Dr. Mariela Martins Nolasco has advanced the study of natural and bio-based synthetic polymers, notably cellulose and furandicarboxylate polyesters, using a pioneering approach that combines inelastic neutron scattering (INS) with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Her work elucidates the structure-property relationships in polymers, offering insights into their dynamics and enabling the development of sustainable materials with superior properties, such as furandicarboxylate polyesters that outperform petrochemical-based PET in barrier properties. Her research on cellulose, particularly bacterial cellulose for microbial fuel cells, provides detailed vibrational spectra analysis, enhancing the understanding of composite interactions and sample characterization. Conducted at CICECO and leveraging advanced facilities like ISIS/STFC Rutherford Appleton, her impactful work bridges experimental data with theoretical models, earning recognition for its scientific and industrial relevance.