Ricardo André Mendes Pereira

Bio

Ricardo A. M. Pereira was born in 1993 in Coimbra, Portugal. He graduated in 2017 as MSc in Physics Eng. from the University of Coimbra and as a Ph.D. in Electrical Eng. from the University of Aveiro in 2025. His main interests are wireless power transfer (WPT) at long distances, where he implemented a new approach to the beam propagation, increasing its efficiency through quasioptics and bridging it with antenna theory. He authored and co-authored a book chapter on WPT, over 14 articles in renowned journals and 17 conference papers, giving him the opportunity to present his work at relevant international events. He proposed an original solar power satellite concept capable of supplying energy to the Moon, which won funding from ESA’s Call for Ideas 2021.
Ricardo has been collaborating in several initiatives as a volunteer, being a previous chair of the local IEEE MTT-s & AP-s student branch at the University of Aveiro, while also contributing to the IEEE Wireless Power Transfer Initiative.
His work has been distinguished, winning several best paper awards, winning the Best Student Paper Award at WPTCE 2022, 1st place at the International Space Solar Power Student Competition 2022, 1st place in the Portuguese Armed Forces Innovation Award, the “Outstanding Award” at the IEEE Wireless Power Transfer Conference & Expo (WPTCE) 2024 Student Design Competition. He also participated at Prototypes for Humanity 2024 and was awarded the URSI GASS 2023 Young Scientist Award, and European Microwave Internship Award 2022 by EuMA.
Currently, he is a researcher at “Instituto de Telecomunicações” Aveiro, continuing his work on WPT, while also contributing to advanced microwave beam control technologies, namely reflectarray structures based on metasurface techniques. He is also interested in fundamental physics, space technologies and renewable energies.