Catarina Alves

Postdoctoral researcher
Eindhoven University of Technology

Department

Department of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry in TU/e

Contact information

Room
Helix 14 STO 1.35 (TU/e)

Email address
a.c.gomes.moreira.alves@tue.nl

Key expertises

Material Science, Electrochemistry, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemical Energy Storage

About me

I am a Chemist, originally from Porto, Portugal. I have completed by PhD in Chemical Engineering (2025) at the Materials Engineering & Energy group, Centro de Química Estrutural at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. On February 2026, I joined TU/e and Utrecht University as an ARC CBBC postdoctoral researcher. Besides Science, I am a padel and bouldering enthusiast.

About my research

My postdoctoral research is focused on high entropy alloys (HEAs) – an emerging class of materials – for alkaline water electrolysis, in a collaborative project between TU/e, Utrecht University and Shell as the industrial parter. By combining expertise in materials science and electrochemistry, the project creates a ‘catalytic synergy’ aimed at deepening the fundamental understanding on HEAs and supporting progress towards cleaner, more sustainable chemistry.

Building on my background in (electro)chemistry, my research experience in Material Science, Electrochemistry, and Advanced Characterization Techniques are valuable assets for successfully developing high-performance, durable electrodes for sustainable energy applications for industry and society.

Academic career

Postdoctoral researcher
02/2026 – present: Postdoctoral research fellow in Electrocatalytic Synthesis and Electrochemical Interfaces group at TU/e, within a collaborative project with the Utrecht University and Shell.

PhD in Chemical Engineering
02/2021 – 11/2025: PhD degree in Chemical Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal, under the supervision of Prof. Fátima Montemor and Prof. Jorge Correira. Thesis project in Novel pH-sensitive self-healing electrodes for MnOx-based pseudocapacitors, within the project Self-healing electrodes for Hybrid Supercapacitors: A new path to enable electrochemical energy storage (PTDC/QUI-ELT/2075/2020). Mark: Pass with Distinction and Honour.
04/2023 – 06/2023: Internship at Politécnico di Torino, Italy, as part of the PhD project.

Early Stage Researcher
01/2020 – 01/2021: Researcher at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal and Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal, within the project Multifunctional cobalt oxide nanofoams: novel electrode materials for supercapacitors and electrocatalytic oxygen reactions (PTDC/QUI-ELT/28299/2017)

Master in Chemistry
09/2017 – 11/2019: Master degree in Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal, under the supervision of Prof. Jorge Correira and Prof. Lionel Dubois. Thesis project in Synthesis and characterization of abiotic electrocatalysts based on reduced graphene oxide for oxygen reduction reaction.
09/2018 – 02/2019: Internship at Université of Grenoble Alpes, France, under the ERAMUS+ program, as part of the MSc project.

Bachelor in Chemistry
09/2014 – 07/2017: Bachelor degree in Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal, under the supervision of Prof. Eulália Pereira and Prof. Carlos Granadeiro. Thesis project in Catalytic effect of polyoxometalates in the oxidative desulfurization of oils.

Awards and scientific honors

2021 – 2024: PhD fellowhsip from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)

2015/2016 – Scholar pricer Doutor Mendonça Monteiro
This award is granted annually to the top-ranking student in the course Physical Chemistry (Q223), who has demonstrated a strong interest and aptitude for research.
Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal