After 40 years in higher education, I took early retirement in 2024 for family reasons. 

At school, mathematics was always my favourite subject, which I then pursued at university to PhD level. At high school, I regularly tutored mathematics to younger pupils, which I enjoyed and found gratifying because of the difference I was able to make to their studies. I helped my daughters and still regularly help nieces and nephews with mathematics at different levels.

As an academic in higher education, I have taught mathematics to first-year students taking Engineering or Computer Science degrees. Acknowledging that my students were not necessarily interested in learning mathematics per se, I adopted a student-centred learning approach, searching for practical examples that might be of interest and motivate them to learn, emphasising problem-solving so that mathematical concepts would more easily be brought to life and acquired in a meaningful context.

I am fluent in Portuguese (native), English, French (I did my secondary education in a French lycée and I have lived in France) and also in Italian (I am married to an Italian). I have also lived and worked in several countries across Europe, USA and Brazil, which allows me to appreciate diversity – be it of cultures, religions or traditions – and has helped me better understand and communicate with students from diverse backgrounds.