Jose Antonio Lorenzana Fernández
José Antonio is an Architect graduated from the School of Architecture of A Coruña (ETSAC), specialized in Construction Technology (Structures), and holds a Master’s degree in Structural Timber Engineering from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). He currently works as a Research Technician at PEMADE. His professional career focuses on the design, calculation, and numerical simulation of timber structures for the validation of experimental models. He combines his research activity with teaching and the development of structural optimization models, contributing to technological advancement in the use of timber within the platform’s R&D&I projects.
Manuel Guaita Fernández
Manuel holds a PhD in Forestry Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and is Professor of Construction Engineering at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). He serves as Scientific Director of PEMADE. His professional career is centered on teaching and research at USC, where he coordinates R&D&I projects and technology transfer agreements focused on innovation and advanced design of timber structures.
Manuel Rodríguez Buján
Manuel is a Technician in Carpentry and Furniture from CIFP Politécnico de Lugo and currently works as a Research Technician at PEMADE. Since 2008, he has built his career as a self-employed professional, mastering everything from custom furniture production to the assembly of complex structures. At PEMADE, he is responsible for translating theory into technical reality, overseeing both the precise preparation of test specimens and the setup and calibration of laboratory equipment for structural testing.
María Portela Barral
María is a Forestry Engineer and holds a Master’s degree in Structural Timber Engineering from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). She is currently a PhD candidate at USC and serves as Technical and Quality Director of PEMADE. Her career stands out for combining teaching activities with participation in R&D&I projects and in the ENAC laboratory accreditation process under ISO/IEC 17025. In her research work, she focuses on studying the mechanical properties of local forest species for their transformation into technical structural timber products.
Mônica Ruy
Mônica holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, and a degree in Civil Construction Technology from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP, Brazil). She currently works as a Research Technician at PEMADE. Her professional career has specialized in modeling the biomechanical behavior of trees and in the use of non-destructive techniques for material characterization. She combines teaching with participation in R&D&I projects, quality control of engineered wood products, and timber grading both from standing trees and in the early stages of the processing chain.