In this "Testimonials" we interview Pedro Lobo, winner of a Best Thesis Award.

• Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey at IST.

My name is Pedro Lobo, and I am 24 years old. I have always enjoyed mathematics and physics (and solving problems), which motivated me to pursue an engineering degree at Técnico. Although I wrote my first line of code while studying at Técnico, I had always been curious to learn more about how computers work. 

I eventually applied to (and was admitted into) the Bachelor's program in Computer Science and Engineering (LEIC-T). During my first year of the Master's program, I worked as a teaching assistant (TA), having the opportunity to teach laboratory classes in Foundations of Programming and Compilers at Alameda. Last year, I completed my Master's degree in Computer Science and Engineering (MEIC-T). 

Currently, I remain connected to Técnico, serving on the jury of the new Prémio de Mérito FuriosaAI em Compiladores.

• What did winning this award mean to you personally?

Winning this award is, for me, a recognition of the work carried out throughout the final year of my Master's degree. Receiving this award also highlights the practical impact that my Master's thesis has had on industry, something of which I am very proud. 

This work solves a fundamental problem in the architecture of LLVM, one of the most widely used compiler infrastructures in the world, including by technology giants such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta. LLVM also serves as the foundational infrastructure for widely adopted programming languages such as C, C++, Rust, and Swift. This Master's thesis also resulted in a paper published at PLDI (Programming Language Design and Implementation), the leading conference in the field of compilers, ranked A*. Recently, the paper received a Distinguished Paper Award, an honor granted to only a small percentage of the papers accepted at the conference. 

I would also like to add that I do not consider this award to be mine alone, but also to belong to the people with whom I had the opportunity to work throughout this final year of my Master's degree, particularly my advisor, Professor Nuno Lopes, whose mentorship and guidance had a profound and essential impact on my journey.

• Why are awards like this important?

I believe that awards such as this one serve both as recognition of the work carried out by students and as an incentive for them to push further, striving to produce impactful work that solves real-world problems in the systems and infrastructures that surround them and that they use on a daily basis.

In my view, many students, especially those who have not yet had the opportunity to begin work on their Master's thesis, tend to see a thesis as something purely academic, with little practical value beyond the university setting. The Best Thesis Award highlights not only scientific excellence and innovation, but also technological relevance and the potential for impact within the digital sector. I believe this award demonstrates how a Master's thesis can have a tangible impact on industry.

Finally, I believe that awards like this are important because they help showcase the work carried out by students to the wider community.

• In your opinion (besides awards ;)), what can and should be done to attract more students to Computer Science and Engineering at Técnico?

I believe there is a stereotype that Computer Science and Engineering is simply about programming, which ends up discouraging students who might otherwise find their calling in this field, but who think that computing is only for people who “really love computers.”

Throughout my studies at Técnico, I have always felt that the most interesting aspect of Computer Science is learning about a new system, discovering and studying a problem, and developing a solution. Programming languages are merely one of the tools that allow us to bring a solution to life. I think it is important to emphasize this to secondary school students: above all, what a computer engineer does is solve problems. Because of the broad reach and influence of computing, those problems can arise in a wide variety of domains, including healthcare, finance, entertainment, and many others.

• Do you have any advice for future Computer Science and Engineering students at Técnico?

Do not be afraid to apply to LEIC, even if you have no prior programming experience. LEIC is much more than that. If you are eager to learn and enjoy solving interesting problems, you already have everything you need to build an outstanding academic journey.

Throughout your undergraduate and Master's studies, you will face many challenges. That is completely normal. However, do not let them intimidate you. Remember that the main purpose of higher education is to learn and to meet people who share your interests, not necessarily to achieve perfect grades. As long as you enjoy what you do and remain genuinely interested in what you are studying (“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”), you have everything you need to succeed. The good grades will eventually follow naturally.

(original image: Pedro Lobo)