Madalena Corte-Real graduated in Sociology in the University of Coimbra and obtained her Master degree in Planning and Evaluation of Development Processes in ISCTE-IUL. Presently she is a PhD candidate in Urban Studies (FCSH-UNL and ISCTE-IUL) studying revitalization processes in the inner city.

She is a member of the Fundo de Arquitectura Social founded in 2013 by the architects Patrícia Ramalho and Raquel Morais, a NGO that interconnects architecture, social sciences as well as design. It intends to develop interventions that relate the regeneration of buildings and public space with the strengthening of the social fabric. Together with local associations they have been working mainly in a neighbourhood in the historical part of the city of Lisbon (Bairro de Castelo) in a community developing project.