Catarina Pestana

Catarina Pestana is a Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University's College of Engineering. She specializes in teaching construction management courses, emphasizing active learning, applied problem-solving, and peer collaboration. Her research focuses on lean construction practices, risk management, and the integration of human factors with virtual design and simulation in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.

Educational Background:

• Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Oregon State University (2016)
• M.S., Civil Engineering, San Diego State University (2010)
• M.A., Economics and Social Sciences, Technical University of Valencia, Spain (2008)
• Licenciatura (5-year degree), Civil Engineering, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal (1998)

Research Interests: Catarina’s work explores enhancing production systems and product lifecycle performance in the AEC industry through lean methodologies, risk-based optimization, and multi-criteria decision-making. She investigates how digitalization improves construction-phase information management for project owners and examines the alignment between lean practices and worker safety. Her studies often address real-world challenges in project management, supply chain efficiency, and sustainable construction materials.

Research Trends in Publications: Her articles highlight themes like circular economy applications in timber construction, digitalization’s impact on project outcomes, and lean tools for risk mapping. She frequently connects safety performance with process improvements and evaluates submittal management in AEC workflows.

Labs/Teams: She contributes to the Construction Research group within the College of Engineering, focusing on innovative solutions for construction industry challenges.