Luisa Carvalho is graduated in Chemical Engineering. She obtained a MSc in Wood Science from the Université de Nancy I in 1990 and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from FEUP in 1999. In 2022, she obtained the habilitation in Chemical Engineering from University of Coimbra. She is currently Coordinator Professor at IPV-Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, where she teaches classes in the course Furniture Technology and Design.

She is staff member of LEPABE (Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy) integrated in the Associate Laboratory for Innovation in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE). She is Vice-President of the General Assembly of APAA (Portuguese Society of Adhesion and Adhesives) and CoLab ARCP (Association Competence Network in Polymers) and former member of its board of directors (2013-2019). She is also the President of SC2-wood-based panels from the national standardization committee CT14-wood.

Her research interests include sustainable materials, such as wood, cork and agroforest subproducts based composites, bio-based adhesives for wood, formaldehyde and VOCs emissions, machinability, coatings and surfaces.