Thais da C. L. Alves, Ph.D.
Professor, The Associated General Contractors (AGC) Paul S. Roel Chair in Construction Engineering and Management, Senate Distinguished Professor
talves@sdsu.edu
+1 619-594-8289
Dr. Thais Alves, PhD, specializes in construction management and project-based systems, including the use of lean production to improve the performance of delivery systems, and how people organize and collaborate. She is engaged in improving Engineering education through the use of serious games and initiatives to broaden access and diversity in Engineering. She is currently the AGC - Paul S. Roel Chair in Construction Engineering and Management at San Diego State University. For over 15 years, she has been teaching, advising students, researching and collaborating with construction companies towards the dissemination and implementation of lean especially in the field of production planning and control at construction sites.
Education
2001-2005 – Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Engineering and Project Management Program
Dissertation title: Buffering Practices in HVAC Ductwork Supply Chains. Ph.D. Advisor: Iris D. Tommelein
2005  – Management of Technology Certificate - University of California, Berkeley
Joint program - College of Engineering, Haas School of Business, and School of Information Management and Systems
1998-2000 – Master’s in Civil Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil
Civil Engineering Department, Construction Program, Thesis title: Diretrizes para a gestão dos fluxos físicos em canteiros de obras: proposta baseada em estudos de caso. (Guidelines for managing physical flows in construction sites: proposal based on case studies). Master's Advisor: Carlos T. Formoso
1993-1997 – B.S. Civil Engineering – Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil

Academic Appointments
8/2022- Current. Professor, San Diego State University, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department
8/2016 - 8/2019. Graduate Advisor, Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Department, San Diego State University.
8/2015 - 8/2022. Associate Professor, San Diego State University, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department
8/2009 - 8/2015 Assistant Professor, San Diego State University, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department
8/2008 – 7/2009 Professor Adjunto II, Universidade Federal do Ceará – UFC, Departamento de Engenharia Estrutural e Construção Civil
8/2006-8/2008 Professor Adjunto I, Universidade Federal do Ceará – UFC, Departamento de Engenharia Estrutural e Construção Civil
4-7/2006 Visiting Scholar, Universidade Federal do Ceará – UFC, Departamento de Engenharia Estrutural e Construção Civil

Awards
2022-2023 SDSU Senate Excellence in Teaching Award (Senate Distinguished Professor)
2021 Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Faculty Contributions to the University for 2021-2022. (SDSU "Monty Award")
2021 Construction Industry Institute Outstanding Academic Award.
2018 Outstanding Paper Award, Emerald 2018 Literati Awards. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation. "Impacts of Residential Construction Defects on Customer Satisfaction." by Milion, Alves, Paliari.
2017 Best Paper Award at IGLC 25 in Heraklion, Greece -" Impact of Supplier Evaluation on Product Quality" by Alves, Desai, Needy, Hegwood, and Musick.
2016 Most Influential Faculty Award (Civil, Const. & Env. Eng. Department)
2015 Outstanding Faculty Adviser, San Diego State University (Summer)
2012 Educator of the Year, CMAA National (Oct.)
2012 Electrical Industry Service Award, NECA San Diego (Jan.)
2011 Best Reviewer IGLC19 (July -Lima, Peru)
2005 Wilson-Zells Academic Scholarship, Project Management Institute Educational Foundation
2005 2004-2005 Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award, University of California Berkeley
2001 Ph.D. Study Scholarship CAPES (Brazil)– 4 years
1997 Master’s Study Scholarship CAPES (Brazil) – 2 years
1993 First place on contest for college admission to the Civil Engineering Department, UFRN (Brazil)

Participation in Professional Associations
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Associate Member
Lean Construction Institute, Member (Also member of the LCI San Diego advisory group)
Construction Management Association of America, Member
National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), former Member
CREA/RN – Regional Council for Engineering and Architecture – since 1997. Associação Nacional de Tecnologia do Ambiente Construído (Brazilian Association for the Building Environment ANTAC)/Brazil
International Group for Lean Construction

Advisor to Student Organizations at SDSU
AGC/CMAA Student Chapter (Jan.2010-current)
Women in Construction of SDSU (Sep.2019-Current)
NECA Student Chapter (Jan. 2010-Aug. 2015)
USGBC Student Group (Sep. 2011-Sep. 2013)
Participation in Workshops/Training
ASCE ExCEEd 2011 Fellow (West Point, NY)
Faculty Sustainability Institute 2011 - Center for Regional Sustainability (San Diego, CA)

1.11.24
Back to Top