Francisco Pereira has a degree in Computer Science. He currently serves as Director of the Machine Learning Core at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
He shares his experience as a student at DCC-FCUP here.
"Although I completed my degree in Computer Science, I began when the program was still a branch of Applied Mathematics. I only later came to understand the emphasis on theoretical and formal topics: this knowledge underpins many areas and makes it easier to adapt to new contexts. It enables one to learn new programming languages, design systems with statistical performance guarantees, or understand that finding the exact solution to a problem can be fundamentally impossible.
Another key aspect of the program’s quality was its integration with projects and a realistic, ambitious internship. I believe that preparation was extremely valuable in helping me cope with the pace and demands of my PhD. And, perhaps most importantly, the energy and approachability of (almost) all the professors, who always found time to discuss a wild idea or offer perspective and advice on future steps. That’s what I think about most when I look back — and now, when I deal with my own students. Thank you!"
(November 2025)