Cristina Teixeira’s journey into renewable energy research began when she moved from Madeira to Porto to study Chemical Engineering
at the University of Porto, graduating with a remarkable 17/20. At university, she joined the prestigious LEPABE research
group in 2016, focusing on research into Perovskite Solar Cell (PSC) technology. Her dedication led to a breakthrough in her
master’s thesis: Developing a novel graphitic return contact for service units (2018). In search of further innovation, the
researcher enrolled in a PhD entitled “From Lab to Fab: Optimization of a Cost-Effective and Scalable Fabrication Process
for Perovskite Solar Cells”. In 2021, she joined SAULE Technologies in Poland, contributing to the launch of the world’s first
mass production line for PSCs. There, she achieved a world record efficiency of 25.4% for a flexible PSC with a graphitic
electrode, under low artificial light and led a project to scale up the device, anticipating the start of a new 20-meter-long
R2R pilot line in 2024. Her work at SAULE included the co-invention of a patent and 3 trade secrets, underlining her key role
in advancing PSC technology towards commercialization. Cristina Teixeira’s dedication to solar energy research continued when
she joined CENIMAT|i3N at NOVA University Lisbon in 2023, working on a project to produce eco-fuels from organic waste using
renewable energy, with a focus on improving the technology readiness level of PSC. In 2024, she won a prestigious MSCA postdoctoral
fellowship continuing her research in the same domain. She contributed to the scientific community as a master's thesis examiner,
published 6 articles as an author and shared her early knowledge at prestigious events such as TEDxFunchal and Pint of Science.
At just 29 years old, her career is proof of her important contributions to renewable energy research, in particular to making
perovskite photovoltaic technology commercially viable, laying the foundations for a sustainable and energy-independent future.