As Assistant Professor of Software Engineering at Penn State University’s Great Valley campus, Dr. Nathalia Moraes do Nascimento bridges the worlds of artificial intelligence, software development, and innovation.
Born and raised in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil, Moraes do Nascimento’s early life was rooted in curiosity and community. At 15, her first job was promoting an English school in exchange for language classes. By 18, she was already contributing to university-level research.
“I’ve always been driven to learn and to give back,” she said. “Even back then, I saw education as a way to unlock doors.”
That drive took her across continents. She studied Computer Engineering at the State University of Feira de Santana, completing part of her degree in Lisbon, Portugal. Her academic journey continued in Rio de Janeiro at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, where she earned both her master’s and doctorate in Computer Science, widely regarded as the top graduate program in the country.
Her research focused on intelligent agents and the Internet of Things, and she soon found herself presenting her work at international conferences in Singapore, Silicon Valley, and even NASA.
“Those experiences gave me the confidence to see my work as globally relevant,” she stated.
While in graduate school, Moraes do Nascimento co-founded OrientaMed, a Health-Tech startup focused on a non-invasive glucose-monitoring breathalyzer. The innovation earned two patents (one international) and widespread attention, including a feature on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in Brazil, where her appearance drew over five million viewers to the project’s social media page.
After a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Waterloo in Canada, where she worked on large language models, she found her way to Chester County. Now settled in Malvern with her husband, Moraes do Nascimento is exactly where she wants to be.
At Penn State Great Valley, she teaches graduate courses in Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence, advises student projects, and mentors through the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, promoting academic entrepreneurship. She also finds great joy in mentoring students from across the U.S. who bring industry experience to the classroom.
“Teaching is not just a job for me; it’s the fulfillment of a dream I’ve had since I was an undergrad,” she said. “The exchange of knowledge is powerful. I’m not just teaching them — they’re inspiring me, too.”
When she’s not teaching or researching, you might find her enjoying the vibrant restaurant scene in Chester County. Her favorites include Pilão Eatery in Phoenixville, Café Baladi in Malvern, and Limoncello in West Chester.
Moraes do Nascimento and the rest of the 2025 Class of VISTA NextGen Superstars will be honored at the Awards Reception & Celebration on Thursday, May 8, at the Penn State Great Valley Conference Center.
Sponsors are still being sought for the VNS Awards Reception & Celebration. A sponsorship offers unparalleled networking opportunities, enhances your organization’s visibility, and aligns you with a celebration of excellence and innovation. Learn more about the various opportunities available to partner with VISTA Today as it honors Chester County’s next generation of leaders, or contact Steve Knickerbocker at [email protected] or 484-437-2826.
