Carlos Jose Tavares is a Professor of Physics at the Department of Physics, and a researcher from the Center of Physics, at the University of Minho in Portugal. Has expertise in: Synthesis of nanostructured thin films by magnetron deposition (physical vapour deposition – PVD) technologies; Production of transparent conductive oxide thin films for photovoltaic and thermoelectric applications; Study of photocatalytic thin films; Controlled release of insecticides/repellents from solar-activated microcapsules; and Design of wear-resistant and very hard nanolayered coatings for automobile motor parts. He is the author of five patents and is the principal investigator of more than 20 funded research projects. Currently, he is the Director of SEMAT/UM lab (www.semat.uminho.pt), and President of the Portuguese Vacuum Society (www.soporvac.pt). He is also the representative of SOPORVAC in the Applied Surface Science division of the International Union for Vacuum Science, Technique and Applications (IUVSTA). He currently supervises five PhD students, one MSc student, and four Research Assistants.