Exclusive Interviews with the New SPOT Nordic Team: Pedro Carvalho
- SPOT Nordic
- Feb 7
- 3 min read
Pedro N. Carvalho left Vila do Conde for Denmark in 2013 in search of international research experience. He is now an associate professor, leads research projects, supervises students, and coordinates an online master’s program in collaboration with a Canadian university.
In this interview, he discusses his experience in Denmark, the balance between work and personal life, the importance of networking, and the challenges of research. Discover how he plans to contribute to SPOT Nordic and strengthen collaborations between Portugal and the Nordic countries. 🎙️
▶️ Who are you? I'm originally from Vila do Conde and studied in Porto. After finishing my PhD, I wanted to gain international experience. In 2013, a postdoctoral position brought me to Denmark, and since then, everything has snowballed. 🎓🌍
Besides research—which I find incredibly fulfilling—music has always been a great passion. Before moving to Denmark, I studied guitar and had a few musical projects, but I ended up not pursuing that career. 🎸🎶
In my free time, I enjoy being out in nature, especially long walks with our four-legged friend at home. The plan for the future is to stay in Denmark and continue enjoying the excellent conditions that the Danish academic environment offers. 🐕🌿
▶️ What do you do? I'm an associate professor. I lead several research projects, supervise students, and coordinate a new online master's program in partnership with a Canadian university. 📚🌎
About a third of my time is dedicated to managing a research group of about 30 people, including faculty, senior and junior researchers, lab technicians, postdocs, and PhD students. 🏛️👨🔬
▶️ What is a typical day like? Routine and research don’t always go hand in hand. Some periods are filled with travel—whether for fieldwork, meetings, workshops, or conferences. ✈️📢
When I’m in the office, my days often include online meetings for project coordination or in-person meetings for managing the research group and the department. If an instrument in one of our labs breaks down, the whole day shifts to finding quick solutions to support the students. 🔬🛠️
▶️ What do you value most about living in your city and country? The famous "work-life balance." It’s always a challenge for academics, but in Denmark, it’s highly respected. ⚖️🇩🇰
▶️ What do you value in Portugal as an emigrant that you didn’t before? The sun… ☀️☀️
▶️ In your opinion, what are the priority areas for collaboration between Portugal and the Nordic countries? Academia! 📚🤝
▶️ Why did you decide to join SPOT Nordic? I believe networking is essential for professional success. Being part of a network of Portuguese professionals in the Nordic countries and working to strengthen ties between Portugal and the region made perfect sense. 🌍🔗
▶️ How can you contribute to the SPOT Nordic team? Time is always limited, but when an interesting project comes up or someone needs help, we always find a few minutes. 💡⏳
At this stage of my career, I enjoy inspiring others and encouraging people to think "outside the box." 🧠🚀
▶️ Which projects interest you most within the association?🔹 From Science to Industry 🏭🔬🔹 Mapping Research Collaborations between Countries 🌍📊
▶️ A final message you'd like to share with the world: Go after what you love. There’s nothing better than doing what brings you joy—professionally or personally. ✨💼
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