of the 1755 Great Lisbon Earthquake (Eurasia-Nubia plate boundary, NE-Atlantic); and the geodynamic modelling of subduction initiation. I’ve been teaching Geology for almost 23 years, i.e., since the year 2000, at the University of Lisbon (Geology Department, Faculty of Sciences). During this period, I taught 18 different courses at UL (13 BSc and 5 MSc Geology degree courses). I am presently coordinating the Structural Geology and Field Geology courses of the BSc Geology degree, and the Tectonophysics course of the MSc Geology degree. I also participate in the teaching of the Tectonics and Programming and Scientific Calculus BSc Geology courses.

My research is mainly focused on using analogue and numerical geodynamic modelling techniques applied to the resolution of different tectonic problems at different scales. I have worked on the tectonic characterization/interpretation of the SW Iberian Variscan orogen, during which I have carried out geological mapping of high-grade gneiss terranes and analogue modelling of sheath folds formed under non-coaxial shear regimes. I also tested prevailing interpretative conjectures of the Present-day tectonic evolution of different segments of the Eurasia-Africa (Nubia) plate boundary (offshore SW Iberia and NW Morocco). One focus of my research is the Alpine to Present-day tectonic reactivation of the South and Southwest Iberian margin, and specifically the use of geodynamic modelling to test the possibility of induced subduction initiation along this (still) passive margin (in which the seismogenic/tsunamigenic source of the 1755 Great Lisbon Earthquake is thought to be located). The scope of my geodynamic modelling work encompasses thrust, rift and wrench tectonics systems, including namely the following published topics: a. Analogue modelling: Modelling of morpho-tectonic patterns resulting from the interference between rheological obstacles and strike-slip faults systems; Modelling of the control of different assumed crustal rheologies on the delocalised vs. narrow distribution of rift-related fault patterns in the upper crust; Modelling of active vs. passive strain accommodation of a deformable hanging-wall above a rigid footwall in thrust ramps systems with different geometries; Modelling of fault interference and associated stress transfer between active thrust and strike-slip faults. b. Numerical modelling: Modelling (3D) of active thrust-wrench fault interference offshore SW Iberia (Gulf of Cadiz domain) and ensuing consequences in terms of seismic hazards; Modelling (2D) of subduction initiation by polarity reversal; Modelling (3D) of subduction initiation by polarity reversal; Modelling (2D) of the main mechanical parameters governing double graben nucleation during the early stages of continental rifting.