EDUCATION AND PAST EXPERIENCE: I did my first degree in Chemistry at the University of Porto, Portugal. This was followed by my Ph.D. in Muon research at both the University of Glasgow, UK, and the then Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research (SIN) in Villigen, Switzerland. Subsequently I did a post-doc in Molecular Modelling at the University of Oxford, UK. In 1991, I became a Professor in Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Porto. I now head the Theoretical and Computational Biochemistry Research Group but, for many years, kept my former link to Oxford, becoming an Associate Director, back in 2000, of the Centre for Computational Drug Discovery at Oxford, funded by the National Foundation for Cancer Research and headed by Prof. Graham Richards. I have been a consultant for several companies and have performed extensive evaluation research work for several research national and foreign entities as well as universities.
PRIZES AND AWARDS: In 2019, I got the Medinabeitia-Lourenço Prize awarded by the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ). In 2014, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Stockholm University, Sweden, given as a recognition of the work in the fields of Enzymatic Catalysis and Molecular Docking. In 2001, the Italgas Prize for Research and Technological Innovation was given to Prof Graham Richards as a recognition of the work that was carried out with his team in which I was included. In 1974, the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Portugal, gave me a prize for best student.
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES: I have had a number of administrative duties in my academic career such as: Vice-Rector for Research & Development, U. Porto; Director of the Science & Technology Park (UPTEC), U.Porto; Associate Director of the NFCR Centre for Computational Drug Discovery at Oxford, U. Oxford; Head of the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, U. Porto; Head of the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Research Group, U. Porto; Full Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, U. Porto; member of Faculty Council, member of Evaluation Councils and Committees; member of the International Committee for the European Doctorate in Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling; member of the International Committee for the European Master and Master Mundus in Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: My scientific research focuses on computational enzymatic catalysis, protein dynamics, computational mutagenesis, molecular docking and drug discovery, all aiming at a better understanding of the functions and applications of enzymes.
