The dream of working with house and bridge construction made Bruno study civil engineering. When he got the taste for research, his professional life took a new turn. This led him into the world of rock mechanics!
It was the sense for math and physics that attracted Bruno Figueiredo to a career as a researcher. Although numerical analysis already formed the basis in his profession as a civil engineer, the research position took him to new levels.
– Tunneling, underground projects for hydropower, and foundations on rock were all new for me, says Bruno, who goes on to say that it was at the research institute home in Lisbon that he first heard of Itasca. A highly respected research colleague used to work with code developments for Itasca, at the headquarters in Minneapolis, during the summers.
Theory becomes practice
Bruno, who was recently recruited to Itasca's office in Stockholm, took the university route to Sweden. After more than 13 years of research, in Lisbon as well as in Strasbourg and Uppsala, he now holds a doctoral degree in geophysics / rock mechanics.
– In Uppsala, I studied thermo-hydro-mechanical analysis with application to, among other things, carbon dioxide sequestration and geothermal energy. I look forward to put my theoretical knowledge into practical use. Now I will learn more about stability analysis for mines and tunnels!
Why did you apply for a job with Itasca?
– We are "the perfect match". My background fits the needs for Itasca and I already worked with Itasca software. I understood already in 2007, that Itasca was "the company to be in", and now we have come full circle.
