Visiting Researcher | Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil.
Nilton Lopes da Silva Gomes is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Programme in International Strategic Studies at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (PPGEEI/UFRGS), under the supervision of Professor Adriana Iop Bellintani. He holds a Master’s degree in International Security and Defence from the Brazilian War College (PPGSID/ESG), a postgraduate interdisciplinary specialisation in Language Teaching from the Federal Institute of Rio de Janeiro (IFRJ), and undergraduate degrees in Humanities and International Relations from the University for International Integration of the Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (UNILAB). His research interests include International Relations, Geopolitics, and International Security, with a particular focus on cybersecurity and cyber defence from a South-South perspective.
His work examines cooperation within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), with particular emphasis on Portuguese-speaking African countries. He has also worked as a researcher and geopolitical risk analyst at the International Institute for Geopolitics & Security (IIGS). During his research stay at the Lusófona Centre on Global Challenges (LusoGlobe), he will join the Centre’s scientific cooperation network and contribute to joint research and academic activities in the fields of cybersecurity, defence, and international governance. His research stay also seeks to strengthen institutional links between Lusófona University and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), contributing to strategic and comparative debates on global security.
His programme of activities at LusoGlobe includes:
October 2026 - Visiting Researchers Roundtable: discussion of ongoing research with fellow researchers and students from the Master’s Programme in Diplomacy and International Relations and Political Science.
October 2026 - Uppsala Nuclear Power Simulation (GIRI-hub + Uppsala Peace Lab partnership)
November, 20th 2026 – Thematic Event on Colombia: moderation of a panel discussion with a PhD candidate from Iscte and a Portuguese military officer on the peace mission.
December, 12th 2026 – Guest Lecture: full lecture within the International Organisations course of the Master’s Programme in Diplomacy and International Relations, on Cyber Security Governance and IO.
Montly - Research Supervision Meeting: follow-up and coordination of the development of his doctoral research with his co-supervisor.
Fridays, weekly, 11:00–11:30 – GIRI-hub Laboratory (Gamification in International Relations Lab): mentoring, guidance, and support for students participating in the laboratory.
Visiting period: September 2026 to May 2027
LusoGlobe host and academic supervisor: Professor Sabrina Medeiros