João Mourato is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon, where he is researching the evolution of Planning as a public policy in Portugal, with a particular focus on the dynamics of institutional adaptation and policy learning processes in face of a shifting policy environment.

A chartered Architect (FA UTL), João holds a PhD in Town Planning (Bartlett School of Planning - UCL). His doctoral thesis focused on the impact of the process of Europeanisation on the making of the Portuguese National Spatial Planning Policy Programme (PNPOT).

Between 2008 and 2010, João was an Associate Researcher at the Territorial Strategies and Policies Cluster (NEST) at the Centre for Geographical Studies (CEG- IGOT) of the University of Lisbon. He has participated in several research projects on territorial cohesion and spatial development funded both by the Foundation for Science and Technology of the Portuguese Government (FCT), and the European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion (ESPON), and has been a consultant for the Directorate General for Spatial Planning and Urban Development (DGOTDU - CEMAT/UNECE).