Rafael Alexandre Pires Miranda, who holds a PhD in Engineering and Management from Instituto Superior Técnico, is one of the newest faculty members to join the DEG. His doctoral research was carried out in an industrial setting through a collaboration between CEGIST and Siemens Healthineers, strengthening the connection between high-quality academic research and real-world challenges.

At Técnico, he will teach the curricular units Engineering, Decision and Public Policy and Risk Assessment and Management, and is already lecturing Engineering Project Management. He embraces a student-centred teaching philosophy:

I believe that students’ expectations and experiences should guide what we do in the classroom. It is our responsibility to share relevant and up-to-date theoretical knowledge, but also to connect it with students’ daily lives and with what they expect as future professionals and citizens.

His research focuses on decision analysis under uncertainty and risk, decision support systems, and group decision facilitation, with applications in health technology assessment and health policy design - domains that are essential for strengthening decision-making processes and supporting informed public policy.

Beyond his academic path, Rafael also shares a memorable moment from his PhD journey:

My PhD defence was taking place remotely when the nationwide blackout of 28 April occurred. The defence continued, and I received the final verdict while charging my phone in the car.

Welcome to the DEG, Rafael!