This year, Professor Maria Helena Godinho was featured on the EUTOPIA platform, an alliance of leading European universities working together to drive global change through research, innovation, and education, recognizing her dedication to research in Soft Matter.
“Being a woman in science means dedicating life to research with passion while balancing family and career. It’s filled with challenges and hard work but brings rewards through collaborations and friendships while breaking barriers, inspiring change, and shaping the future through innovation.” – Maria Helena Godinho.

Professor Maria Helena Godinho’s research explores natural polymers like cellulose to develop biocompatible, renewable liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs)—smart materials that respond to heat, light, and humidity, paving the way for sustainable innovations in soft robotics, biomedical devices, and engineering.

Check out the EUTOPIA feature here.