Hugo Filipe

About

I obtained a PhD in Chemistry, specialization in Biological Chemistry, at University of Coimbra, Portugal. With the PhD I complemented my experimental background with expertise in the simulation of biological systems using molecular and kinetic modeling techniques in the group of Prof. Maria João Moreno and Prof. Luís M. S. Loura. This work focused on the study by atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation of the interaction and permeation of amphiphilic molecules through lipid bilayers, as well as on the kinetic modeling for the prediction of passive permeation of drugs through physiological barriers.

During the PhD I visited the group of Prof. Ilpo Vattulainen, Tampere, Finland, where I developed calculations of free energy profiles for the interaction and permeation of solutes through lipid bilayers. The characterization of the target systems was complemented in a research article by an important methodological contribution for the calculation of these free energy profiles. This collaboration is currently active with a recent publication in 2018.

In the final stage of the PhD I worked in the group of Dr. Armindo Salvador, at the Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra. This allowed me to explore different kinetic modeling approaches addressing a different subject, redox signaling.

From 2015 to 2016 I was post-doctoral fellow in the Center of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the University of Lisbon, Portugal. Here I did both experimental and simulation work on another different subject, the interaction of polyphenols with lipid bilayers and their effects in human cells. This opened horizons for the health beneficial effects of phytochemical compounds provided they permeate to their targets. This collaboration is currently active with a recent publication in 2019.

In late 2016 I moved to the Biological Chemistry Group, at Coimbra Chemistry Center (CQC). Here I focused on the characterization of biomolecular systems, using atomistic and coarse grained (CG) MD simulations. I developed a methodology to accurately calculate rate constants from free energy profiles obtained from CG MD, also in collaboration with the Computational and Systems Biology Group, CNC. From December 2018 to July 2021, I worked at the Colloids Chemistry Group of the University of Coimbra, where I developed computational research for the detailed characterization of chemical systems applied to specific industrial problems.

Since September 2021, I am working at CPIRN-IPG – Center of Potential and Innovation of Natural Resources, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Portugal.

Employment

• Instituto Politécnico da Guarda
  2021 - Present
• Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Química de Coimbra
  2018 - 2021
• CNC.IBILI Post-doctoral fellow
  2017 - 2018
• Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Química de Coimbra Post-doctoral fellow
  2016 - 2017
• Fundação da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Post-doctoral fellow
  2015 - 2016
• Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular da Universidade de Coimbra Research Fellow
  2014 - 2015
• Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra PhD student
  2010 - 2014
• Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra Research Fellow
  2008 - 2010
• Centro de Formação Profissional de Santarém Formation for Safety and Health at Work
  2007 - 2008
• University of Calabria Erasmus student (training)
  2006 - 2006
• Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra Training student
  2005 - 2007

Education

• University of Coimbra PhD
  2009 - 2014
• University of Coimbra Master
  2008 - 2009
• University of Coimbra Graduation
  2001 - 2006

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications

Publications are unavailable.