Mauro Henriques

From a young age, I've always been fascinated by how the world works, this curiosity led me to explore various fields such as chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. My passion for understanding these subjects guided my educational path. Thus, I pursued a bachelor's degree in Bioengineering, that focused mostly on chemistry and biotechnology, at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, where I graduated with a GPA of 4 (17 out of 20). Following this, I completed my master's degree in Bioengineering (chemical and biological engineering) at the University of Porto (FEUP), which is considered the top engineering university in Portugal. There, I achieved a GPA of 4 (18 out of 20). I am particularly proud of my master's dissertation, regarding the synthesis of a nanoformulation by different organic polymers and the upscale of this nanoformulation following the FDA guidelines and GMP conditions, which won the 2024 master’s dissertation award from the Order of Engineers of Portugal. Plus, I also won a merit Scholarship regarding the year of 2021/2022 by DGES (General Directorate of Higher Education), a public identity. These achievements reflect my dedication, hard work and discipline.

My academic education offer me extensive contact hours with academic research, thus, I developed a high sense of critical thinking, which has been observed to be an advantage of my profile, and also allowed me to deal with research uncertainty. In my bachelor’s and master’s internships I’ve had the privilege to do organic chemical synthesis and polymer synthesis to produce polymeric nanoparticles to act has a drug delivery system in humans, thus, I am comfortable in working with bio-based materials. Furthermore, my profile can be adapt in several work fields when concerning industry field, including chemical synthesis, quality control, unitary process control, research and development (R&D), industrial management, data science, among others. While acting has a bridge between academic research and industry, my master's dissertation has provided me with a thorough understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice conditions, and ISO standards. 

I am pleased to present my work and internship experience, along with the valuable lessons I have learned from them.

Bachelor's Internship (2022/02-2022/07)

During my Bachelor’s internship, with a grade of 20 out of 20 values, I had the opportunity to work with a renowned research group in Portugal known for its expertise in biomaterials. This experience marked my first exposure to the world of research. Building on my prior laboratory experience from my Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering (Chemical and Biological Engineering), I worked daily in the lab, enhancing my technical skills with various equipment and techniques. I had the chance to synthesize polymeric compounds for nanoparticle synthesis that selectively eliminated senescent cells by senotherapeutics delivery and operate a wide range of laboratory research equipment.

Additionally, I formed strong friendships with building maintenance employees, PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, which significantly improved my interpersonal skills and allowed me to recognize the importance of each person role in the building. I also learned the importance of managing a research group, from the lab bench to the offices, which instilled in me a greater sense of responsibility towards the world around me. In the research environment, I discovered the critical importance of mutual assistance among team members. This sense of cooperation drives scientific progress and evolution while maintaining a positive personal atmosphere within the institution.

Industrial plant design project (2023/02-2023/06)

In the first year of my Master's program, my colleagues and I took on the challenge of designing an industrial plant for the production and purification of an enzyme. This project encompassed both upstream and downstream processes, from treating reagents for enzyme production using fungi to isolating the enzyme in a porous state. The project presented a significant challenge due to the need to configure a range of equipment, including chromatography systems, bioreactors, sterilization units, spray dryers, and centrifuges, within a short timeframe.

Despite the difficulty, the experience was incredibly rewarding. It allowed us to apply the knowledge acquired during our Bachelor's and Master's studies to a project deeply rooted in chemical and biological engineering. Additionally, as a team project, it fostered trust among team members and helped us manage various tasks effectively. I played a fundamental role in leadership and management within the group. Ultimately, our efforts were recognized with a grade of 19 out of 20, reflecting the quality of our work and dedication.

Industrial summer internship at wood furniture company (2023/06-2023/09)

In the summer of the first year of my Master's program, I undertook an extracurricular internship at a company specializing in the production of furniture components and carpentry. This three-month internship was pivotal for me as it marked my first experience in the industry. Here, I was introduced to the fast-paced and assertive nature of the industrial sector and the importance of creating and capturing value for the company. Additionally, I observed the significance of organization across all workstations and, more importantly, the relationships between employees and different departments within the company.

I concluded that these relationships must be professional and goal-oriented, led by competent leaders who encourage value production for the company. Much like in research, mutual assistance is crucial for maintaining an efficient and sustainable business environment.

Project investigation on hemodynamics (2023/09-2024/01)

During the second year of my Master's program, I had the opportunity to undertake an internship on an embryonic project at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra. The study focused on hemodynamics using PDMS vein molds and a technique titled micro-PIV (Micro Particle Image Velocimetry Principle). Due to the nature of this project, I was able to take on a leadership role and become autonomous in this area of research. Moreover, the suboptimal conditions for the project fostered the development of dynamic and adaptable approaches, enabling me to achieve the objectives set at the project's outset.

Master dissertation (2023/09-2024/07)

During my Master’s dissertation, with a grade of 19 out of 20 values, I was fortunate to receive a research scholarship due to my proven laboratory skills. My dissertation, titled "Engineering Nanoformulations to Deliver Senotherapies," focused on developing a nanoformulation under GMP conditions, adhering to guidelines provided by the FDA and EMA to ensure comprehensive quality assurance and the creation of SOP’s. Throughout this year, I worked with a wide range of techniques and equipment, including HPLC, 1H NMR, freeze-drying, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), centrifugation, flow cytometry, filtration, among others detailed in my CV.

This experience provided me with a more sophisticated perspective on research and reinforced my desire to make a positive impact globally by helping people. Consequently, I am seeking a company that shares these goals and values. Additionally, this year reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among colleagues. Mutual assistance can lead to the achievement of desirable goals, both individually and collectively. 

This dissertation allowed me to won the Master's dissertation award by the Order of Engineers of Portugal (2024 edition), recognizing my hard work and discipline. 

In conclusion, my academic background, personal development, and professional experiences, including work and internships, have made me a dynamic candidate who values scientific knowledge and, more importantly, understands the significance of interpersonal relationships among colleagues in diverse environments.

Dear Human Resources Team,

I am pleased to present my education, along with the valuable lessons I have learned from them.

My education is primarily composed of two distinct courses: a Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering with a specialization in Chemical and Biological Engineering, and a Master's degree in Bioengineering with a specialization in Biological Engineering.

The Bachelor's degree, which I pursued at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, offered extensive practical training, ranging from microbiology laboratories to separation process laboratories. This practical component allowed me to gain experience with various types of equipment, including distillation columns, filtration, centrifugation, drying, pump systems, heat exchangers, among others. The practical experience was complemented by the theoretical development, ensuring a thorough understanding of each piece of equipment. Consequently, the Bachelor's degree provided me with a solid foundation in chemical processes and separations, with a strong biological component.

Regarding the Master's degree in Bioengineering with a specialization in Biological Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, this program enabled me to apply the knowledge previously acquired in an industrial environment and to develop new tools related to resource management, fostering the maturity necessary for the formation of an engineer. Herein, I was able, with colleagues, to design an industry plant with several unitary operations including its characteristics. This project is crucial to finish the master’s program and resulted in a grade of 19 out of 20. Moreover, it encouraged dynamism and autonomy through several research projects throughout the Master's program. My Master thesis, that evaluated the upscale of nanoparticles production, made by the synthesis of different polymers, following the FDA guidelines and the creation of SOP’s, won the Master's dissertation award by the Order of Engineers of Portugal (2024 edition).

Finally, both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees facilitated the advanced use of various tools and abilities, particularly Microsoft programs such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, GraphPad Prism, Adobe Illustrator, scientific writing, math lab and python.