Prof. Roberto Baginski Batista Santos

I am a theoretical physicist and a Professor at the Physics Department, Centro Universitário FEI, since 2004. The Physics Department offers courses to our Engineering and Computer Science programs, which rank among the best in Brazil.

I received all my academic degrees (B.Sc., M.Sc., and D.Sc.) in Physics from Universidade de São Paulo (USP). My current research interests include Radiation Effects on Electronics, Quantum Physics, and Physics Teaching and Learning in Engineering.

I am a member of the Radiation Physics group at FEI. The group is led by my Department colleague Marcilei A. Guazzelli, and its activities are concentrated in two areas:

• Radiation effects on electronics
• Natural radioactivity

The group is part of a nationwide research network initiative called the National Institute of Science and Technology - Nuclear Physics and Applications (INCT-FNA)

The National Institute of Science and Technology - Nuclear Physics and Applications (INCT-FNA) is a network of research groups dedicated to develop Nuclear Physics (both low- and high-energy) and its applications in Brazil and the Radiation Physics group at FEI is part of that network. The network receives partial financial support from the Brazilian funding agencies CNPq, CAPES, and FAPERJ.

In the INCT-FNA, my research is related with the effects of radiation on electronics (research line A2). My work involves modeling the physics of radiation effects on electronics, design experiments with my fellow experimentalists, and discuss the results of these experiments. Understanding the effects of radiation on electronic devices and developing testing methodologies to qualify these devices are essential steps for the creation of mitigation strategies for radiation damage in electronic devices in hostile environments such as the space, nuclear medicine in hospitals and clinics, particle accelerators or nuclear power plants. For more information, visit the INCT-FNA site at FEI.

Quantum Physics is my passion. Until recently, I was modeling open quantum systems with tools derived from non-hermitian quantum mechanics. In a non-hermitian formulation, non-reciprocal dynamics and irreversibility are possible. The cost is a non-unitary time evolution, which may be fixed by a special normalization. Nowadays, I am increasingly interested in quantum thermodynamics, especially in quantum heat engines and their relation with information theory and quantum computing.

Most of the students at FEI are enrolled in Engineering courses. Did I already said we are one of the best Engineering schools in Brazil?

Currently, I am pushing the introduction of science-based active learning strategies throughout the Physics Department courses. The aims of this reform is to engage students, enhance their creativity, and reinforce their problem-solving and teamwork skills. In the lecture sections of our courses, we are using a hybrid model in which the most part of the class time is dedicated to students solving problems in small, informal teams that dialogues constantly with the teacher.

In the lab sections of our courses, our goal is that students

• develop models of physical phenomena
• design experiments
• acquire technical and practical skills
• analyze and visualize data
• reach evidence-based conclusions
• communicate knowledge in various forms
• take intellectual risks

Students also develop team projects to meet a challenge connecting theory and practice in each course. These projects are inspired by CDIO methodology, involving conceiving, designing, implementing and operating the solution proposed for the challenge.

• Head of the Physics Department (since 2012)
• Member of the University Council (2007-2009, 2012-today)
• Member of the Department Council (since 2004)
• Head of the Institutional Evaluation Committee (since 2019)
• Member of the Institutional Evaluation Committee (since 2008)
• Member of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee (since 2012)