Macau, ChinaAbout me
Hello there!
My name is Joel Oliveira Reis (河溪久).
I am from Fátima, Portugal, and have been living in Macau, China, since 2014.
Currently, I am an Assistant Professor with the Department of Ocean Science and Technology at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Macau.
My research interests encompass estimation and control theory, with applications to aerial, marine surface, and underwater autonomous vehicles.
UM welcomes you!
The application pathways, funding programmes, and eligibility criteria described below are subject to change by the University of Macau (UM) at any time.
While I strive to keep this information updated, policies may be revised, or programmes discontinued without prior notice.
I strongly encourage prospective candidates to:
- Verify current opportunities on the official UM website.
- Reach out directly to our lab leadership to express interest and confirm available options.
Establishing early contact allows me to guide you through the latest application procedures and explore potential alignment with the research of our group.
If you are interested in pursuing a PhD in our research group, you must first apply and be admitted through the University of Macau (UM) PhD Scholarship.
This competitive scholarship provides outstanding candidates with financial support, including a monthly stipend.
Application Steps:
- Check the eligibility criteria and required documents on the UM PhD Admission page: check it here!.
- Submit your application through the official UM application system.
- Indicate your interest in our research group in your statement of purpose.
I encourage applications from strong candidates with expertise in control theory, applied mathematics, or related disciplines, particularly those with a solid foundation in linear algebra, differential calculus, state-space control, Lyapunov theory, and Kalman filtering.
If you have any questions about our research or the application process, feel free to contact me directly.
I welcome applications from highly motivated postdoctoral researchers to join our team at the University of Macau (UM). Depending on your background and eligibility, there are several ways to apply.
Application Pathways
- Direct Application
- Candidates may apply spontaneously by submitting a CV, research statement, and references directly to me.
- UM Talent Programme (UMTP) (check it here!)
- Designed to attract outstanding graduates from top universities worldwide, the UMTP fosters high-caliber professionals, strengthens international collaboration, and aligns with Macao SAR's vision of "building a better Macao through education."
- Benefits include competitive funding, research support, and opportunities for academic exchange.
- UM Macau Fellow (For Macau Permanent Residents) (check it here!)
- Macau ID holders may apply through this special initiative aimed at nurturing local talent and advancing research excellence at UM.
Requirements
- A PhD in robotics, control theory, applied mathematics, electrical/mechanical engineering, or a related field.
- Expertise in autonomous systems navigation, estimation theory (e.g., Kalman filtering), optimization, or experimental robotics.
- A track record of publications or prototyping (e.g., algorithms tested on real platforms).
- Curiosity to tackle challenges at the intersection of theory and experimentation.
You may also want to take a look at the UM Career Opportunities.
My master's in IST, Lisbon
In 2013, I graduated from Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, with a master's degree in Aerospace Engineering (Avionics major).
During my master's thesis, I worked on the development of an ultra-short baseline (USBL) acoustic positioning system (see photo below).
This type of system, similar to a constellation of radio-navigation satellites, enables accurate localization and navigation of underwater vehicles in challenging environments.
It's an extremely demanding (but rewarding) area of robotics engineering, with many innovative and exciting developments in the horizon!
My PhD in UM, Macau
Afterwards, I pursued a PhD degree at the University of Macau (UM), under the guidance of Professor Carlos Silvestre, Professor Pedro Batista and Professor Paulo Oliveira.
My doctoral dissertation focused primarily on the design of attitude estimation techniques that take into account the rotation of the planet!
This is possible thanks to a class of high-grade rate gyros (devices that measure how fast an object rotates) that are extremely sensitive.
Applications are aplenty and they come with many benefits.
Examples of applications are navigation of submarines or large ships, assisting autonomous robots in precise maneuvers, or offshore platform stabilization.
