My academic path began at the Polytechnic of Porto – School of Engineering (ISEP), where I obtained a BSc (2009) and MSc (2011) in Chemical Engineering. I later completed a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Aveiro (UA) in 2017 and a second MSc in Mechanical Engineering at ISEP in 2019. This multidisciplinary background has been essential to addressing challenges in my professional and research career. Since 2011, I have been a member of CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, the largest and highest-rated Portuguese institute in Materials Science and Engineering. I have participated in 15 national and international projects, joining the management team of six and co-coordinating three (total budget ˜ €4M). These experiences highlight my capacity to secure funding and lead multidisciplinary initiatives. My scientific output includes 52 publications (SCOPUS ID: 56108574200), an h-index of 21, and over 2100 citations. About 63% of my works appear in Q1 journals and 28% rank among the world’s top 10% most cited. I am first author in 58% and corresponding author in 42%. I also co-authored 7 patent submissions and presented over 60 communications, including 7 invited talks. Recognition of my work includes the Young Scientist of the Year (IAAM, 2016) and CICECO Young Researcher Award (2025). I was also listed among the top 2% of authors worldwide in my subfield (Stanford–Elsevier, 2023, 224 and 2025). Regarding internationalization, I have participated in several Erasmus programmes, taking part in exchanges to universities in Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, Romania, Nepal, and Germany. I regularly serve as peer reviewer and guest editor for several journals and evaluator of research grants (including the Polish National Science Center). I also contributed to CICECO’s reports for the Portuguese Ministers of Environment and Economy on plastic waste reduction. Parallel to research, I have taught for over ten years in Chemistry, Physics, and Materials Science at UA, developing course materials and achieving “Excellent” evaluations (2018–2020). I have supervised MSc and PhD students, including Erasmus+ participants. I have industrial experience as Production Manager at Costa e Dias Lda., a company producing plastic components, where I gained practical expertise in polymer processing. This experience complements my academic and research background, bridging science and industry. Beyond academia, I engage in science communication and outreach, coordinating Pint of Science Aveiro (since 2022) and Portugal’s national events (since 2023). I co-organized the “Plastic 360º Workshop” at UA and often participate in UA’s Open Campus, Techdays Aveiro, and Summer Academy. I also volunteer with BioLiving Association and was invited to the national conference “Rethinking Plastics in the Transition to a Circular Economy” organized by the Portuguese State Secretary for the Environment. A key milestone was co-founding the research group CIRCLE (www.circle-ua.com ) within CICECO. CIRCLE develops strategies to promote polymer circularity through advanced recycling, eco-friendly processing, and industry collaboration. The group bridges fundamental and applied research, transforming scientific advances into tangible benefits for sustainability and society. Co-leading CIRCLE aligns with my passion for sustainable polymers, mentoring, and impact-driven research.