Vanessa Whittem | Architecture | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs Vanessa Whittem | Architecture | Best Researcher Award 

Mrs Vanessa Whittem , Deakin University , Australia

Vanessa Whittem is a dedicated Graduate Architect and PhD candidate at Deakin University, specializing in sustainable architecture. With a background in both architecture and construction management, she combines technical expertise with research acumen. Vanessa has a rich teaching history, guiding undergraduate students and contributing significantly to various research projects. Her previous career as a Chartered Accountant and CPA provides her with a unique perspective on financial management in architecture. Passionate about environmental sustainability, she actively engages in community initiatives and professional development, showcasing her commitment to both the architectural field and societal well-being.

Publication Profile

Orcid

Strengths for the Award

  1. Diverse Expertise: Vanessa has a unique combination of qualifications in architecture, construction management, and accounting. Her background as a Chartered Accountant and CPA adds depth to her financial and project management skills, enabling her to navigate complex research environments effectively.
  2. Extensive Research Experience: As a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Northeastern University and a Research Assistant at Deakin University, Vanessa has contributed to multiple significant projects, showcasing her ability to lead and collaborate in diverse research contexts.
  3. Publication Record: Vanessa’s strong publication history, including peer-reviewed articles in prominent journals, highlights her commitment to advancing knowledge in architectural sustainability and post-occupancy evaluations. Her recent works reflect her capacity for rigorous research and critical analysis.
  4. Teaching and Mentorship: With experience as an Adjunct Lecturer and Casual Academic, Vanessa has demonstrated her ability to educate and inspire undergraduate students. Her engagement in teaching complements her research, fostering a holistic academic approach.
  5. Grants and Awards: Her successful grant applications and recognition for research excellence, such as the Graham Treloar Research Prize and Best Student Paper awards, underscore her capability to secure funding and contribute valuable insights to the field.
  6. Professional Service: Vanessa’s involvement in professional committees and as a manuscript reviewer illustrates her dedication to the architectural community and her proactive engagement in advancing research standards.

Areas for Improvement

  1. Networking and Collaboration: While Vanessa has a solid track record of individual accomplishments, expanding her network and collaboration with international researchers could enhance her research impact and visibility.
  2. Broader Dissemination of Research Findings: Increasing her presence in industry-related conferences and workshops would allow her to share findings more widely and gather diverse perspectives that could enrich her work.
  3. Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives: Exploring opportunities for interdisciplinary research projects could leverage her diverse skills and knowledge, creating innovative solutions in architecture and sustainability.

Education 

Vanessa Whittem holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Deakin University, focusing on post-occupancy feedback in architecture, and is set to submit her thesis in July 2024. She earned her Master of Architecture from Deakin University in 2018, where her thesis explored post-occupancy feedback sources for architects in Victoria, Australia. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Design (Architecture) with Distinction and a Bachelor of Construction Management with First Class Honours, both from Deakin University. Her educational foundation is complemented by certifications as a Chartered Accountant and a US CPA, alongside a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University, reflecting her strong analytical and financial skills.

Experience

Vanessa has diverse experience in both academia and architectural practice. Currently, she serves as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Northeastern University’s Smart Cities Lab, while also lecturing at James Cook University. Previously, she was a Research Assistant at Deakin University, where she contributed to multiple projects focused on sustainability and urban architecture. Her teaching experience includes casual academic roles, where she tutored and assessed undergraduate students in various architecture and construction courses. Additionally, she worked as an Architectural Assistant at AlsoCAN Architects, gaining hands-on experience in residential projects. Vanessa has also consulted for various councils on building design regulations, enhancing her practical knowledge in urban development and community planning.

Awards and Honors 

Vanessa Whittem has received several prestigious awards, recognizing her research excellence and contributions to architecture. She was honored with the Best Student Paper at the 56th Architectural Science Association Conference in December 2023. In 2022, she received the Graham Treloar Research Prize for the Most Outstanding Publication on Sustainability from Deakin University. Her PhD scholarship, awarded in 2019, highlights her academic prowess and commitment to research. Additionally, she achieved accolades for her presentations during the School Research Day at Deakin University. Vanessa’s participation in various design competitions, such as the ASC Texo International Design Build, where her team secured 2nd place, further showcases her competitive spirit and innovative approach to architecture.

Research Focus 

Vanessa’s research primarily explores post-occupancy feedback mechanisms in architecture, aiming to enhance the sustainability and user satisfaction of built environments. Her doctoral thesis investigates the Integral Sustainable Design framework, analyzing architects’ desires and the effectiveness of feedback surveys in educational settings. Throughout her academic career, she has engaged in collaborative research addressing urban architecture and environmental sustainability, including projects on migrant architecture and the implications of architectural decisions on community well-being. Vanessa’s work reflects a commitment to bridging the gap between architectural practice and academic research, focusing on actionable insights for architects and policymakers. By contributing to scholarly articles and participating in various research initiatives, she aims to influence the future of sustainable architectural design and promote more effective communication between architects and users.

Publication Top Notes

  1. Bridging the gaps – A mixed methods approach to evaluating novel feedback surveys of children on school buildings 🌍📚
  2. How comprehensive is post-occupancy feedback on school buildings for architects? A conceptual review based upon Integral Sustainable Design principles 🏫📊
  3. Reliability of human environmental “sensors”: Evidence from first- and third-person methods 📏🔍
  4. Architectural, indoor environmental, personal and cultural influences on students’ selection of a preferred place to study 🛋️🎓
  5. Learning from built projects – sources of post occupancy feedback used by architects in Victoria, Australia 🏛️📝
  6. Symposium Vacancy and Preservation: Architecture of the Post-industrial Community 🏭📖

Conclusion

Vanessa Whittem is a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award, demonstrating a blend of academic excellence, practical experience, and a commitment to sustainability in architecture. Her strengths in research, teaching, and professional service position her as a leader in her field. By addressing areas for improvement, she can further amplify her impact on architectural research and education.

 

 

Leila Pasandi | Building Science | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Leila Pasandi | Building Science | Best Researcher Award

Student/Member, PhD Student, United Kingdom

Leila Pasandi is a forward-thinking researcher at the intersection of artificial intelligence, microclimate, and the built environment. With a passion for addressing urban-scale energy consumption challenges, she has made significant strides in developing innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change on urban environments. Her academic journey, bolstered by prestigious grants and awards, reflects her dedication to advancing sustainable architecture and engineering practices.

Profile

Google Scholar

Research for “Best Researcher Award”

Strengths for the Award 🌟

Leila Pasandi’s research portfolio showcases a robust and forward-thinking approach to addressing some of the most pressing challenges in the built environment, particularly in the context of climate change and urban energy consumption. Her work stands out for its interdisciplinary nature, blending mechanical engineering with architectural technology to develop innovative solutions such as kinetic facades and energy-efficient building designs.

Her significant contributions include a comprehensive review of microclimate impacts on building operations, published in high-impact journals like Building and Environment and Applied Soft Computing. Pasandi’s expertise in urban heat island (UHI) mitigation and sustainable transportation demonstrates her commitment to creating energy-efficient urban environments. Moreover, her collaboration with renowned institutions and receipt of prestigious grants and awards, including the NERC OnePlanet Doctoral Training Partnership and the “Excellent Paper Award,” further underline her qualifications as a leading researcher in her field.

Areas for Improvement 🚀

While Leila Pasandi’s research is impressive, there are opportunities for further growth. Expanding her research to include more diverse geographic locations beyond Iran and the UK could increase the global applicability of her findings. Additionally, increasing her engagement in international research collaborations and conferences could enhance her global visibility and impact. Although she has a strong publication record, focusing on producing more first-author papers in top-tier journals would further solidify her status as a leading expert in her field. Lastly, while her technical skills are excellent, delving deeper into the socio-economic implications of her research could provide a more holistic approach to her work on urban environments and energy efficiency.

Education 🎓

Leila Pasandi is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Northumbria University as part of the NERC OnePlanet Doctoral Training Partnership (2022-present). Her research focuses on optimizing the impacts of climate change on urban buildings. She earned her MSc in Architectural Technology from Tabriz Islamic Art University (2013-2016), where she specialized in kinetic facades for educational buildings. Her academic foundation was laid with a BA in Architectural Engineering from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (2009-2013), where she worked on designing children’s recreational and cultural complexes.

Experience 🛠

Leila has accumulated diverse experience as a researcher, lecturer, and architect. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at Northumbria University, where she is developing methodologies to optimize urban building environments. Previously, she served as a senior building energy analyst at First World Facade Co. in Malaysia, where she analyzed energy consumption and proposed reduction measures. Her experience also includes teaching roles at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and the Iran University of Science and Technology, where she led workshops and lectured on computational design and fabrication engineering.

Research Interests 🔍

Leila Pasandi’s research interests are deeply rooted in sustainable urban development. She focuses on urban route-finding, sustainable transportation, machine learning tools, and the interaction between building microclimates and energy consumption. Her work also explores urban heat island (UHI) mitigation, kinetic facade systems, and energy efficiency modeling, all aimed at creating energy-efficient urban environments that are resilient to climate change.

Awards 🏆

Leila’s academic excellence has been recognized through several prestigious awards. She received the “Excellent Paper Award” at the ARSSS International Conference on Renewable Energy and Climate Change in 2023. In 2022, she was awarded a research grant from the ONE Planet Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) for her work on the interaction between microclimate and building structures. Additionally, she was granted a full scholarship by Tabriz Islamic Art University for her outstanding academic performance during her MSc program.

Publications Top Notes📝

Leila Pasandi has an impressive publication record that reflects her contributions to the field of sustainable architecture and urban planning. Some of her notable publications include:

September 2023: “Enhancing Microclimate and Reducing Building Energy Consumption: Utilizing Exterior Redirecting Transparent Louvers for Thermal and Visual Comfort in Iran’s Diverse School Buildings,” presented at the ARSSS International Conference on Renewable Energy and Climate Change. Link to Paper

October 2023: “A Comprehensive Review of Applications and Feedback Impact of Microclimate on Building Operation and Energy,” published in Building and Environment. Cited by 5 articles. Link to Journal

February 2022: “Analyzing the Impact of Urban Planning and Building Typologies in Urban Heat Island Mitigation,” published in Buildings. Cited by 10 articles. Link to Journal

September 2021: “Modified A* Algorithm Integrated with Ant Colony Optimization for Multi-Objective Route-Finding; Case Study: Yazd,” published in Applied Soft Computing. Cited by 8 articles. Link to Journal

Conclusion 🎓

Leila Pasandi is a highly deserving candidate for the “Best Researcher Award.” Her innovative work in integrating architectural design with mechanical engineering to address climate challenges in urban environments positions her as a trailblazer in her field. While there are areas for further growth, her current contributions to the academic and practical aspects of energy-efficient building design and urban planning are exceptional. Pasandi’s research not only advances theoretical knowledge but also offers practical solutions to real-world problems, making her a strong contender for this prestigious award.