The Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering
The Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE) is a research unit funded by the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT), incorporating Universities of Coimbra and Minho as hosting institutions.
In 2025, ISISE was evaluated by FCT – the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and graded EXCELLENT.
🔎 Call for Expressions of Interest | MODULINK Research Opportunity
We are looking for a motivated researcher with an MSc degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field to potentially join MODULINK – Advanced Inter-Module Connections for High-Performance and Reconfigurable Steel Modular Buildings.
MODULINK is a research project focused on the development of a new generation of adjustable and reversible inter-module connections for steel modular construction, aiming to improve structural performance while facilitating manufacturing, assembly, accommodation of construction tolerances, future disassembly and reuse.
The research will combine several complementary areas, including:
• development and optimisation of steel inter-module connection systems;
• experimental testing and mechanical characterisation of connections;
• detailed numerical/finite element modelling and model calibration;
• development of simplified connection models for use in global structural analyses;
• assessment of diaphragm behaviour and global structural response of modular buildings;
• evaluation of floor vibration serviceability and structural dynamics;
• development of practical recommendations for design, manufacturing, assembly and disassembly.
We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong interest in steel structures, computational mechanics, finite element modelling and/or experimental structural engineering. Previous experience in all these areas is not required.
The opportunity may be particularly suitable for someone interested in developing the research towards a PhD. Such an interest would be highly valued.
📩 Interested in joining MODULINK?
Please submit your expression of interest through the following form: buff.ly/t0sA3N5
Please submit your interest before November 6th, 2026.
Please feel free to share this opportunity with MSc graduates or young researchers who may be interested.
#modulink #ResearchOpportunity #structuralengineering #civilengineering #steelstructures #modularconstruction #finiteelementanalysis #experimentalmechanics #PhDOpportunity #research #engineering
Call for Interested Parties – MODULINK
buff.ly
As part of the R&D project “ MODULINK – Advanced Inter-Module Connections for High-Performance and Reconfigurable Steel Modular Buildings”, the recruitment of one (1) research grant is planned t...
🚀 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁!
On 𝟳–𝟴 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, the kick-off meeting of the European research project 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗘 – Enhancing the Fatigue Life of Advanced High-Strength Steel and Hybrid Structures through Friction Stir Welding took place at the University of Stuttgart, Germany.
Funded by the European Union under the 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 (𝗥𝗙𝗖𝗦), STIRVIVE aims to advance 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗙𝗦𝗪) technologies to improve the fatigue performance, durability and sustainability of high-strength steel structures and hybrid aluminium–steel joints.
Over the next 𝟰𝟮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀, the project will focus on developing advanced welding tools and processes, improving the fatigue resistance of welded joints, and enabling the industrial application of FSW technologies in sectors such as steel construction, shipbuilding and heavy engineering.
🔬 The 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮, through researchers from 𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗘 – Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering, plays an active role in the project, leading research activities related to 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗦𝗪 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, in collaboration with researchers from 𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗘.
The STIRVIVE consortium brings together 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: University of Stuttgart (Germany), University of Coimbra (Portugal), SEAPOWER (Portugal) and TRA-C (France), combining scientific expertise and industrial capabilities to develop innovative and more sustainable joining solutions.
We look forward to contributing to this exciting European collaboration and advancing the next generation of high-performance steel and hybrid structures!
𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗘 (Grant Agreement No. 101296125) is co-funded by the European Union through the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS).
#stirvive #ISISE #UniversityOfCoimbra #RFCS #europeanresearch #FrictionStirWelding #steelstructures #fatigue #structuralengineering #SustainableConstruction
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The School of Engineering regularly welcomes leading international professors and researchers, bringing fresh ideas, experiences, and perspectives. As part of these visits, “Engineering Talks” are promoted and open to the community, creating unique opportunities to engage with cutting-edge knowledge and international networks.
NEXT TALK:
Narges Azadvar
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Sheffield (UK)
19 October 2026, 11h00
Azurém Campus, Building 1 | Room 2.009 (Sala de Reuniões 1 DEC)
Title: Composite Strengthening of Existing Structures: From FRP and TRM Seismic Retrofitting to Low-Carbon Textile-Mortar Systems
Info: Strengthening and rehabilitation of existing structures are increasingly important for improving seismic resilience and extending the service life of the built environment. This seminar traces a research journey from conventional fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems to textile-reinforced mortar/concrete (TRM/TRC) and, more recently, low-carbon inorganic-matrix composites. It covers experimental and numerical studies on FRP- and TRC-strengthened reinforced-concrete columns under axial and cyclic loading, and on TRM-strengthened masonry walls under combined seismic actions. The final part introduces the ongoing Marie Skłodowska-Curie project STRENGTH (University of Sheffield), which is developing AR-glass textile-reinforced geopolymer mortar as a low-carbon strengthening solution, with a focus on textile-mortar bond behaviour and interface modelling. The session closes with open technical questions and opportunities for collaboration.
Dr Narges Azadvar is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Sheffield, specialising in advanced composite systems and low-carbon materials for structural strengthening. She holds a PhD in Structural Engineering (2021) and has worked on more than 20 academic and industry-supported projects in structural rehabilitation, cementitious composites and finite-element modelling. She has published on FRP/TRC-strengthened concrete columns and TRM-strengthened masonry walls, co-authored two book chapters and developed a patented strengthening system. Her current MSCA project, STRENGTH, focuses on AR-glass textile-reinforced geopolymer mortar for low-carbon strengthening of substandard structures.
Organiser/Promoter: Pier Giovanni Benzo, investigador de pós-doutoramento (projeto CirWind, coord. Prof. José Sena-Cruz), Departamento de Engenharia Civil
Partnership: Departamento de Engenharia Civil / ISISE-Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering
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⚙️ Predicting 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 as a component is built.
A new study in 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧-𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 links 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 to 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬–𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫 and 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 in mechanical properties within 𝐃𝐄𝐃-𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.
🎥 The animation reveals the predicted 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 throughout the volume, connecting 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 with 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.
📄 buff.ly/TSHJPw0
🌐 buff.ly/dihwxMM
#ISISE #SMCT #dad #UC #fctuc #iamfat #eu #RFCS #dedarc #WAAM #additivemanufacturing
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🔬 ISISE at the European Researchers’ Night 2026!
Last September, ISISE took part in the European Researchers’ Night – Noite Europeia dos Investigadores 2026, held at Forum Braga.
It was a great opportunity to bring research closer to the public and, in particular, to younger audiences, through interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and conversations with our researchers.
Visitors had the chance to discover some of the work being developed at ISISE in areas related to structural engineering, sustainability, digital technologies, innovative materials and the built environment, showing how research can contribute to safer, more sustainable and more resilient communities.
A big thank you to everyone from ISISE who contributed to preparing and running the activities, and to all those who stopped by, asked questions, experimented and shared their curiosity with us!
Events such as the European Researchers’ Night are an important opportunity to open the doors of research to society and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. 🌍🏗️🔬
#ISISE #EuropeanResearchersNight #NEI2026 #ResearchersNight #ScienceCommunication #Research #Engineering #StructuralEngineering #Sustainability #Innovation #UMinho #Braga
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🌙 𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚
On 25 September, ISISE participated in the 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, held in downtown Coimbra, with the stand:
🏗️ 𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐁 – 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦
Throughout the event, visitors had the opportunity to explore interactive activities and demonstrations related to the research developed at ISISE, including:
🖨️ 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 – discovering how polymer and steel 3D printing can transform the manufacturing of materials and construction solutions.
🎶 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 – exploring vibration, sound and science through fine granular material placed on a vibrating metal plate.
🏗️ 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 – building small structures with wooden sticks and marshmallows and testing their behaviour on a shake table.
♻️ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝… 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧! – showing how beams and columns can be reused to create new buildings, contributing to more sustainable construction, within the scope of the C4C project.
The stand also included educational videos and research projects developed at ISISE, bringing structural engineering, sustainability and innovation closer to the public.
A big thank you to everyone who visited our stand and to all ISISE members involved in preparing and supporting the activities throughout the event.
#ISISE #UCoimbra #DEC #FCTUC #EuropeanResearchersNight #NEI2026 #ScienceCommunication #StructuralEngineering #Sustainability #Innovation #3DPrinting #SeismicEngineering #CircularConstruction #Connect4C #Research
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