Hi! I’m Gabriel de Jesus, an affiliated researcher with INESC TEC, based in Timor-Leste. I’m a pioneer in Tetun information retrieval (IR) and natural language processing (NLP), working at the intersection of language, culture, and technology. My work focuses on building culturally aware, inclusive language technologies that empower the Tetun-speaking community.

I received my PhD in Informatics Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), Portugal, in September 2025. My doctoral research laid the groundwork for Tetun digital search, creating the foundational algorithms and resources necessary to promote linguistic inclusion in the global online ecosystem.

Beyond research, I bring over a decade of leadership experience in digital governance and IT management. I have served as a Non-Executive Board Member of the National Communications Authority (ANC), IT Director at the Major Project Secretariat, and HR Information Systems Manager at Chemonics International for USAID’s HRH2030 Timor-Leste Program.

Driven by the goal of social impact, I founded Timor News, and created the Labadain platforms: Labadain Search (a Tetun-first search engine) and Labadain Chat (an agentic AI assistant). Through research and teaching, I am dedicated to empowering the people of Timor-Leste through inclusive digital transformation.

Learn more at linkedin.com/in/gabrieljesus.