The CMU Portugal Program hosted an Info Session, on October 7th, to guide potential candidates to apply to the Open Calls for Mobility Programs “Visiting Students” and “Visiting Faculty & Researchers”, open until November 15th.
To date, the CMU Portugal Program has supported 88 Visiting Students and 107 Faculty and Researchers’ visits to Carnegie Mellon University. In the Fall of 2026, 12 students and 6 faculty are heading to CMU for a research period.
João Magalhães, the National Co-director, welcomed the participants to the session, which was moderated by the Program’s Executive Director, Silvia Castro.
João Fumega, CMU Portugal’s Education Officer, offered an overview of both CMU Portugal Mobility initiatives, focusing on the application process and main requirements. Megan Berty, CMU Portugal Associate Director at CMU, spoke next on the CMU requirements and the support available from the Coordination office in Pittsburgh.
The session also featured insights from André Clérigo, Master’s graduate in Computer Engineering and Telematics currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the Universidade de Aveiro and conducting research at Instituto de Telecomunicações. André shared his experience as a 2025 Visiting Student, hosted by Professor Peter Steenkiste in the Computer Science Department. His research focuses on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), specifically developing solutions to improve the safety of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) within the framework of smart cities.
Alessandro Gianola, Assistant Professor at Técnico and researcher at INESC-ID shared his experience as a 2024 Visiting Faculty and Researcher. At CMU, he was hosted at the Computer Science Department, by Professor Ruben Martins, having also collaborated with Dual Degree Ph.D. student Margarida Ferreira. During his visit to CMU, his research focused on developing frameworks for the formal analysis and automated discovery of complex business processes using event logs and real data, as well as integrating industrial technologies into the analysis of dynamic systems.
Both guests described the application process as straightforward and efficient. While André Clérigo recalled the statement of work as the most demanding component, both agreed that preparing and submitting the application was a simple process.
Both participants benefited from their advisors’ guidance: André was encouraged to apply by his supervisor, a former program participant, connecting him to a potential host, while Alessandro was referred by his advisor to Ruben Martins, a CMU faculty member whose expertise matched his research interests.
When discussing their transition to CMU, both participants highlighted the importance of preparation. André mentioned the value of connecting with current and former participants for practical advice while Alessandro encouraged future participants, especially those who don’t have Portuguese nationality, to start the visa process early.
Reflecting on their experience, both emphasized the benefits of full immersion in the campus life, by taking advantage of the academic resources, and engaging with the CMU community. Beyond the scientific outcomes, the Mobility Program also fostered lasting professional connections and future collaboration opportunities. André co-authored a research paper and built relationships that continue to support his Ph.D., while Alessandro’s visit opened new perspectives for research partnerships.
The info session wrapped up with a 15-minute Q&A, allowing participants to ask questions to the panelists.
The deadline of applications for both Calls is November 15th.
For further questions about all our initiatives, please visit our website, or contact us at apply@cmuportugal.org.