Maria Rita Pais (Lisbon, 1975) is an architect, teacher, curator and researcher based in Lisbon. With degree in Architecture by Faculty of Architecture of Lisbon Technical University FAUTL (1999), Master in Construction by Instituto Superior Técnico (2004) and PhD in Architecture by FAUTL (2012), maintains research and academic activity together with the architectural project and curatorial activity, as a way to achieve greater breadth in the discipline of architecture and in its dissemination. Her research interests focus mainly on architecture and, more specifically in the relationship between architecture and media and in hard heritage. Currently, is coordinating two research projects: one on the recently found and declassified bunkers from Portugal and another in bringing art as a historical document in the field of the history of architecture. Her teaching activity began in 2001 at IST (Instituto Superior Técnico - Lisbon) as Manuel Vicente Assistant in Project Design discipline. Has also teached at Parq-EUVG and ARCA, in Coimbra and is currently teaching as Associated Professor at Universidade Lusófona - Pólo Universitário de Lisboa and as Guest Teacher at FAUL. During this experience has been responsible for the units “History of Contemporary Architecture”, “Critical Architectural Discourse”, “Habitat and Housing Space”, “Dissertation”, “Specialization Seminars”, and “Curatorial Resources”, “Project Design”, “Art and Architecture”, and “Research Methods in Architecture”, in the Master Degree in Architecture; and “Architectural Design Conception”, “Architecture: Design and Research”, “Thesis I and II”, “Research Methods in Architecture” and “Thesis Project” in the PhD degree in Architecture. Still in the academic field, has supervised over thirty master's thesis, one post-doc and is supervising seven PhD thesis. She also participate in scientific committees for several scientific publications and peer reviews papers, scientific projects and evaluates over three universities in academia internationally. She also writes, edit and co-edit several books as the Journey into the Invisible: Space, Experience, Representation, a book, that won the FAD AWARD for 2020. In addition, as a scholar, holds several international conferences as a speaker or mediator, publishes scientific books and articles in leading international journals and magazines and actively participates in workshops related to her research areas. Was co-editor of Lusófona Magazine of Architecture and Education and Baú Magazine. Currently is preparing a research project with the Ministry of National Defence and is CoCo at Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action Project nº823901 SOSClimateWaterfront Marie Curie Project (with Pedro Ressano Garcia), together with various academic management positions as PhD Coordinator, Member of the Scientific Council for the Architecture Department for Lusófona University, Coordinator for Mobility for the Department of Architecture and Urbanism and Coordinator for Academia do Ensino Lusófono. In curatorial field, has co-curated Lisbon Open House 2018 (with Luis Santiago Baptista), co-curated Habitar Portugal 2009-2011 - an initiative of the Portuguese Architects Guild (with Susana Ventura and Rita Dourado) and co-curated the exhibition Journey into the Invisible (with Luís Santiago Baptista), funded by the Portuguese Government. Was responsible for curating several events, programming and designing exhibitions such as Anteciparte, Alvito Project, Mini-Stereo and Cinematographic Marathon Living Architectures among others. Currently is curating “Cuidar de um País”, for Bienal Anozero and “The Way to Disarm is to Disarm”, for galeria Note. She works as an architect with several international awards (Archdaily 2011, Honorable Mention at The Plan Award 2015 and Best Interior Asian-Pacific Design Award. Also has won the prize for the best paper presentation at the NHR2010, the FAD Award 2020 for Thoughts and Critics and Prémio Távora 2023.