Short Biography
Ricardo Bettencourt da Silva earned his BSc in Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon (FCUL), his MSc in Bromatology from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Lisbon, and his PhD in Analytical Chemistry – Metrology in Chemistry at FCUL. He completed the last two degrees while working full-time as an analyst in both public and private laboratories, analysing various inorganic and organic analytes in different matrices using both classical and instrumental methods. His analytical experience focused on validating measurement procedures, quality control of tests, and evaluating measurement uncertainty. In 2009, he joined the Centre for Molecular Sciences and Materials, later the Centro de Química Estrutural, at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, where he became a Professor of Analytical Chemistry.
His research involves developing approaches for the detailed evaluation of the uncertainty of complex measurements, examining the sources of lack of comparability of measurements across some analytical fields, evaluating the uncertainty of qualitative analysis, and creating tutorials and user-friendly software for reliable interpretation of analytical data.
Ricardo Silva is the Future President of the Analytical Chemistry Division of the Portuguese Society of Chemistry since 2025 (www.spq.pt). He has been a technical assessor for the Portuguese Accreditation body since 2002 (www.ipac.pt). He has served as CITAC Vice-chair since 2024 (www.citac.group), and has been a member of the Executive Committee of Eurachem since 2012 (www.eurachem.org). Additionally, he has been a member of the ‘Eurachem/CITAC Measurement Uncertainty and Traceability Working Group’ since 2010, chair of the ‘Eurachem/CITAC Qualitative Analysis Working Group’ since 2017, the Portuguese delegate of Eurachem since 2010, and co-coordinator of ForMEQ (www.formeq.org) from 2019 to 2022.
Detailed CV – January 2021 (PDF – 0.9 Mb)
1. Personal Data
Name: Ricardo Jorge Neves Bettencourt da Silva
Email: rjsilva@fc.ul.pt
Researcher ID: E-1807-2012
ORCID: 0000-0003-1990-3472
Scopus Author ID: 6602772414
2. Education
Degree (3): PhD in Analytical Chemistry
Institution: Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon
Conclusion: 2004
Degree (2): Master in Food Quality Control and Toxicology
Institution: Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon
Conclusion: 1998
Degree (1): Graduation in Chemistry
Institution: Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon
Conclusion: 1993
3. Professional experience
3.1. Main activity
Position (13): Assistante Professor
Institution: Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
Date: 1 January 2025 – (…)
Position (12): Researcher
Institution: Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE@FCUL)
Date: 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2024
Position (11): Researcher
Institution: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Group – Centre for Molecular Sciences and Materials (CCMM)
Date: 15 June 2009 – 31 December 2014
Position (10): Invited Researcher to Technical Head of Laboratory
Institution: Pesticide Residues Laboratory – Institute for Biological Resources
Date: 15 December 2008 – 14 June 2009
Position (9): Consultant, Trainer and Assessor for the Accreditation of Laboratories
Institution: Independent contractor
Date: 1 October – 14 December 2008
Position (8): Researcher
Institution: Centre of Chemistry of Vila Real of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD)
Date: 3 March 2008 – 30 September 2008
Position (7): Analyst
Institution: Pesticide Residues Laboratory – General-Directorate of Crop Protection (DGPC)
Date: 26 May 1999 – 29 February 2008
Position (6): Head of the Quality Assurance System
Institution: Division for drinking water treatment and analysis – Municipal Services of Loures
Date: 26 April – 25 May 1999
Position (5): Analyst to Substitute Technical Head and Director of Laboratory
Institution: Controlab, Lda – Laboratory for Chemical, Physical and Biological Analysis
Date: 2 September 1996 to 25 April 1999
Position (4): Trainee
Institution: Regional Center for Agropharmaceutical Research of Anger (CREPA), France
Date: 1-12 July 1996 and 15 September-9 October 1997
Position (3): Trainee to Analyst
Institution: Laboratory for Environmental and Quality Control Analysis (LAACQ) of the Institute for Engineering and Industrial Technology (INETI)
Date: 20 July 1994 – 30 June 1996
Position (2): Trainee
Institution: Lauerlabs B.V., Emmen, The Netherlands (Producer of capillary electrophoresis instrumentation)
Date: 8 August 1993 – 31 January 1994
Position (1): Trainee
Institution: Centre of Electrochemistry and Kinetics of the University of Lisbon (CECUL)
Date: September 1993 – August 1993