João Ferreira

João holds a Master’s in Local Economics and a Ph.D. in Sustainable Energy Systems from the University of Coimbra in Portugal. Before joining the Cooper Center in 2023, João was a Post-Doc Associate and Lecturer at the University of Aveiro, Rutgers University, and the University of Florida. João is passionate about environmental sustainability, urban and regional economic modeling, and the impact of public policy on the local and regional economies. Improving our knowledge of the complex interactions between humans, the economy, and the environment is essential to establish a more sustainable path for us and future generations. 

João is the author of several publications in top economic and sustainability journals and enjoys participating in international conferences and writing for local and national newspapers in Portugal. He has ongoing projects with researchers from Rutgers University and the University of Illinois in the U.S., the University of Aveiro and the University of Coimbra in Portugal, and the University of Oviedo in Spain. He is developing new methodologies to identify the linkages and interdependencies between sectors at the state and local levels. Outside the office, he loves food, hiking with his dog Dexter, and traveling to explore new places.