PEOPLE

Get to know the passionate experts driving our mission forward. Our team is a diverse group of scientists, researchers, and innovators, each bringing unique skills and perspectives to our work. United by a shared commitment to excellence and impact, we collaborate to push boundaries, solve challenges, and make a difference. Meet the people who are turning ideas into breakthroughs.

Nandini Halder

Visiting PhD Student, Environmental Science and Engineering (Nov 2024 - April 2025)

Biography

Nandini Halder is a Ph.D. research scholar at NIT Patna, focusing on Urban Heat Island (UHI) mitigation, thermal comfort, and urban greenery in sustainable planning. She analyzes greenery’s impact on well-being and resilience. As a visiting researcher at KAUST, she works on life cycle assessment (LCA) using BIM to integrate sustainability into urban design. She has presented at international conferences on sustainable development, soil decontamination, and phytoremediation. Her interdisciplinary approach blends environmental planning, data analytics, and urban design to create climate-responsive cities.

Research Interests

Nandini's research focuses on sustainable urban planning and climate resilience. She examines the role of urban greenery in mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, enhancing outdoor thermal comfort, and promoting community well-being. Her work integrates computational tools, GIS-based urban analysis, and environmental assessment techniques to develop strategies for sustainable urban transformation. Through life cycle assessment (LCA) using BIM, she evaluates the environmental performance of urban infrastructure to enhance resource efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Selected Publications

Halder, N., Kumar, M., Deepak, A., Mandal, S. K., Azmeer, A., Mir, B. A., Nurdiawati, A., & ; Al- Ghamdi, S. G. (2025). The Role of Urban Greenery in Enhancing Thermal Comfort: Systematic Review Insights. Sustainability, 17(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062545 

Education

Ph.D. in Planning and Architecture, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Patna (2023-Continue)
Masters in Architecture, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Patna (2020-2022)
Bachelors in Architecture, Amity School of Architecture and Planning, Kolkata (2015-2020)

Professional Profile

2022-2023: Architect at Swash Tech Pvt. Ltd.
2021-2022: Junior Architect, Aurora Infra
2020-2021: Junior Architect, Studio Beaver

Awards

2022: Swash Tech Pvt.Ltd, OB Above and Beyond (Employee of the Quarter)
2020: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Full Scholarship for Post Graduation

KAUST Affiliations

  • Climate and Livability Initiatives
  • Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering
  • Urban Lab
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