Curriculum updated on 10.03.2026

MARIA CRISTINA PORCU

Research Gate

Scopus

 

EDUCATION

1992                    Obtained a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cagliari, with a thesis entitled Dynamic Interaction between Road Vehicles and Load-bearing Structures. Analytical Model and Experimental Comparisons.

1988-1989           Attended the advanced course in Urban Planning, Environment and Territory (64 hours) at the University of Cagliari.

1988                    Graduated (five-year degree, V.O.) in Civil Engineering-Structures with 110/110 cum laude from the University of Cagliari.

1982                    Graduated from the Liceo Classico De Castro Oristano high school with a grade of 60/60.

 

POSITIONS HELD

2024-present       Associate Professor in Mechanics of Structures (ICAR/08) at the Department of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture (DICAAR), University of Cagliari.

2020-2024           Tenured Research Scientist (SSD ICAR/08) at the DICAAR, University of Cagliari.

2012-2020           Tenured Research Scientist  (SSD ICAR/08) at the Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari.

2002-2012           Tenured Research Scientist (SSD ICAR/08) at the Department of Structural Engineering, University of Cagliari.

2018                    Visiting Professor (Erasmus+ Mobility of Staff in higher education -  Call 2017) for 8 days at the Polytechnical University of Timisoara, Romania.

2018                    Visiting Professor at the l’ICITECH, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spagna.

2017                    Visiting Professor (MOSGLOB, Globus Mobility Staff Programme of the University of Cagliari) for 9 days at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, CALTECH, Pasadena, Cal, USA.

1998-2002           Holder of a collaboration contract for research activities (pursuant to Law No. 449/97), University of Cagliari.

1994-1996           Holder of a two-year post-doctoral scholarship, University of Cagliari.

1989-1992           Doctoral student (with scholarship) at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cagliari.

1990-1992           Visiting PhD student at the Department of Mechanics, Politecnico di Milano.

1994-1996           Two-year post-doctoral scholarship holder, University of Cagliari.

1989-1992           PhD student (with scholarship) at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cagliari.

1990-1992           Visiting PhD student at the Department of Mechanics, Politecnico di Milano.

 

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Lecturer in degree courses at the University of Cagliari

Lecturer in the 80-hour semester course in Mechanics of Structures within the integrated course in Construction Science and Technology for the three-year degree in Environmental Engineering, University of Cagliari.

(Academic years: 2024-2025; 2025-2026)

Lecturer on the 60-hour semester course in Structural Dynamics as part of the integrated course in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering for students on the Master's Degree in Civil Engineering.

(Academic years: 2021-2022; 2022-2023; 2023-2024; 2024-2025; 2025-2026)

Lecturer on the 120-hour integrated course Structural Dynamics and Seismic Engineering for students of the Master's Degree in Civil Engineering.

(Academic years: 2018-2019; 2019-2020; 2020-2021)

Lecturer for the 60-hour semester course Structural Dynamics for students enrolled in the Master's Degree programme in Mechanical Engineering.

Lecturer for the 60-hour semester course Structural Dynamics for students enrolled in the Master's Degree programme in Civil Engineering, Structures track.

(Academic years: 2011-2012; 2012-2013; 2013-2014; 2014-2015; 2015-2016; 2016-2017; 2017-2018)

Lecturer for the 60-hour semester course Seismic Dynamics of Structures for students enrolled in the Master's Degree programme in Civil Engineering, Structures track.

(Academic years: 2012-2013; 2013-2014; 2014-2015; 2015-2016; 2016-2017; 2017-2018)

Lecturer for the 20-hour Earthquake-Resistant Design Laboratory for students enrolled in the Master's Degree programme in Civil Engineering.

(Academic year: 2011-2012)

Lecturer for the 60-hour semester course Structural Dynamics A for students enrolled in the Master's Degree programme in Civil Engineering, Structures track.

(Academic year: 2005-2006; 2006-2007; 2007-2008; 2008-2009; 2009-2010; 2010-2011)

Lecturer for the 60-hour semester course Structural Dynamics B for students of the Master's Degree in Civil Engineering, Structures path.

(A.Y.: 2005-2006; 2006-2007; 2007-2008; 2008-2009; 2009-2010; 2010-2011)

Lecturer for the 50-hour semester course in Mechanics of Structures for students enrolled in the three-year degree programme in Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering.

(Academic years: 2004–2005; 2005–2006)

 

Lecturer in doctoral courses 

May 2025 – 8-hour course "Artificial neural networks to address inverse problems in civil engineering", National Doctoral School in “Defence against natural risks and ecological transition of the built environment”, University of Catania (together with prof. Augusto Montisci).

September 2024 - 15-hour course "Dynamics of Beams as a 1-D Continuum", Doctoral School in Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari. (together with prof. Antonio Cazzani).

February 2019 - 20-hour course "Dynamics of Mechanical Systems", Doctoral School in Industrial Engineering, University of Cagliari.

 

Lecturer at other universities

Visiting Professor for a 10-hour course entitled Basics on Earthquake Engineering for Bachelor's degree students in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Romania (March 2018).

Visiting Professor for a 10-hour course entitled Ductility-based and Isolation-based Strategies in Earthquake Engineering for Master's degree students in Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Romania (March 2018).

 

Supervisor of doctoral students

2024-2027 - Supervisor of Francesca Pibi, PhD student with a PNRR scholarship co-funded by the University of Cagliari as part of the Doctoral School of National Interest in Defence against natural risks and ecological transition of the built environment (coordinated by the University of Catania).

2023-2026 - Supervisor of Elisa Montis, PhD student with a PNRR scholarship co-funded by the University of Cagliari as part of the Doctoral School of National Interest in Defence against natural risks and ecological transition of the built environment (coordinated by the University of Catania). Thesis title: “Post-Elastic Seismic Behaviour of Multi-Arched Historical Masonry Structures”.

2023-2026 – Co-supervisor of Giulia Ferlito, PhD student at the University of Catania, as part of the Doctoral School of National Interest in Defence against natural risks and ecological transition of the built environment (coordinated by the University of Catania). Thesis title: ‘Equivalent FRCM Network Modelling Methods for Analysis of Reinforced Masonry Bridges’.

2021-2024 – Co-supervisor of Amal Gerges, PhD student with a scholarship for foreign students in the Doctoral School in Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Cagliari; Thesis title: ‘Modelling Masonry as a Continuum: Finite Element Analysis using ABAQUS’.

2019-2022 - Collaboration with Prof. Francesco Aymerich in supervising Gabriela Loi, PhD student at the School of Industrial Engineering at the University of Cagliari; Thesis title: ‘Nonlinear acoustic techniques for impact damage detection in composite materials’.

 

Supervisor of Master's Thesis

Supervisor of 65 master's thesis. Thesis List.

 

Supervisor of Students in International Mobility

Milena Scano, 2018, Erasmus Traineeship at Department of Mechanics and Strength of Materials, University of Timisoara, tutor Prof. Liviu Marsavina. 

Diego Osorio Bravo, 2018, visiting student at University of Cagliari, bilateral Agreement between Pontificia Universitad of Valparaiso and University of Cagliari.

Gavino Pais, 2020, Erasmus Traineeship at Departamento de Ingenieria Civil, Universidad de Alicante, tutor Prof. Salvador Ivorra.

Roberto Pilleri, 2021-2022, Erasmus+ Traineeship at Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, tutor Prof. Jose Adam.

Gavino Pais, 2019, Globus Placement Program at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, tutor Prof. Juan Carlos Vielma. 

Christian Sarritzu,  2017, Globus Placement Program presso Jet propulsion Laboratory, CALTECH, Pasadena, California, tutor Dr. Pietro Milillo. 

Milena Scano,  2017, Globus Placement Program presso Jet propulsion Laboratory, CALTECH, Pasadena, California, tutor Dr. Pietro Milillo. 

Matteo Arricca,  2017, Globus Placement Program presso Jet propulsion Laboratory, CALTECH, Pasadena, California, tutor Dr. Pietro Milillo. 

Laura Ciobiutaru,  2005, visiting student at the University of Cagliari, Erasmus Mobility (Timisoara-Cagliari).

Maria Daniela Nicola, 2005, visiting student at the University of Cagliari, Erasmus Mobility (Timisoara-Cagliari).

 

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

International Collaborations

Prof. Luca Pelà, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, UPC-BarcelonaTech (Spain)

Prof. Jose Adam, University of Valencia, ICITEC (Spain)

Prof. Juan Carlos Vielma, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso (Chile)

Prof. Salvador Ivorra, University of Alicante, Alicante (Spain)

Prof. Liviu Marsavina, University of Timisoara (Romania)

Prof. Manuel Saba, University of Cartagena (Colombia)

Prof. Lukasz Pieczonka, University of Krakow (Poland)

Dr. Pietro Milillo, Jet Propulsion Laboratory-CALTECH (USA)

 

Local contact person for UNICA's Visiting Professors Programme

2022    Project "Non-Linear Dynamic Analysis as design tool for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings", 10-day visit to the University of Cagliari, prof. Juan Carlos Vielma, Pontificia Universitad Catolica de Valparaiso, Chile.

2017    Project "Vibration-based and Acoustic Techniques for Structural Damage Detection" 1-month visit to the University of Cagliari, prof. Emanoil Linul, University of Timisoara, Romania.

2012    Project "Dynamic Characterization and Health Monitoring for Damaged Composite Structures" 10-day visit to the University of Cagliari, prof. Liviu Marsavina, University of Timisoara, Romania.

2001    Project "The Fracture Parameters for Bimaterial Interface Cracks", Socrates- Erasmus program, 1-week visit at the University of Cagliari, prof. Liviu Marsavina.

 

Organization/Participation to International Conferences   

2025    Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Conference "Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures" (ERES2025), Edimburgh, Great Britain.

2022    Speaker at the International Conference on Numerical Methods Applied to the Innovation of Seismic Safety of Buildings, Escuela de Ingenieria Civil de Valparaiso, Chile.

2021    Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Conference "Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures" (ERES2021), Rome, Italy (online).

2019    Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Conference "Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures" (ERES2019), Seville, Spain.

2019    Session Chairman at the ERES 2019 Conference, Seville, Spain.

2019    Speaker at ERES 2019, Seville, Spain.

2018    Organiser of the International  Workshop on Civil Structures Health Monitoring using Advanced Satellite Remote Sensing Techniques, University of Cagliari.

2017    Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committe of the ECCOMAS– Design and Rehabilitation of Structures, CoRaSS2017.

2017    Membro del Internazional Scientific Advisory Committee della conferenza internazionale Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures (ERES2017), Alicante, Spain.

2017    Relatore alla conferenza ERES2017, Alicante, Spain.

2015    Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Conference "Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures" (ERES2015), Opatija, Croatia.

2013    Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the International Conference "Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures" (ERES2013), La Coruna, Spain.

2013    Speaker at ERES 2013, Seville, Spain.

2011    Speaker at ERES2011, Chianciano Terme, Italy.

2007    Speaker at the XVIII  AIMETA conference, Brescia, Italy.

2005   Speaker at the XVII AIMETA conference, Firenze, Italy.

2001    Speaker at the XV AIMETA conference, Taormina, Italy.

1996    Speaker at the 1st European Conference on Structural Control, Barcelona, Spain.

1994   Speaker at the 10th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Vienna, Austria.

1992   Speaker at the XI  AIMETA conference, Trento, Italy.

 

Research Projects

2024-2027    Scientific member of the Project “Analisi e Ingegnerizzazione dei Sistemi Alimentari Complessi (AISAC)”, PON B29J23001120005 (Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy), CUP B29J23001120005.

2024-2025    Scientific member of the local unit (UNICA), coordinated by prof. Battista Grosso, Spoke 7, Return (multi-Risk csiEnce for resilient commUnities under a changing climate), granted by Next Generation EU, MUR PE0000005, CUP F53C22000730002.

2022-2025    External Research Member del gruppo di lavoro dell’ICITEC (Universidad Politècnica de València), P.I. prof. Jose Adam, nel Progetto nazionale Anticipating failure propagation of ageing bridges through a cost-effective interdisciplinary approach – Pont3, Universities involved: Universidad Politècnica de València, Universidad de Vigo and Universidad Politècnica de Catalunya.

2021-2022    Main External Scientific Participant al Progetto Métodos numéricos aplicados a la innovación de la seguridad sísmica de edificaciones (FOVI210063) finanziato da FOVI210063 nell’ambito del programma “Promotion of International Linkage for Regional Research Institutions” della National Research and Development Agency (Chile), $19.060.000 (pesos chilenos), P. I. prof. Juan Carlos Vielma, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso (Chile).

2023-2025    Scientific member of the local unit (UNICA), coordinated by prof. Victor Eremeev, of the MUR PRIN No 20228CPHN5 "Metamaterials design and synthesis with applications to infrastructure engineering", 42,787 euro, P.I. Emilio Barchiesi.

2023-2025    Scientific member of the local unit (UNICA), coordinated by prof. Victor Eremeev, of the project “Fluid-Structure Interaction tool for the protection of Clean Energy Production sites” - PRIN 2022 PNRR (avviso MUR DD 1409/2022) PNRR M4.C2.1.1, (CUP F53D23009640001) 76,000 euros, P.I. Andrea Montanino.

2019-2022    Scientific member of the research group of the project “Surveying, modeling, monitoring and rehabilitation of masonry vaults and domes”, granted by Fondazione di Sardegna, 56.258 euro, Università di Cagliari, P.I. prof. Antonio Cazzani.

2016-2018    Scientific member of the research group of the project “Fabrication, Characterization and Modeling of Nanoporous Metal Foams (NAMEFOAMS)”, granted by Fondazione di Sardegna, 120.000 euro, Università di Cagliari, P.I. prof. Giacomo Cao.

2000-2015    Principal Investigator of many local projects (MURST ex 60%, FIR).

 

EDITORIAL BOARD/ REVIEWER

Editorial Board Member of International Journals

American Journal of Civil Engineering (AJCE)

Frattura e Integrità Strutturale (Fracture and Structural Integrity).

Journal of Composite Science (MDPI)

Revista Ing-Nova (Cartagena, Colombia)

 

Editorial Board Member of International Conferences

ERES Conference 2013

ERES Conference 2015

ERES Conference 2017

ERES Conference 2019

ERES Conference 2021

ERES Conference 2025

 

Review Board Member of International Journals

Journal of Structural Health Monitoring

Applied Sciences (MDPI)

Buildings (MDPI)

Engineering Structures

Frattura e Integrità Strutturale (Fracture and Structural Integrity)

International Journal of Civil Engineering

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science

Mathematical Problems in Engineering

Optics and Lasers in Engineering

Remote Sensing (MDPI)

Vibration (MDPI)

 

AWARDS

2020    AIAS Prize for the best paper presented at the International Conference AIAS2019.

 

PUBLICATIONS

List of publications

 

INSTITUTIONAL AND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Participation/appointments in Degree Programme and Department Councils

2024-present        Member of the Degree Programme Council in Environmental and Land Engineering, University of Cagliari.

2002-present        Member of the Civil Engineering Course Council, University of Cagliari.

2017-present        UNICA scientific representative for the ERASMUS Programme with the University of Valencia (E VALENCI02).

2001-present        UNICA scientific representative for the ERASMUS Programme with the University of Timisoara (RO TIMISOA04)

2011-2017              Member of the Manifesto Commission of the Civil Engineering Degree Programme Council, University of Cagliari.

2010-2012              Coordinator of the Monitoring Committee of the Civil Engineering Degree Programme Council, University of Cagliari.

2008-2009              Member of the Monitoring Committee of the Civil Engineering Degree Programme Council, University of Cagliari.

 

DEGREE COMMITTEES

2002-present      Full member of more than 70 Degree and Master's Degree Committees in Civil Engineering at the University of Cagliari.

 

COMPETITION COMMITTEES

- For admission to Doctoral Schools

February 2026    Member of the Examination Committee for the Second Call for Admission to the 41st Cycle A.Y. 2025/2026 of the Doctoral Programme in Civil Engineering and Architecture (Rector's Decree 193/2026 University of Cagliari dated 24/02/2026).

August 2024        Member of the Examination Board for admission to the PhD programme in Natural Risk Defence and Ecological Transition, 40th cycle (Rector's Decree 2593, University of Catania, 20/06/2024).

September 2023  Alternate member of the Examination Board for admission to the PhD programme in Natural Risk Defence and Ecological Transition, 39th cycle (Rector's Decree 3511, University of Catania, ref. 191314 of 19/09/2023).

September 2021   Member of the Selection Committee for admission to the PhD programme in Industrial Engineering for the academic year 2021/2022-XXXVII cycle (Rector's Decree No. 899 of 09.08.2021, University of Cagliari).

- For the award of a PhD

May 2020       External member of the Examination Board for the final assessment of a candidate with a Marie Sk?odowska-Curie PhD scholarship with a thesis entitled Optical Multicore Fibre Shape Sensors. A numerical and experimental performance assessment, PhD location: University of Valencia, Spain.

- For Research Grants - Tutoring

February 2026     Member of the Selection Committee for the assignment of tutoring positions for the Construction Science course, Architecture Degree Programme.

April 2024         Member of the Selection Committee (appointed by DD No. 0164170 of 28/06/2024, UNICA) for the assignment of tutoring positions for the Construction Science course, Environmental and Territorial Engineering Degree Programme.

April 2023         Member of the Selection Committee (appointed by DD No. 421/2023 of 14/04/2023, SINGLE) for the award of a Research Grant entitled Survey, monitoring and restoration of masonry vaults and domes (RMMR) (call no. 8/2023 of 24/03/2023).

August 2022        Member of the Selection Committee (appointed by DD No. 792 of 28.07.2022, UNICA) for the award of a Research Grant entitled Experimental investigations on the dissipative behaviour of composite materials for road paving (call no. 19 of 04.07.2022).

April 2022         Member of the Selection Committee (appointed by DD No. 93 of 18/02/2022, SINGLE) for the award of a Research Grant entitled Finite Element Analysis of thermoacoustic-magnetohydrodynamic conversion systems for aerospace applications (D.D. no. 92/2022 of 18/02/2022).

April 2022         Member of the Selection Committee (appointed by D.D. no. 94/2022 of 18/02/2022, UNICA) for the award of

 

POSITIONS AT DOCTORAL SCHOOLS

2022-present

- Member of the Teaching Board of the National Doctoral School in Defence against natural risks and ecological transition of the built environment (coordinated by the University of Catania).

- Coordinator of the Curriculum Council ‘PROTECTION OF HISTORICAL HERITAGE BUILDINGS FROM NATURAL HAZARDS’ within the National Doctoral School in Defence against natural risks and ecological transition of the built environment (coordinated by the University of Catania).

- Coordinator for the local branch in Cagliari (UNICA) of the National Doctoral School in Defence against natural risks and ecological transition of the built environment (coordinated by the University of Catania).

2023-present    Member of the Faculty Board of the Doctoral School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari.

2019-2023         Member of the Faculty Board of the Doctoral School of Industrial Engineering, University of Cagliari.

2004-2007         Member of the Faculty Board of the Doctoral School of Structural Engineering, University of Cagliari.