Diogo E. Aguiam

Short Bio

Diogo Aguiam has a BSc and MSc in Electronics Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, having received Best in Class and Best Graduate awards, and obtained a double PhD with distinction in Physics Engineering from University of Ghent, Belgium, and University of Lisbon, Portugal, in 2018 in the field of Nuclear Fusion and Plasma Engineering. Between 2013 and 2018 he worked at IPFN, in Lisbon, Portugal, and the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics, in Garching, Germany, developing microwave reflectometry diagnostics for nuclear fusion. In 2018 he joined the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal, as a Staff Researcher working in the fields of MEMS sensors, Optical MEMS, Photonics and Integrated Optics towards the fields of manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and environmental monitoring. He has secured more than 6.5M€ in national and international competitive research funding grants, being the PI of six projects, and supervised over 10 associates, students, post-docs and engineers. He has over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals gathering over 860 citations, and several participations in international conferences.

Education

2014-2018 Double PhD with distinction in Engineering Physics, University of Ghent, Belgium, and University of Lisbon, Portugal.

2008-2013 BSc and MSc in Electronics Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal

Experience

2025 - Research Scientist PI, INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal

2018-2025 Staff Researcher, INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal

2018-2023 Invited Researcher, Centro ALGORITMI, Guimarães, Portugal

2015-2018 Microwave reflectometry diagnostics researcher, Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics, Garching, Germany

2013-2018 Microwave reflectometry research engineer, Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Lisbon, Portugal

2012 Junior research assistant, Department of Physics, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal

2011 Summer school monitor at Ciência Viva, INESC-ID/IST, Oeiras, Portugal

Awards

2013 Prémio Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Best Graduate, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

2013 Merit Diploma 2011-2012, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

2012 Best in Class Scholarship 2010-2011, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

2011 Best in Class Scholarship 2009-2010, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

2010 Best in Class Scholarship 2008-2009, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

Research Funding

08/2024 - 07/2028 Project "Blue Array - Integrated blue light phased arrays enabling underwater optical wireless networks: towards a new era of Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT)" from HORIZON EIC Pathfinder  (Grant 101130710). Coordinator: Hao Hu (DTU), PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 550 k€ (3.9 M€ total).

02/2025 - 08/2026 Project "LIL4NOEMS - Laser Interference Lithography setup for NOEMS and diffractive optics fabrication" from FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - Concurso de Projetos Exploratórios em Todos os Domínios Científicos 2023 (2023.14854.PEX). PI: Diogo Aguiam (Single PI grant). Funding: 50 k€.

06/2023 - 12/2025 Project "Sensitive Industry" from Portugal 2020 - SI – Programas Mobilizadores (SIFN-01-9999-FN-182852). Coordinator: Keenfinity Security Systems, PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 909 k€ (10.1 M€ total).

12/2021 - 11/2024 Project "neXt Sense - Safety Connected and Automated Vehicles" from Portugal 2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (SIFN-01-9999-FN-179491), where INL is sub-contracted. Coordinator: Bosch Car Multimedia, Jorge Cabral (University of Minho), INL Co-PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 900 k€ (14.8 M€ total).

10/2020 - 06/2023 Project "FDPanel - Future Door Panel" from Portugal 2020 - SI – Projetos em Copromoção (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-070118). Coordinator: Simoldes Plasticos, PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 571 k€ (5.4 M€ total).

02/2020 - 06/2023 Project "CELINOV - Novas soluções para o automóvel do futuro" from Portugal 2020 - SI – Projetos em Copromoção (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-042747). Coordinator: Celoplás, PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 810 k€ (2.1 M€ total).

10/2019 - 09/2022 Project "JigSense - Innovative jig sensing solutions for production lines"  from Portugal 2020 - SI – Projetos em Copromoção (NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-045087). Coordinator: AOF, PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 228 k€ (945 k€ total).

07/2018 - 12/2021 Project "Sensible Car: Sensores Inteligentes para a Condução Autónoma" from Portugal 2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-037902), where INL is sub-contracted. Coordinator: Bosch Car Multimedia, INL Co-PI (2020-2021): Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 1.2 M€ (34 M€ total).

Individual Research Grants

2018 Research Grant: 1018P.05314 (WPEDU-EUROFUSION), IPFN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

2013 PhD Grant: FCT-SFRH/BD/52414/2013 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

2013 Research Grant: Bolsa de iniciação à investigação científica, Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

2012 Research Grant: Bolsa de iniciação à investigação científica, Departamento de Física, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa