Emanuel V. Capela

Emanuel V. Capela graduated in Biochemistry in 2014, by University of Aveiro, Portugal, where he received the "Best student admitted in the Bachelor of Biochemistry" Award. He also obtained his MSc in Biochemistry - Biomolecular Methods, from the same university, and more recently, he obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering - Bioengineering with honor and distinction, from the University of Aveiro and Instituto Superior Técnico - University of Lisbon.

Since 2014, he was author and co-author of 16 papers in international peer reviewed journals, with 2 articles being part of themed collections 2017 Green Chem and 2018 PCCP Hot Articles, 1 Green Chemistry Back Cover, and 1 Most Downloaded Fluid Phase Equilib Articles. He was also author of 4 book chapter and 1 encyclopedia entry, and has +400 citations and an h-index of 11. The scientific network of Emanuel V. Capela is supported by the publications with 49 more distinct authors with diverse affiliations, and he participated in 5 R&D projects, among which one European Research Council (ERC) grant.

He participated in more than 65 national and international conferences, where he presented several oral (35+, 9 of them by invitation) and poster communications (80+), with 1 "Best Poster Award", 1 "Honorable Mention to the Poster", received 1 Attendance Grant and won the 1st Place at a Conference Contest for Young Researchers and the 2nd Award in a Shark Tank Idea Contest. Besides, he was also a member of the organizing committee of 2 international conference, trainer at a winter school and chair in another international conference.

Up to date, Emanuel V. Capela completed the supervision of 3 internship and 7 volunteering students, and he is currently the supervisor of 2 PhD students, 1 internship (collaboration with Universidad de la República, Uruguay) and 3 volunteering students (under the CICECO Young Scientist Program).

2017 - 2022 | PhD in Chemical Engineering, specialization in Bioengineering | University of Aveiro and Instituto Superior Técnico - University of Lisbon | Thesis title: "Innovative and sustainable platforms for the downstream processing of antibody-based biopharmaceuticals", supervised by Dr. Mara G. Freire (UA) and co-supervised by Dr. Ana M. Azevedo (IST) and Prof. João A.P. Coutinho (UA).

2014 - 2016 | MSc in Biochemistry, specialization in Biomolecular Methods | University of Aveiro | Thesis title:"Production and purification of antibodies using aqueous biphasic systems composed of ionic liquids as adjuvants", supervised by Dr. Mara G. Freire (UA) and co-supervised by Dr. Ana M. Azevedo (IST) and Prof. M. Raquel Aires-Barros (IST).

2011 - 2014 | BSc in Biochemistry | University of Aveiro | Project title: "Purification of antibodies using aqueous biphasic systems", supervised by Dr. Mara G. Freire (UA) and co-supervised by Master Mafalda R. Almeida (UA).

2024 - Currently | Junior Researcher | Department of Chemistry, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Portugal

2022 - 2024 | Innovation Project Manager (Associate Consultant) | Frederico Mendes & Associados - Sociedade de Consultores, Lda.

2021 - 2022 | Research Associate | FairJourney Biologics, S.A.

2017 - 2021 | PhD Researcher | Department of Chemistry, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Portugal and Department of Bioengineering, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Portugal.

2018 | Guest Researcher | Sustainable Research Technology (SPT) group, Faculty of Science and Technology (TNW), University of Twente, The Netherlands.

2016 - 2017 | Research Assistant | Department of Bioengineering, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Portugal.

2015 - 2016 | MSc Researcher | Department of Bioengineering, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Portugal.

2014 | BSc Researcher | Department of Chemistry, CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Portugal.

Emanuel V. Capela research activities fall within following scientific domains: Chemical Engineering/Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Health Sciences and Chemistry/Physical Chemistry. His research interests cover the following topics:

Development of cost-effective up- and downstream processes for high-value biopharmaceuticals

In the past years, Emanuel V. Capela was dedicated to develop cost-effective and sustainable processes for the up- and/or downstream processing of several (bio)molecules, especially proteins and enzymes. Within this research line, he has been essentially focusing on antibodies and related biopharmaceuticals – polyclonal and monoclonal human antibodies (immunoglobulin G), antibody fragments (Fabs), avian antibodies (immunoglobulin Y), among others. In particular, he is interested in the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by mammalian cell technology and in the design of integrated systems for the clarification, selective extraction and purification of mAbs, directly from the complex medium, envisaging the integration and intensification of their manufacturing processing.

He worked with a new class of alternative solvents, ionic liquids, where his scientific interest devoted to these compounds includes their use as phase-forming components of separation liquid-liquid systems, or immobilized in solid supports as novel ligands in chromatographic stationary phases, for application in processes development.

Development of sustainable extraction and recovery processes for high-value compounds from biomass

Emanuel V. Capela have been investigating the use of aqueous solutions of several compounds, including ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents, as alternative solvents for the selective extraction of target compounds, mainly with therapeutic features, from biomass and biomass by-products and wastes (e.g. insects, rice husk, etc). Within this research line, his main research activities are focused on the InsectERA Agenda - a project with a consortium of 38 entities (companies and universities/institutes), that aims to foster the circular economy and leverage the development of new products, processes and services, based on R&D and innovation, with high added-value and incorporation of knowledge and technology, allowing to meet the challenge of the green transition towards environmental sustainability.

Synthesis, characterization and applications of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents

In the past years, several research efforts have also been carried out regarding the synthesis of novel ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents, their characterization and properties determination (e.g. solvatochromic parameters), and further evaluation in value-added applications.