Integrated Optics Lab at INL

Diogo E. Aguiam

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Short Bio

Diogo E. Aguiam is a Research Scientist PI in Integrated Optics at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Braga, Portugal. He develops computational design and fabrication methods for flat optics and MEMS devices, and takes them to industrial applications.

He leads the development of pyMOE, an open-source Python library for mask design and modelling of diffractive optical elements, and builds inverse-design workflows for beam shaping and beam steering that include the limits of the fabrication process. He uses grayscale lithography and develops alternative interference-based lithography tools to fabricate multilevel diffractive optics, metasurfaces and micromachined mechanical structures, up to 200 mm wafer scale. He works closely with industry and takes these technologies into partnerships in photonics, sensing, automotive and manufacturing.

He has secured more than 6.5 M€ in competitive research funding as PI of six projects, including the EIC Pathfinder project Blue Array and industrial R&D projects with Bosch, Keenfinity, Simoldes, Celoplás and AOF, and has supervised more than 10 researchers, students, postdocs and engineers. OpenAlex indexes 64 of his works, with 749 citations (updated 2026-11-15).

He holds a BSc and MSc in Electronics Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, and a double PhD with distinction in Engineering Physics from Ghent University and the University of Lisbon (2018). From 2013 to 2018 he developed microwave reflectometry diagnostics for nuclear fusion at IPFN, Lisbon, and at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Garching, on the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak, an instrumentation background that still shapes his work in sensing.

He is open to research collaborations, joint project proposals, commissioned industrial research, and hosting interns, MSc and PhD students and postdocs. Contact: diogo.aguiam[at]inl.int.

Education
2014-2018 Double PhD with distinction in Engineering Physics, University of Ghent, Belgium, and University of Lisbon, Portugal.
2008-2013 BSc and MSc in Electronics Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal

Professional Experience
2025 - Research Scientist PI, INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
2018-2025 Staff Researcher, INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
2018-2023 Invited Researcher, Centro ALGORITMI, Guimarães, Portugal
2015-2018 Microwave reflectometry diagnostics researcher, Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics, Garching, Germany
2013-2018 Microwave reflectometry research engineer, Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Lisbon, Portugal
2012 Junior research assistant, Department of Physics, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
2011 Summer school monitor at Ciência Viva, INESC-ID/IST, Oeiras, Portugal

Awards
2013 Prémio Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Best Graduate, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
2013 Merit Diploma 2011-2012, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
2012 Best in Class Scholarship 2010-2011, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
2011 Best in Class Scholarship 2009-2010, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
2010 Best in Class Scholarship 2008-2009, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa

Research Funding
08/2024 - 07/2028 Project "Blue Array - Integrated blue light phased arrays enabling underwater optical wireless networks: towards a new era of Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT)" from HORIZON EIC Pathfinder (Grant 101130710). Coordinator: Hao Hu (DTU), PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 550 k€ (3.9 M€ total).
02/2025 - 08/2026 Project "LIL4NOEMS - Laser Interference Lithography setup for NOEMS and diffractive optics fabrication" from FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - Concurso de Projetos Exploratórios em Todos os Domínios Científicos 2023 (2023.14854.PEX). PI: Diogo Aguiam (Single PI grant). Funding: 50 k€.
06/2023 - 12/2025 Project "Sensitive Industry" from Portugal 2020 - SI - Programas Mobilizadores (SIFN-01-9999-FN-182852). Coordinator: Keenfinity Security Systems, PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 909 k€ (10.1 M€ total).
12/2021 - 11/2024 Project "neXt Sense - Safety Connected and Automated Vehicles" from Portugal 2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (SIFN-01-9999-FN-179491), where INL is sub-contracted. Coordinator: Bosch Car Multimedia, Jorge Cabral (University of Minho), INL Co-PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 900 k€ (14.8 M€ total).
10/2020 - 06/2023 Project "FDPanel - Future Door Panel" from Portugal 2020 - SI - Projetos em Copromoção (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-070118). Coordinator: Simoldes Plasticos, PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 571 k€ (5.4 M€ total).
02/2020 - 06/2023 Project "CELINOV - Novas soluções para o automóvel do futuro" from Portugal 2020 - SI - Projetos em Copromoção (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-042747). Coordinator: Celoplás, PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 810 k€ (2.1 M€ total).
10/2019 - 09/2022 Project "JigSense - Innovative jig sensing solutions for production lines" from Portugal 2020 - SI - Projetos em Copromoção (NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-045087). Coordinator: AOF, PI: Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 228 k€ (945 k€ total).
07/2018 - 12/2021 Project "Sensible Car: Sensores Inteligentes para a Condução Autónoma" from Portugal 2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-037902), where INL is sub-contracted. Coordinator: Bosch Car Multimedia, INL Co-PI (2020-2021): Diogo Aguiam (INL). Funding: 1.2 M€ (34 M€ total).

Individual Research Grants
2018 Research Grant: 1018P.05314 (WPEDU-EUROFUSION), IPFN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
2013 PhD Grant: FCT-SFRH/BD/52414/2013, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2013 Research Grant: Bolsa de iniciação à investigação científica, Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa
2012 Research Grant: Bolsa de iniciação à investigação científica, Departamento de Física, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa