Ricardo Pinto's expertise was primarily cultivated through his MULTIDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION. He holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of Porto (2004), a master’s degree in Materials derived from renewable resources (2008), and an PhD in Chemistry from the University of Aveiro (2012). During his PhD, he acquired solid formation in the synthesis and characterization of nanostructures and gained valuable experience in scaling up nanoparticle production. In 2019, he was hired as a researcher, shifting his focus toward sustainable materials and gaining expertise in the green synthesis of polymer-based nanoparticles, through which he established an independent research line within his group. In 2026, he was hired Assistant Researcher at the University of Coimbra, working in the biobased2UC project (https://www.uc.pt/biobased2uc/), where he explores new bio-based materials and their applications in conservation and restoration as part of a new interdisciplinary team.
Ricardo Pinto has made significant contributions to the field, with 57 publications (22 in the last five years, an h-index of 30, and over 3000 citations. According to SciVal, 41% of his publications rank among the top 10% most cited worldwide. He is the author of 1 book, 3 book chapters, and 15 conference proceedings, and has contributed to over 100 national and international conferences through oral and poster communications, including 4 invited talks. He has served as Guest Editor for two special issues on biosynthesis of nanostructures and sustainable approaches and has completed over 78 verified peer reviews for top journals such as Advanced Materials, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, and Carbohydrate Polymers.
Throughout his career, Ricardo Pinto has participated in 11 research projects (4 international and 7 national). His international recognition is reflected in his appointments to the editorial boards of Polysaccharides (MDPI) in 2021 and, in 2023, as the 1st Youth Editorial Board Member of Nano Materials Science (Elsevier, IF = 17.9). He has also reviewed proposals for the National Agency of Innovation and acted as an expert evaluator for the Hellenic Foundation for Research & Innovation (Greece) and the Latvian Council of Science (Latvia).
He has supervised 21 BSc, 12 MSc, and 3 PhD students, including some enrolled in internationally recognized mobility programs such as Erasmus, FAME, and the Sandwich mobility program. He has served as the main jury member for 8 BSc and 13 MSc evaluations and has actively contributed to organizing national and international scientific events, including the BEST Summer School 2022, ICNRI 2024, and two FUR4Sustain Meetings (COST Action CA18220). His international experience includes research stays at the Grenoble Institute of Technology (France) and INNOVHUB (Italy), and he has developed a strong academic–industry network, including consulting for the startup DNA TRUST AG. In parallel, he has consistently contributed to undergraduate teaching in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Aveiro, dedicating 3 hours per week each semester over the past three years.
