Cristina Sofia dos Santos Neves

Cristina Neves graduated in Chemistry by the University of Minho, in 2009 she got her  MSc in Environmental Management by the same institution and in 2014 successfully completed her PhD in Sustainable Chemistry by the University of Porto. She is currently a researcher at CICECO - Centre for Research in Ceramics and Composite Materials, University of Aveiro, where she has been involved on the development of clay based nanomaterials for encapsulation of active species for different coating applications within several different projects (FUNACOP, NANOBARRIER, SMARCOAT, MULTISURF, MAGICOAT). Dr. Cristina Neves have published a total of 15 papers (h index 11) and also contributed with a book chapter for Elsevier on the potential of nanoparticles in molecular diagnosis. During her PhD and Postdoctoral work, she supervised  undergraduate and  MSc students. Her work was presented in high level meetings (both poster and oral presentations) and was awarded by different panels with key figures in the field: Best Paper Award, in 2012 (in theXI International Conference on Nanostructured Materials), and a Young Scientist Award in 2013 by European Materials Research Society (E-MRS). 

Domain of specialization

Synthesis and functionalization of fluorescent silica nanoparticles (incorporation of organic and inorganic fluorophores);

Electrochemical techniques: cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, controlled potential electrolysis;

Structural and compositional techniques: transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray spectroscopy dispersive energy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy and ultra violet-visible (Uv-Vis).

Current interests

Synthesis of nanostructures and nanostructured surfaces.

Surface functionalisation of nanostructures to improve their stability and / or compatibility.

Development of nanocontentores for the controlled release of active substances (corrosion inhibitors, biocides, pH indicators) and their incorporation into coating matrices, and structural, morphological and electrochemical characterization.

February 2017-Present
CICECO, University of Aveiro
Post-Doctoral Fellow in FCT Project MAGICOAT
(Supervisor: Dr. João Tedim)

July 2015-December 2016
CICECO, University of Aveiro
Post-Doctoral Fellow in FP7-EU Project NANOBARRIER
(Supervisors: Prof. Mário G.S. Ferreira and Dr. João Tedim)

June 2006-June 2015
CICECO, University of Aveiro
Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Project - FUNACOP 
(Supervisors: Prof. Mario G. S. Ferreira and Dr. João Tedim)

January 2009 –April 2014
Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto (FCUP), Portugal
PhD in Sustainable Chemistry
(Supervisors: Dr. Peter Eaton and Dr. Eulália Pereira)

October 2007 - July 2009 
Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
MSc in Environmental Management (Biological Engineering)
(Supervisors: Dr. Maria José Medeiros and Dr. Maria Teresa Tavares)

September 2002 - November 2006 
Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
Four-year Degree in Chemistry - Quality Control of Plastic Materials (“Licenciatura em Química - Controlo de Qualidade de MAteriais Plásticos”)


Prizes

1) Young Scientist Award (2013) - European Materials Research Society (E-MRS).

2) Best Paper Award (2012) - XI International Conference on Nanostructured Materials.