1) The document is a letter of recommendation from 1998-2010 for Mr. Fernando A. Ribas Jr written by his former professor Cesar J. Deschamps. 2) It details Ribas' academic and research career including receiving undergraduate and graduate scholarships where he performed highly, managing research programs, and leading technological planning. 3) The professor was impressed with Ribas' technical abilities, capacity for dealing with many subjects, inspiring others, and his intelligence and organization. He believes Ribas will have a successful career.

1. FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF SANTA CATARINA
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
88.040-900, FLORIANÓPOLIS, SC
TEL: +55 48 3234 5691; FAX: +55 48 3234 5166
April 2, 2010.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I first met Mr. Fernando A. Ribas Jr in 1998, when he was selected to receive an undergraduate
scholarship from our laboratory (POLO Research Laboratories for Emerging Technologies in
Cooling and Thermophysics) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). He worked as an
undergraduate student under my close supervision for almost four years and I was able to notice
very quickly a number of qualities, such as strong technical background, awareness and seriousness.
In 1999 he attended a course of Fluid Mechanics that I teach to undergraduate students of
Mechanical Engineering at UFSC. In that opportunity, he scored among the top five grades in a
class with 45 students. From our academic records I could verify that his overall performance in the
undergraduate course was even better, placing him in the select group of the 5% most successful
students.
In 2002, Mr. Ribas Jr was selected to receive an MSc scholarship from the Postgraduate Program in
Mechanical Engineering at UFSC and, after attending some curricular courses, worked for one and
a half year under my supervision. His MSc dissertation considered the development of a
computational model to predict and analyze transient flows in the cylinder and in the suction system
of reciprocating compressors. He presented the results of his work to a group of examiners and they
were very satisfied with the quality of the work and with his elaborations on the questions
formulated.
Since 2003, Mr. Ribas Jr. has been working as a research engineer for EMBRACO, the world
largest manufacturer of reciprocating compressors for household refrigeration. Five years ago he
received the assignment to manage a research program that EMBRACO has with POLO for more
than 20 years, aimed at improving the thermodynamic efficiency of refrigeration compressors. His
responsibilities include the supervision of technological developments carried out by a group of 2
engineers, 5 technicians, 5 PhD students, 8 MSc students and 20 undergraduate students. Recently,
he has led the technological planning of research activities that EMBRACO will follow along the
next five years. In fact, considering his age, I have been extremely impressed by his energy and
capacity of dealing with a large number of technical subjects and also of inspiring people around
him.
Mr. Ribas Jr is a very intelligent and organized person and, in addition to his technical abilities, he
is also very polite. I am sure he will follow a very successful career and I am very pleased to
support him with this letter.
Yours faithfully,
Cesar J. Deschamps
Associate Professor
deschamps@polo.ufsc.br