Hélder Sousa, structural engineering researcher at ISISE, awarded IABSE Early Career Prize for excellence in resilience and risk assessment of infrastructures
Hélder Sousa, assistant researcher at the Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE) and lecturer at the University of Minho, has been awarded the IABSE Early Career Prize 2025, a prestigious international distinction that honours promising young professionals in the field of structural engineering.
The International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) will present the award this November in Zurich, Switzerland, recognising Sousa’s exceptional contributions to risk assessment and resilience of existing structures and infrastructures.
Created in 1983, the Early Career Prize aims to celebrate outstanding achievements by individual IABSE members under the age of 40, promoting innovation and excellence in the global engineering community.
Expertise in structural resilience and predictive modelling
Hélder Sousa holds a BSc, MSc and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Minho. His current research focuses on reliability, probabilistic analysis, and resilience of civil structures, including predictive modelling and asset management for road and railway infrastructure. As chair of IABSE Task Group 5.8 on “Resilience of Existing Structures”, he leads technical efforts that influence both academic research and real-world engineering applications.
His methodologies have been implemented in high-impact projects, including the conservation and assessment of UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Castle of Guimarães and the Convent of Christ in Tomar.
International recognition and academic contributions
Since joining IABSE in 2017, Hélder Sousa has been actively involved in the organisation’s Scientific Committee and international symposia. He was secretary of the IABSE Symposium in Guimarães (2019) and continues to contribute to strategic boards and technical committees.
With over 110 scientific publications, including 47 peer-reviewed ISI journal articles and several book chapters, Sousa also teaches in international master’s programmes, reinforcing his role as a global reference in the academic and engineering community.
A rising leader in structural engineering
IABSE highlights Sousa as “an early career engineer who embodies the IABSE spirit of cross-disciplinary collaboration, social responsibility, and intergenerational knowledge sharing for the advancement of structural engineering.”
Founded in 1929, IABSE is a global organisation dedicated to advancing the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of civil engineering structures, promoting technical knowledge and sustainability in the profession.
Julho 9, 2024