Natércia C. T. Martins graduated in Industrial Chemistry in 1996 (University of Coimbra) and obtained her PhD degree in Chemistry in 2005 (University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico). She was a Post-Doctoral research fellow at several prestigious research institutes in Portugal, namely CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (University of Aveiro), CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro), LEPABE (Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, University of Porto) and ICEMS (Institute of Materials and Surfaces Science and Engineering, University of Lisbon).

She is currently a Researcher (since 2018) at the CICECO- Aveiro Institute of Materials (University of Aveiro, Portugal). Natércia C. T. Martins published 16 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals (> 700 citations, h-index = 11, Scopus) and presented 28 poster/ oral communications at national and international conferences. She interacted with 40 co-authors in her publications. Several of her papers were published in major scientific journals, namely ACS Applied Nanomaterials; Cellulose; Applied Catalysis B: Environmental; and Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. Two of her recent papers have already more than 100 citations. She has participated in 8 research projects, 2 of them financed by the European Commission.

Her main areas of research are Nanoscience, Natechnology and Materials Engineering with focus on the development of nanostructural materials for SERS detection of water pollutants. She has also a broad experience in the synthesis of composites of biopolymers (cellulose, chitosan, alginate) and metal or inorganic nanoparticles and in ink-jet printing of nanomaterials for sensing applications.