Filipa Rodrigues receives UMinho award on behalf of the ActiveMatrix student team
Marta Sofia Rocha Ribeiro, Ana Beatriz Vilaça Faria and Filipa Veloso Rodrigues developed the ActiveMatrix student work at IPC under the supervision of Bruno Faria and Cláudia Buga. Filipa received the award on behalf of the team.
Group photograph at the 2026 UMinho Scientific Research Initiation Award ceremony. Source: ENGIUM, School of Engineering, University of Minho.Filipa Veloso Rodrigues receives the award on behalf of the three-student ActiveMatrix team. Source: ENGIUM, School of Engineering, University of Minho.
Filipa Veloso Rodrigues received the award as representative of the three-student team formed by Marta Sofia Rocha Ribeiro, Ana Beatriz Vilaça Faria and Filipa Veloso Rodrigues. The team was recognised in the seventh edition of the Prémio UMinho de Iniciação na Investigação Científica, at the ceremony on 9 October 2026 at the University of Minho’s Gualtar campus in Braga.
The team’s project, “3D-Bonecraft ActiveMatrix: Controlo da Percolação Elétrica para Scaffolds Ósseos Funcionais”, developed within 3D-BONECRAFT, explored the preparation and processing of PHA/MXene composites and their electrical characterisation. The work included material dispersion and sonication, film production by blade coating, and participation in electrical measurements.
ActiveMatrix investigates whether conductive networks in PHA/MXene composites can provide adjustable electrical conductivity and a resistance response to hydration. These are materials-design questions that motivate the development of functional bone-scaffold materials.
The student research at the Institute for Polymers and Composites (IPC), University of Minho, was jointly supervised by Bruno Faria and Cláudia Buga.
Filipa Veloso Rodrigues presents the ActiveMatrix research. Source: ENGIUM, School of Engineering, University of Minho.Filipa Veloso Rodrigues presents the ActiveMatrix research. Source: ENGIUM, School of Engineering, University of Minho.Filipa Veloso Rodrigues during the ActiveMatrix presentation. Source: ENGIUM, School of Engineering, University of Minho.Filipa Veloso Rodrigues at the UMinho award ceremony. Photograph supplied by Bruno Faria.Filipa Veloso Rodrigues receives the award on behalf of the three-student ActiveMatrix team. Photograph supplied by Bruno Faria.Group photograph at the 2026 UMinho Scientific Research Initiation Award ceremony. Source: ENGIUM, School of Engineering, University of Minho.
