Joana Mourão is a researcher and consultant in Architecture and Urbanism.  Develops scientific, technical and educational projects, promoting knowledge about urbanism, architecture and urban sustainability presenting communications in Portugal and abroad (CIENCIA VITAE).  Currently, he develops post-doctorate in Urban and Building Rehabilitation at IST (CiTUA) and LNEC (NUT) with the support of FCT, having published several scientific articles and presented international communications on urban regenerationand decision-making processes in the interventions in existing buildings (rehabilitation). His academic career is characterized by a strong interdisciplinarity between urbanism, architecture, engineering, environment and social sciences. His last publication presents the method of supporting the decision in rehabilitation of buildings he conceived (V Changing Cities, 2022 ) In 2018 accompanied the Commission Rehabilitate as A  Rule and the Regime applicable to the rehabilitation of buildings (DL/95, 2019).

 Joana Mourão twas invited professor in postgraduate courses (FCTUNL, FEUCP), Master and  PhD (ISCTE, IST) and was professor and tutor in the PhD course in Urbanism (Ulht Lusophone University), teaching the urban ecology curricular  unit  and guiding research seminars. He was also a professor of the degree in Civil Engineering of the Independent University, taught the chair Buildings (see teaching activity).

Participates in the review of scientific articles at the international  level and in the investigation and guidance of thesis projects and international research internships (IAESTE). He guided one completed doctoral thesis (ULHT) and another in development (FAUL). He was a member of the organizing and scientific committee of the ENCORE2020 congress (LNEC)and responsible for  technical visits filmed with the APRUPP Association, of which he is a member.  Together with civil society, it has promoted visits and debates in urban areas in regeneration processes to promote scientific culture on urban heritage and ecological management of the built environment.  She was also a consultant in the impact assessment of urban and housing policies (Angola and Mozambique, for NEMUS, Lda) and had activity on her own.

She received his PhD with the thesis "Urban Metabolism Planning: a pathway for the restriction of greenhouse gas emissions" with the guidance of M. Fernandes de Sá (FAUP,2012) and Albert Cuchí (ETSAV), focusing on the study of Municipal Master Plans and their relationship with carbon emissions of urban origin. Collaborated in the memo project, Evolution of metabolism of the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon, in IN+/IST and DINAMIA'CET/ISCTE-IUL (2013-2015) funded by FCT (E-book Atlas of Water and Agriculture of the Lisbon Region 1900-1940 (2016).  He also published in the award-winning book "Cities in crisis: Socio-Spatial Impacts of the Economic Crisis in Southern European Cities" (Routledge) with the chapter "Urban Planning and Territorial Management in Portugal (1988-2008).  Antecedents and impacts of the 2008 financial and economic crisis" (2016), following a conference in Hafen City, Hamburg.

At the beginning of its research course, at the research team at the NAU of LNEC (current NUT) in the project "Housing for the future. Requirements and models for the information society and ecology" (2003-200 5) coordinated by A.  That's a good one.  Cabrita and J. B.  Peter, with missions in Germany under the study "environmental sustainability of housing".