Martins received his Ph.D. degree in Materials Engineering from Universidade Nova de Lisboa in 2008. He gained vast experience with synchrotron radiation-based characterization techniques while working at the Rossendorf Beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht outstation at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY). In 2009 he started his postdoctoral project at Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear ITN, Portugal, supported by an individual grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology FCT/MCTES (first place over 72 international candidates). He was promoted to Senior Member of the Portuguese Engineers Association in 2010. In 2014 he was awarded a Starting Grant from the FCT/MCTES Investigator Programme (IF) that supports outstanding post-doctoral researchers. His IF project was focused on the nanoscale design and engineering of multifunctional coatings. Martins collaborates with Museu da Lourinhã, Portugal, and Museu Nacional de Geologia, Mozambique, for applying advanced characterization techniques for the study of unique fossils from their paleontological collections. He uses his hobby to promote synchrotron radiation-based characterization techniques and to engage people in science by sharing with them the excitement and pertinence of the discoveries.