hobbies
life beyond academia...
✍️ writing
Writing has always been a passion of mine. Beyond academic papers, project proposals, and technical reports, I'm drawn to writing stories that explore connection, longing, and the quiet moments between people that often go unspoken. I love shaping emotions into words, capturing the tension of a glance or the warmth of a shared silence.
There's something deeply satisfying about finding just the right language to make a feeling vivid, intimate, and real. I usually write these pieces in my mother language, Portuguese, since expressing emotion demands a different kind of fluency and sensitivity to nuance, and sometimes I translate them into English, trying to preserve not just the narrative, but the feeling behind it.
📚 reading
I'm an avid reader across a wide range of genres — from science fiction and historical fiction to essays and non-fiction works on technology, philosophy, and society. Reading is how I unwind, explore new perspectives, and stay curious about the world beyond my research domain.
🍳 cooking
Cooking is where I find both creativity and mindfulness. I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen — especially exploring Portuguese cuisine and the flavors of the many places I've visited. There's real joy in sharing a good meal with family and friends, and I find the process of cooking from scratch genuinely meditative.
✈️ travel
Travel has been a constant companion throughout my life — from growing up in Ponte de Lima, Portugal, to living and working across Europe and now the United States. I love immersing myself in new cultures, discovering local food and history, and meeting people from all walks of life. Every place has a story to tell.
🎵 music
Music is part of my daily life — whether it's the backdrop to a long work session or the main event on a quiet evening. I enjoy a wide range of styles, from classical and jazz to contemporary and folk. Music, like good science, has the power to move you in ways that are hard to articulate but impossible to ignore.
