João Rocha, a Full Professor of Chemistry, has held the position of Director at the University of Aveiro Institute of Materials-CICECO from 2002 to 2021 and is currently the Coordinator of the Council of Associated Laboratories in Portugal. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1990, post-doc 1991, from the University of Cambridge, UK. He has received several prestigious honors, including Officer of the Chemistry Division of EURASC (2014) and the Académie Royal de Belgique des Science, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts (2022). A permanent member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences (2006) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2016), he has also contributed as an advisory member to the Prime Minister of Portugal. His notable awards include recognitions from the Portuguese Chemical Society and the Société Chimique de France. Additionally, he has played a significant role in coordinating the ERC Consolidator Grants panel PE11. Rocha’s publication record comprises around 550 SCI papers and 5 patents, that received ca. 29,000 citations (h 81). His work has significantly impacted various domains, including materials science and NMR spectroscopy. He has pioneered in creating new materials akin to zeolites and developing luminescent lanthanide-bearing Metal Organic Frameworks. His work has found practical applications, such as in the treatment of hyperkalemia with a zirconium silicate-based drug. Beyond his research, Rocha has contributed substantially to the academic community, holding various editorial and advisory roles, and nurturing future generations of scientists through mentoring and teaching.