Gabriel de Jesus
Researcher (PhD) | IR • NLP • Tetun
I am a Research Scientist affiliated with INESC TEC in Porto, Portugal, and the creator of Labadain—a suite of algorithms, datasets, and AI applications for the Tetun language.
Profile
I am a Research Scientist affiliated with INESC TEC (Porto, Portugal), based in Timor-Leste, and the creator of Labadain, an integrated ecosystem of algorithms, datasets, evaluation resources, search technologies, and conversational AI applications for the Tetun language. I have pioneered research in Information Retrieval (IR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Tetun and hold a PhD in Informatics Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal. I am also an invited lecturer at the Institute of Business (IOB), Dili, Timor-Leste.
My research focuses on text retrieval, neural IR, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), conversational AI, and the development of reproducible language resources for Tetun. In addition to my academic work, I bring more than a decade of professional experience in technology development and management, digital governance, and enterprise information systems across public- and private-sector organizations.
Research Interests
Information Retrieval (IR)
Advancing information retrieval for low-resource languages, particularly Tetun, through efficient indexing, and effective retrieval methods.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Developing core NLP capabilities for Tetun, including language modeling, linguistic resource creation, and reproducible research practices.
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Designing and improving RAG systems for Tetun by combining robust retrieval pipelines with generative models and reliable evaluation frameworks.
Agentic AI
Exploring autonomous AI systems for Tetun that integrate NLP and retrieval, with a focus on adaptability, reproducibility, and real-world impact.
Research Projects
Labadain Platforms
A suite of platforms for the Tetun language, developed to advance digital inclusion for Tetun-speaking communities.
Education
PhD in Informatics Engineering
2021-2025Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP), Portugal
Thesis: Text Information Retrieval in Tetun
My doctoral research established foundational methods and resources for Tetun IR, including datasets, algorithms, tools, and baselines that enable reproducible research and the development of search technologies for the language.
View ThesisMSc in Computer Science
2011-2013Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP), Portugal
Dissertation: Relatórios e Análise de Tendências de Rede Social Desportiva Playnify
View DissertationBInf in Informatics Engineering
2005-2008Fundação das universidades Portuguesas, Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e (FUP/UNTL), Timor-Leste
Research Grants and Scholarships
Doctoral Research Grant
Research project: Pesquisa e recomendação computacional de conteúdo noticioso.
DOI: 10.54499/SFRH/BD/151437/2021
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), 2021–2025
Erasmus Mundus Master's Scholarship
Erasmus Mundus ACP scholarship for Master's studies in Computer Science.
European Union, 2011–2013
Personal Development
Lisbon Machine Learning Summer School (LxMLS)
A week-long intensive program covering machine learning foundations, natural language processing, and deep learning, with a strong focus on real-world applications and hands-on practice.
Lisbon, Portugal (July 18–23, 2022)
European Summer School in Information Retrieval (ESSIR)
Advanced training in information retrieval, including core IR models, evaluation methods, and modern approaches such as neural and multilingual IR systems.
Lisbon, Portugal (July 24–29, 2022)
Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) Course
Hands-on sessions on designing, building, and optimizing RAG systems, including real-world applications and evaluating tradeoffs between cost, speed, and quality.
Coursera (August 22, 2025)
Machine Learning Specialization Course
Hands-on sessions on building and training machine learning models, including supervised learning (linear and logistic regression), neural networks with TensorFlow, decision trees and ensemble methods, as well as applying best practices, unsupervised learning (clustering and anomaly detection), recommender systems, and deep reinforcement learning.
Coursera (February 23, 2023)
Academic and Social Services
Journal Reviewer
Reviewed manuscripts for peer-reviewed academic journals, providing feedback to support scholarly publication standards.
ACM Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, 2026
Conference Reviewer
Reviewed and evaluated submissions for academic conferences, ensuring quality and relevance of research contributions.
ICTIR, 2025
Summit Moderator
Moderated discussions in the Computing, AI, and Development session at the Science for Development Summit 2026.
Timor-Leste, 2026
Jury Member
Served on the jury for the evaluation and selection of 2026 research grant and award applications.
INCT, 2026