Emanuel M. Fernandes is the Senior Researcher at the Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho (UMinho). He holds a degree in Materials Engineering from UMinho. In 2013, he obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering at UMinho, in collaboration with CORTICEIRA AMORIM, on New Functionalized Cork Plastics Composites. He was awarded both PhD and Post-Doc grants from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). As a postdoctoral fellow, he worked on the processing and characterization of bio-based polymers with cork and performed a collaboration with the Cork Supply industry, to work on cork composites for food contact. During 2015 to 2017, he was an Assistant Professor at UMinho on the Integrated Masters in Biomedical Engineering and Product Design degree at IDEGUI Design Institute (UMinho). Since 2018, has been also member of both Unit and Scientific Councils of the Research Institute (I3Bs). His particular interests include lignocellulosic and lightweight materials, bio-based polymers, biocomposites, cork and marine sub-products valorization, biomaterials, properties and application.