Helena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (DEMI) at NOVA FCT. Her know-how lies in interdisciplinary collaboration, where she merges concepts from engineering, management, sustainability, and technology to tackle practical challenges and advance knowledge. Since Dec 2023, she is the Director of UNIDEMI – Research and Development Unit for Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

As the local PI for two pivotal international projects, MarLEM (Maritime Logistics Engineering and Management) and M4ML (Mobility for Maritime Logistics), funded by the European Commission and EAA Grants respectively, she played a key role in securing funding essential for the development of the innovative Master in Maritime Logistics and for the capacitation of NOVA FCT in the maritime logistics domain. These projects opened avenues for collaboration with international partners, including universities, clusters and industrial associations. The Master’s in Maritime Logistics is a joint program with the Naval Academy and was shaped to meet the training needs of international professionals in the maritime-port industry, integrating maritime logistics knowledge with essential soft skills.