Professor Rodolfo Cortés began his career as an Archaeology lecturer at the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) in October 1974, later joining the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) in July 1992. Alongside archaeologist Eudald Carbonell, in 1988 they founded the UB Archaeology Laboratory in Tarragona (LAUBT), which combined prehistory and classical archaeology.

This initiative transformed with the creation of the URV, becoming the Tarragona University Archaeology Laboratory (LAUT), the precursor to the current Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA). Cortés directed the University Archaeological Service from 1994 until 2002, turning it into an essential training center for future archaeologists in the region.

Among the most notable achievements during his tenure, in 1995, Cortés and Carbonell announced the discovery of the first archaeological remains, dating back one million years, at the Barranc de la Boella, in La Canonja, uncovered by heavy rains. He was also one of the leading experts on the heritage of Tarraco.

Under his direction, crucial excavations were promoted in the city of Tarragona, such as those carried out at the Plaça de la Font for the construction of the current car park, which affected the arena of the Roman Circus. He also supervised work on the land now occupied by the Parc Central shopping center, where an important Paleochristian basilica was discovered.

Rodolfo Cortés served as a University Professor from 1985 until his retirement in 2007. Subsequently, he was named professor emeritus of the URV until 2013, a distinction recognizing the outstanding services he provided to the institution, allowing him to continue collaborating in teaching and research activities.