Since my Master’s Thesis, I have been researching program synthesis, the task of constructing a computer program based on a high-level description of what it should do. I will continue to explore this topic on my PhD: through program synthesis, I hope to find ways to help everyone easily and safely use a computer to automate daily tasks.
I am a PhD candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering, pursuing a double degree at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). I am advised by Yuejie Chi (CMU) and João Xavier (IST), and co-advised by Cláudia Soares (NOVA). Prior to that, I received an MSc in Aerospace Engineering from IST in 2019. My research interests focus on provable optimization methods for efficient distributed machine learning systems. During my PhD, I have been working on efficient vertical federated learning.
Afonso Amaral leads international alliances research at the Critical Technology Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on technology and manufacturing policy and regulation. His research specializes in advanced manufactured products, trade, innovation, and industrial mobilization strategies to address product shortages and crises. He co-develops an early warning mechanism for monitoring supply chain disruptions with the Chief Economist team at the European Commission’s DG GROW.
I graduated in Instituto Superior Técnico, where I have joined the local Capture-The-Flag (CTF) team called STT. Ever since, I have participated in many security competitions and have been dedicated to the field of computer security, first focused on cryptography and now on web analysis.
His research has been featured in top venues such as ASE, ICSE, PLDI, and TOSEM. Notably, his work on PolyglotPiranha, a refactoring tool developed with Uber’s Programming Systems Group, is used by multibillion-dollar companies.
I’m a PhD student at LTI@CMU and IST. I’m interested in machine learning and natural language processing, with a particular focus on machine translation and interpretability.
Rudolph Santarromana’s research focuses on the social, political, and regulatory challenges to deploying low-carbon technologies. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois, M.S from Instituto Superior Técnico, and finished his PhD in 2024 in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and Instituto Superior Técnico, receiving an award for “Outstanding Dissertation”. Prior to starting his PhD, he worked on projects with several organizations including EDP Renewables, the United Nations, and grassroots advocacy organizations.
