I am the Head of the Conservation Science Department and Research Laboratory that I established at the Deutsches Museum in January 2014. Conservation and degradation of polymeric materials are my actual focus of research. The Deutsches Museum collection comprises ca. 38.000 objects containing plastics, including natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic polymers. Their preservation poses a serious challenge as they are available in a wide range of complex formulations showing relatively short life expectancy compared to the other materials found in the collection. To support their safeguard, I equipped the new laboratory with microscopes, infrared spectroscopy, pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with infrared spectroscopy, thermomechanical analysis and two aging chambers for conducting material analysis and investigation, which include identification of polymers-based artifacts, their additives and colorants and study of their decay phenomena. Together with my team of researchers, presently composed of four scientists, I specialize in characterizing production techniques and degradation of the objects, assessing treatments' effectiveness, and helping the museum implement preventive conservation measures. Presently we have an established network of collaboration partners within Munich, in Germany and abroad. I am project leader of the DBU Project "Cold storage of museum objects made of cellulose nitrate - mechanical stress versus chemical degradation" and co-leader of the DBU Project "Towards the conservation of historic acrylics - Strategies for the conservation of outdoors transparent polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in architecture and museum objects". I have been supervising several researchers collaborating with my department and laboratory: 20 with a scholarship and 27 students (including 3 PhD theses, 6 MSc theses, 2 BSc and several curricular projects). I contributed scientifically to formulate 13 R&D project proposals. The results of our research are being published in peer-reviewed journals (9), conference proceedings (3), within temporary exhibitions and in public media (television, radio and magazine). From November 2008 until December 2013, I was employed as a conservation scientist at the Rathgen Research Laboratory - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, where I investigated artefacts from several collections using FTIR, µ-Raman, microscopy, ESEM-EDX and ultrasonic pulse velocity testing. Furthermore, I monitored environmental conditions and measured the air exchange rate of display cases to support museums operating adequate preventive conservation measures. There I supervised 3 Guest researchers and 11 interns, contributed scientifically to submit 12 R&D project proposals, participated as an investigator in 8 R&D projects and co-wrote 12 publications (3 peer-reviewed, 9 conference proceedings). During the winter semesters of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 I lectured the "Stone Deterioration and Conservation" course at the Conservation and Restoration Department of FCT NOVA. During those two years, I organized several workshops for students and professionals in collaboration with the World Monuments Fund and the FCT NOVA for implementing preventive conservation strategies for preserving the stone sculptures of the Gardens of the Nacional Palace of Queluz (Lisbon). I obtained my Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences (2008) from the Technical University of Lisbon dedicated to assessing the effectiveness and durability of synthetic polymers used for consolidating and protecting stone monuments. Since my studies, I used to collaborate with researchers from several disciplines such as chemistry, mineralogy, mechanical testing, and history for heritage protection combing knowledge from different fields to learn about the past, develop and implement sustainable measures for preserving cultural material values for future generations.