Name: Rodolfo Veltri Gomes
Place of Birth: Santos, Brazil
Date of Birth: 2 September, 1963
At TU/e: 1987-1988: Master of Electrical Engineering at Philips International Institute (which was moved from Royal Philips Electronics in 1990 and was then renamed the Eindhoven International Institute, being part of TU/e from 1990-1994)  
Current position: Senior Field Application Engineer at NXP Semiconductors, Italy

How did you find a job after graduating?
When I was finishing my master’s degree in Electrical Engineering in Eindhoven, my landlady, Mrs. Fox, gave me the name and contact details of a former student who used to live at her house, Mr. Carlos Baradello. I phoned Carlos in the winter of 1988, and he advised me to contact Dott. F. Ardemagni in Roma. I had an interview with Ardemagni at Easter of 1988, and in September of that year I started as an electronic engineer – for the first time in my life – in Rome. I’m now a Senior Field Application Engineer at NXP Semiconductors Italy, taking care of European customers interested in identification and security solutions provided by our company.

How do you reflect on your student time in Eindhoven?
Actually, I took part in a Master’s Degree Scholarship program offered by Philips International Institute. the institute was moved from Royal Philips Electronics in 1990 and was renamed Eindhoven International Institute, being part of TU/e from 1990- 1994. After that, the curtain dropped for the Eindhoven International Institute. The time I spent in Eindhoven as a student triggered a second stay in the same area: In 1999 Philips hired me, and I moved back to Eindhoven with my whole family between to stay until 2004. After 2004, I moved from Eindhoven to Monza to work at the same Philips branch I still work at today. So, my Master’s Degree has changed my life quite a bit. I’m the current chairman of the PEIAA alumni association (Philips International Institute and Eindhoven International Institute) and have organized and supported several events and conferences over the past twenty years.

What advice would you give current students?
I actually prepared a lecture on that subject that I presented at a PEIAA conference in 2010. Consider it my contribution to the lives of current TU/e students.