Ivan Santos is a PhD student at Cenimat/i3N, specializing in wave-optical light-trapping structures for terrestrial and extraterrestrial
power systems. His research couples optoelectronic simulations with advanced nanofabrication techniques—including greyscale,
nanoimprint, and colloidal lithography—to develop next-generation photovoltaic technologies, such as thin, tandem, and perovskite
solar cells. He pioneers nanofabrication research within his institution, optimizing photonic strategies for enhanced solar
energy conversion and color tunability. Santos has earned multiple distinctions, including ranking first in Portugal’s national
PhD scholarship program (FCT) and receiving the first honorable mention from the Ordem dos Engenheiros. His MSc thesis culminated
in the submission of a paper, securing the highest thesis grade. He plays a key role in national (SpaceFlex, FlexSolar) and
international (BURST, JUMP into SPACE) projects, collaborating with experts in solar energy deployment and exploitation of
emerging photovoltaic technologies in >10 projects. Within these initiatives, he leads the optoelectronic simulation, integration,
and performance assessment tasks of in-house developed photonic schemes for solar energy conversion. -As a lecturer, he teaches
both experimental and theoretical courses and supervises BSc and MSc thesis students in nanofabrication and optoelectronic
modeling. Beyond academia, Santos actively shares his research as an invited speaker at IEEE Nano, discussing photonic engineering
for space photovoltaics, and engages in national and international outreach, including the European Researchers' Night (ERN),
to inspire younger generations. Santos also co-organizes international scientific events, such as the E-MRS Fall Meeting 2025,
and serves as a reviewer for leading journals under his expertise, including Solar RRL and Optics Express.