I hold a Bachelor's (2021) and a master’s degree (2023) in Civil Engineering, specializing in Urban Planning, Transportation, and Systems, from Instituto Superior Técnico at the University of Lisbon. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in Engineering and Management at the same institution. For my master’s research project, I aimed to apply my passion for operational research to a high-impact issue. Given the urgency and significance of the COVID-19 pandemic, I chose to focus my master's research project on analysing its impact on Portuguese public hospitals. Specifically, I examined how the pandemic affected hospital performance and efficiency, while also improving benchmarking methods used in healthcare evaluation. My research introduced methodological innovations in benchmarking to enhance performance analysis. Additionally, I was able to draw conclusions and policy implications based on hospitals’ responses to the pandemic while also improving methodologies for constructing composite indicators. This work was recognized with a thesis grade of 19/20, reflecting my dedication and contribution to the field. My master’s research resulted in a publication in Health Care Management Science (Q1, open access, DOI: [10.1007/s10729-024-09693-4]), and a second paper currently in advanced stages of review in Operations Research International Journal. Additionally, this publication was selected for presentation at the 8th Annual RedeSAÚDE Conference, where I delivered a talk and presented a poster. I am now working on an upcoming paper that builds upon the methodology I refined during my master's thesis, integrating machine learning-based techniques with composite indicators to enhance the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Comparable to my master’s research, this work allows me to merge my PhD objectives with my passion for operational research, applying advanced analytical methods to a pressing global challenge. Specifically, we explore innovative ways to aggregate and compare environmental performance metrics across nations, ensuring that the EPI better reflects sustainability efforts and drives meaningful policy change. In parallel with my academic journey, I have gained practical experience in my field, initially working as an intern and later as an employee at a civil engineering firm. Currently, I am employed at a consulting firm, where I apply my expertise in data analysis, optimization, and management, while pursuing my PhD. This role also provides the financial support needed to fund my PhD and sustain myself throughout this course. Moreover, I am passionate about teaching and tutoring, having mentored over 20 students in subjects such as mathematics, statistics, and management, ranging from high school to graduate-level courses, for an average of 3–4 hours per week. Additionally, I was invited to serve as a teaching assistant for two graduate-level courses, Data Analysis and Systems' Evaluation (MSc) and Statistical Modelling (PhD), where I guided 15 to 20 students in practical sessions and project assignments, dedicating approximately three hours per week during two semesters. From the end of my master’s (12/23) to the start of my PhD (09/24), I actively prepared for my doctoral studies by defining my research theme and objectives, reviewing relevant literature, and peer-reviewing approximately four articles per year in my field, and have submitted a book chapter which has been accepted but still being published. I pursued this work during my free time while continuing to work (book chapter as part of the "Climate Change Management Series" https://www.springer.com/series/8740). My diverse background, which includes academic excellence, hands-on expertise, programming expertise (MATLAB, CPLEX, and Python, as I develop my own models and code), teaching and mentoring skills, coupled with my ability to adapt to new situations, make me an asset to any organization or team.