Prof. Helena Pereira, University of Lisbon, Higher Institute of Agronomy, Portugal
Prof. Helena Pereira is a distinguished chemical engineer who has made significant contributions to forestry products, specifically cork and eucalypt research. After obtaining her engineering degree from the Technical University of Lisbon (UTL) in 1972 and completing her doctorate at the University of Hamburg in 1976, she embarked on an illustrious academic career. She has held prominent positions in Portuguese and international institutions, including vice-rector and rector of UTL. Prof. Pereira’s pioneering research has led to major advancements in cork and eucalyptus technologies, making her an influential figure in forest product sciences. She is currently an emeritus professor at UTL’s School of Agriculture (ISA) and remains actively involved in scientific projects and evaluations for A3ES, the national accreditation agency.
🌟📋 Profile
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Prof. Helena Pereira’s extensive experience in the fields of chemical engineering, forest products research, and management of national and international scientific projects makes her a strong candidate for the “Best Researcher Award.” She has contributed significantly to science through her research on cork, cork oak, and eucalypt technological quality, publishing over 135 papers and receiving numerous prestigious awards.
💪🏆 Strengths for the Award
Profound contributions to the fields of cork chemistry, eucalypt technological quality, and forest product innovation.
Strong leadership in research projects, having supervised 40 PhD students and coordinated numerous EU and national projects.
A career-long focus on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, which has influenced international industry practices.
🚀📈 Areas for Improvement
While her achievements are notable, a possible area for development could be further expanding her research focus to more emerging fields such as sustainable bioenergy technologies. Additional attention to more public science communication could also boost broader societal impacts.
🎓 Education
1972: BSc in Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Lisbon (UTL)
1976: Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Hamburg
1984: Habilitation in Engineering, UTL
💼 Experience
Prof. Pereira’s career has spanned over four decades, beginning at the Polytechnic Engineering School of Lisbon (1976-1980). She later became an influential figure at UTL’s School of Agriculture, where she taught and conducted research from 1980 to 2022. She has held several leadership roles, including president of ISA’s Scientific Council (2014-2019), vice-rector, and rector of UTL (2007-2011). Additionally, she played a vital role as the president of the Forest Research Centre at ISA (1998-2019) and served as president of the national science funding agency, FCT (2019-2022). Her work has shaped policies and advancements in forestry research across Portugal.
🔬 Research Interests
Prof. Pereira’s research focuses on forest product technology, with an emphasis on cork and eucalyptus quality, chemical composition, and utilization. Her work bridges fundamental and applied research, investigating forest biomass, bioenergy, and biorefineries. Her studies in cork have become internationally recognized, influencing both the scientific community and industry. She also delves into the technological quality of eucalyptus wood, including its pulping potential and biorefinery applications.
🏆 Awards
2021: Science Merit Award by the Minister for Science, Technology, and Higher Education
2020: Maria de Lourdes Pintassilgo Award
2016: ULisboa/Santander Scientific Award
2011: ISA Merit and Distinction Award
2008: Amorim Academy Award
📚 Publication Top Notes
Wood modification by heat treatment: A review
Effects of short-time vibratory ball milling on the shape of FT-IR spectra of wood and cellulose
Cork: biology, production and uses
Chemical composition and variability of cork from Quercus suber L.
Influence of steam heating on the properties of pine (Pinus pinaster) and eucalypt (Eucalyptus globulus) wood
Production of oligosaccharides by autohydrolysis of brewery’s spent grain
The chemical composition of exhausted coffee waste
Chemical changes of heat treated pine and eucalypt wood monitored by FTIR
Determination of Lignin Content of Eucalyptus globulus Wood Using FTIR Spectroscopy
Heat-induced colour changes of pine (Pinus pinaster) and eucalypt (Eucalyptus globulus) wood
✨🔍 Conclusion
Prof. Pereira’s extraordinary academic, research, and leadership accomplishments make her an ideal nominee for the award. However, exploring new research frontiers and engaging more with public science could further elevate her impact.