Research Student Office

The Research Student Office plays a central role coordinating initiatives aimed at research students across INESC TEC, strengthening the institute’s capacity in advanced training by bridging education and research. It acts as an extension of the Board of Directors in shaping strategy, supporting evidence-based decision-making, and advancing a coherent institutional vision for this community that represents a significant share of INESC TEC’s human resources and is a key driver of knowledge creation and innovation.

The office’s mission is threefold: to enrich the research journey of students  — primarily PhD candidates — by preparing them for excellence through close collaboration with academia and industry; to enable INESC TEC to stand out as a distinctive actor in advanced training, enhancing its institutional reputation and impact; and to foster an institutional culture that recognises research students as essential contributors to the scientific and innovation ecosystem.

The office is laying the foundations to achieve its vision: position INESC TEC as an international reference in doctoral research and training, and as one of the best places to pursue a PhD. Adopting a holistic approach, it operates across multiple dimensions, from improving the student experience and promoting good supervision practices, to strengthening academic and industry collaboration, enhancing communication and operational support, and monitoring student progress and related performance indicators.

By engaging with all key stakeholders — students, supervisors, academic partners, business partners, and internal structures — the office aims to ensure that research students are effectively supported, mentored and equipped with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to excel, produce world-class research and reinforce INESC TEC’s global reputation.