I am a specialist in the conservation of modern materials with solid research dedicated to establishing conservation strategies for urgent needs in museum collections holding challenging materials. My research has been focused on foams, rubbers, films, and plastic ageing and development of preventive and conservation guidelines, impacting museum praxis. I have an independent research profile in the study of synthetic polymers and a strong expertise in advanced analytical techniques as infrared and Raman spectroscopies. My research is driven by creating bridges between the needs in conservation practice and conservation science - my distinctive profile combines science skills and experience in conservation practice. My PhD in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (NOVA, 2017) was the first study providing an insight into the influence of storage conditions and enclosures in the lifespan of polyurethane. From this project, preventive conservation guidelines were launched for the first time based on systematic approaches. I integrated 7 funded R&D projects focused on plastics heritage preservation and history of plastics in Portugal, in collaboration with experts on anthropology, conservation, history of technology, and museology, which gives me a singular expertise covering several spheres of cultural objects. I was invited to join the R&D project 'The Triumph of Bakelite' (PTDC/IVC-HFC/5174/2014) as team leader of a scientific task. This project received the Dibner Award for Excellence in Museum Exhibit with 'Plasticity'; and awarded with an honorable mention by APOM for the conservation work of hundreds of objects under my leadership. I took the opportunity to launch new research lines at DCR NOVA with the use of diffuse and external infrared reflectance spectroscopies for plastics characterisation. This knowledge resulted in an invitation for a Chapter in Wiley co-authored with world-renowned researchers of heritage science. In 2019 I was awarded with an invited scholar grant to the Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts - Northwestern University (USA) under the NU-ACCESS Program, where I was able to expand my knowledge on hyperspectral imaging and SEM to assess display conditions for polyurethane. In 2020 I was invited to be a scientific partner in the funded project 'Glossy Surfaces', an international consortium with renowned museums and research centers (MoMu and Centexbel, BE; MET, EUA; and MUDE, PT). My strong knowledge on polyurethane has also led me to an invitation for authoring a Chapter for Wiley-Scrivener 'Handbook on Conservation of Museum Textiles'. More recently, I was invited to participate in a COST Action aiming at valuing and preserving plastics cultural heritage (PHEN). I am currently an Invited Assistant Professor at DCR NOVA, co-responsible for 4 curricular units (CU) in bachelor and master and responsible for the proposal of a new CU dedicated to modern materials and contemporary art in the bachelor, pending evaluation by A3ES. I am also part of the scientific council, and coordinator of Erasmus program and science communication committee. My supervision competences include 1 PhD (as main supervisor) and 5 master (2 as main supervisor) thesis. My scientific track record comprises 20 peer-reviewed publications (10 as first author, 5 as corresponding author). I have also participated in more than 14 conferences, 2 as invited speaker and have been assuming leadership roles in science outreach activities. In a pursuit for new career challenges, in 2018 I co-founded the first spin-off of DCR, NEON Art Conservation Lda. I will continue engaging in founding solutions for problematic materials, and pursuing new funding opportunities, strengthening my position as international expert in modern materials conservation.