Who are we
The Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE) is a Research and Development Centre created in 2007, involving the Civil Engineering Departments of the University of Coimbra (UC) and the University of Minho (UM).
In 2025, ISISE was evaluated by FCT – the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and graded EXCELLENT.
We are composed of Faculty Staff, Permanent Researchers, Post-Doctoral Researchers (Contract-Based), PhD students, Other Researchers, and Administrative and Technical Staff. We welcome all the members equally. We have members from almost every corner of the World, and we are very proud of that!
Organization
We are organized into four research groups:
FP
Functional Performance (FP)
at the University of Coimbra and the University of Minho
HMS
Historical and Masonry Structures (HMS)
at the University of Minho
SMCT
Steel and Mixed Construction Technologies (SMCT)
at the University of Coimbra
SC
Structural Composites (SC)
at the University of Minho
Board
The direction of ISISE is shared between the two Institutes.
Directors
Luís Godinho
University of Coimbra
Carlos Rebelo
University of Coimbra
José Sena Cruz
University of Minho
Miguel Azenha
University of Minho
HEADS OF THE RESEARCH GROUPS
Luís Godinho
University of Coimbra
Graça Vasconcelos
University of Minho
Luís Simões da Silva
University of Coimbra
Joaquim Barros
University of Minho
SCIENCE AND COMMUNICATION
Francisca Santos
João Pereira
CARRER DEVELOPMENT
Sofia Knapic
CLUSTER
Manuela Almeida
Advisory Committee
2025 – 2029 (current)
Mauro Dolce
University of NaplesItaly
Geert De Schutter
Belgium
Umberto Berardi
Canada
Ben Young
China
2020 – 2024
Billie F. Spencer
USA
David A. Nethercot
UK
Francesco Asdrubali
Italy
Henrik Stang
Denmark
2015 – 2019
Bozidar Stojadinovic
Switzerland
Thanasis Triantafillou
Greece
Olivier Vassart
Luxembourg
2007 – 2014
Gian Michele Calvi
Italy
Nemkumar Banthia
Canada
Reidar Bjorhovde
USA
ISISE Courses
ISISE is involved in 9 International (English-spoken) and Portuguese-spoken Master programs and 3 PhD programs, in addition to the core BSc and MSc programs in Civil Engineering.
Advanced Masters in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions (SAHC)
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
- www.msc-sahc.org
Erasmus Mundus Master Waves
- Department of Civil Engineering University of Coimbra
- www.master-waves.eu
European Master in Building Information Modelling (BIM A+)
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
- www.bimaplus.org
European Master Course in Advanced Structural Analysis and Design using Composite Materials (FRP++)
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
- www.msc-frp.org
International Master in Risk Assessment and Management of Civil Infrastructures (NORISK)
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
- https://msc-norisk.org/
International Master on Sustainable Built Environment iMiSBE
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
- www.civil.uminho.pt/imisbe
Master in Construction Management
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Portugal
- website
Master in Steel and Composite Construction
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Portugal
- website
Master in Structural Mechanics
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Portugal
- website
Master in Sustainable Construction and Rehabilitation (taught only in Portuguese)
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
- www.civil.uminho.pt/mcrs
Doctoral Programme in Civil Engineering
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
- www.pdec.civil.uminho.pt
Doctoral Program Steel and Composite Construction
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Portugal
- website
International Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Built Environment
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
- www.civil.uminho.pt/idisbe