Paulo José da Costa Branco is Full Professor with Habilitation (IST) in Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa (UL). He graduated in 1992 from IST with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. In the same year, he obtained his Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from IST, and on July 1998 he concluded a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering also at IST. *---------------------------------------------------------------* Currently, his research covers three main topics: ---> 1) Photovoltaic (PV) systems operation and maintenance (PV O&M): multi-objective optimization to minimize the economic and energy costs over the life-cycle; ---> 2) Operation of induction generators when isolated from the power grid and under variable speed in the pump as working turbines (PATs); ---> 3) Criticality in the smart grid operation environment: definition of reliability models for both cyber and power equipment; ---> 4) The use of bulk high-temperature superconducting materials inserted in the magnetic circuit of electromechanical systems to increase its power density. *---------------------------------------------------------------*