Maria Ceu Cortez

Maria Ceu Cortez is a Full Professor in the Department of Management at the School of Economics and Management, University of Minho, Portugal, where she has been employed since July 13, 2017. Her academic career spans over two decades with a strong focus on finance research, particularly in sustainable investment areas.

Professor Cortez's research primarily centers on socially responsible investing (SRI), sustainable finance, and mutual fund performance evaluation. Her work examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors influence investment decisions and portfolio performance across different asset classes and geographic regions. She has developed sophisticated methodologies for evaluating investment performance under varying market conditions, with particular attention to how sustainability factors impact traditional financial metrics. Her research has evolved from examining general SRI performance to increasingly focusing on climate-related financial risks and green investment instruments.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear progression toward climate finance and green investments. While her earlier work concentrated on general socially responsible investing and mutual fund performance, her most recent research increasingly addresses specific aspects of green bonds, climate risk in investment portfolios, and the environmental impact of financial decisions. Her work spans multiple geographic contexts including the US, Europe, and particularly Portugal, providing valuable cross-regional insights into sustainable finance practices. She frequently employs conditional models that account for different market regimes, recognizing that investment characteristics vary significantly during financial crises and stable periods.

• UID/ECO/03182/2019 research grant from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
• PTDC/EGE-OGE/27936/2017 research grant from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
• PTDC/GES/72894/2006 research grant from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
• POCTI/GES/46285/2002 research grant from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
• POCTI/GES/32678/99-00 research grant from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Professor Cortez has served as a peer reviewer for numerous prestigious finance journals including Journal of Business Ethics (9 reviews), International Review of Economics & Finance (4 reviews), and Journal of Cleaner Production (2 reviews), demonstrating her standing in the academic community. Her research has been supported by multiple competitive grants from Portugal's national science foundation, indicating the significance and quality of her scholarly work. While specific details about her advising activities aren't provided in the source material, her extensive publication record spanning two decades suggests substantial mentorship of graduate students. Her research collaborations span multiple institutions, with frequent co-authorship with Florinda Silva, Paulo Leite, and Guillermo Badía, enhancing the international perspective of her work.