Ana Pina (AP), Group Leader of the Bioinspired Peptide Systems Lab (Pina Lab) at ITQB-NOVA. As a chemical biologist, I have a profound dedication to exploring the chemical tapestry of life through the lens of peptides. My research interests are rooted in a passion for mimicking nature's precise control over molecular functions (e.g., molecular recognition, self-assembly, and catalysis) to unlock and recreate the complex behavior of biological systems using the simplicity of peptides. My academic journey commenced with a BSc in Applied Chemistry from FCT-NOVA in 2007, where my fascination with life's molecular intricacies began to take shape. I then expanded my expertise with a MSc in Biotechnology in 2008 at the same institution. Pursuing my passion, I completed my PhD in 2013 at FCT-NOVA (Prof. Cecília Roque), in collaboration with the University of Cambridge (Prof. Chris Lowe) with the development of molecular recognition partners tag- receptors (e.g., affinity ligands). My research, leading to 12 published papers (7 as first author, and 2 as corresponding), was pivotal in the development of novel protein purification systems, earning me the Hoffmann-La Roche Young Investigator Award in 2009. My Ph.D. journey also included enriching research internships at the University of Cambridge and The Scripps Research Institute, where I delved into combinatorial chemistry and peptide chemical biology methodologies such as phage display. In 2014, I secured a competitive postdoctoral grant, allowing me to join Rein Ulijn’s lab at Advanced Science Research Center-City University of New York in New York, in a joined project with FCT-NOVA. There, I contributed to the advancement of peptide-based phage display methods. This research led to the discovery of peptides with supramolecular recognition towards phosphorylated assemblies, and the development of peptide catalysts as simplified artificial enzymes. My work has contributed to the fields of that were later honored with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2018. As a Research Associate at FCT-NOVA starting in 2018, I channeled my expertise into understanding biological structures and creating peptide technologies. My project on integrating phosphatase into collagen-like peptides was recognized with the 2019 Research Fund (€5k) from Royal Society of Chemistry, as the PI. Since 2021, my leadership at the Pina Lab has been marked by two ambitious research lines. The first aims to create functional peptide materials that draw inspiration from the collagen triple-helix for bioelectronics, such as electronic skin for wearable technology. The second explores the vast peptide sequence space to embed molecular recognition and catalytic functionality within peptide systems, investigating their role in the formation of membraneless organelles and the impact of compartmentalization on the efficiency of chemical reactions. These areas aim to reveal how simple molecules can give rise to complex life-like functions, with potential innovations in bioelectronics, nanomedicine, and biosensing. My research has culminated so far in 31 papers and +500 citations GS in the fields of Chemical and Materials sciences and Bioengineering, and my lab secured over €0.5M in funding since late 2021 through various prestigious grants, including the CaixaImpulse Health Innovation funded by La Caixa Foundation and the POC InnOValley grant funded by Oeiras Municipality and ITQB-NOVA, and a highly competitive CEEC Auxiliary Grant.