I am a Senior Lecturer in Town Planning and Programme Leader of the BSc (Hons) Town Planning Programme at the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of the West of Scotland.

I am a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS).

Prior to this current role, I was a Lecturer in Sustainable Cities at the Department of Environment and Geography, University of York. Before that, I worked at the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, contributing to two major research initiatives: Sustainable Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods (SHLC), and the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE). Prior to moving to the UK, I was an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow at the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, Berlin with a joint affiliation to the Technische Universität Berlin. I also served as a JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellow at the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (Tokyo) with a joint affiliation with the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Earlier in my career, I held a brief appointment as an Assistant Professor in Planning at the School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada.

My research emphasises excellence through a four-pronged approach: (a) conducting applied research, (b) employing innovative quantitative methods using unique datasets, c) fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and (d) adopting comparative frameworks. I have authored over three dozen peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, focusing on four key areas: climate change mitigation in cities, housing and inequality, urbanisation and human well-being, and neighbourhood dynamics. My works have been funded by leading organisations, including the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the Scottish Funding Council.

As an educator, I employ student-centred learning approaches, incorporating active pedagogies such as problem-based learning. I engage with students from diverse disciplinary and socio-demographic backgrounds, fostering participation through group activities and supporting learning with regular feedback mechanisms. I have also served as an external examiner for three PhD theses.

My research experience includes extensive use of econometrics, employing software such as Stata and R to analyse large datasets. More recently, I have incorporated qualitative research methods, including focus group discussions and interviews, into my work.

Qualifications

• PhD in City Planning – Seoul National University
• MEd in Academic Practice – University of Glasgow
• Master of Planning (Urban Planning) – School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi
• Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) – Aligarh Muslim University

• Sustainable Urban Development
• Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Transitions
• Interdisciplinary and Applied Urban Research
• Research-Informed Pedagogy

I conduct policy-relevant research addressing contemporary urban challenges, with a particular focus on urban areas of the Global South. My work is organised into four key themes:

Cities and Climate Change Mitigation
Cities are central to mitigating climate change, particularly through urban form and transport choices. My research investigates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their determinants using unique datasets (e.g., emissions derived from Household Consumption Expenditure) to provide evidence-based strategies for climate mitigation. Findings highlight that compact urban forms can offer multiple benefits, such as enhanced population and environmental health. Recently, I have explored the challenges of adopting domestic heat pumps in the UK, a critical step towards reducing energy consumption in home heating.

Housing and Inequality in Indian Subcontinent Cities
A large proportion of urban residents in the Indian subcontinent live in slums or informal settlements. My research examines housing challenges using nationally representative household data to inform evidence-based housing policies. I have demonstrated how intersecting forms of poverty, such as income and education, exacerbate housing inequalities, sharpening the focus of policy interventions.

Urbanisation and Human Well-Being
Urbanisation in Asian and African cities is often unsustainable and exclusionary. My work explores the links between urbanisation processes and human well-being, identifying planning strategies that maximise urbanisation’s benefits. For instance, sustainable urbanism can improve access to modern cooking fuels, improving environmental and public health outcomes.

Cities and Neighbourhoods in Asia and Africa
Sustainable development requires a comprehensive understanding of urban systems. My research addresses urban challenges such as housing, economic development, and governance, with a focus on neighbourhood development. Recent studies in Asian and African cities highlight how neighbourhood governance significantly influences broader urban outcomes.

As the founding Programme Leader for the 4-year BSc (Hons) Town Planning programme, I have spearheaded its design and development, crafting comprehensive module descriptors across SCQF levels 7 to 10. This role has allowed me to integrate innovative teaching strategies and align the curriculum with industry standards and academic excellence.

Over the next few years, I will focus on developing heating strategies for cities and towns in the Global North, mirrored by research on cooling strategies for cities in the Global South. These strategies go beyond energy considerations to encompass human well-being, linking them to how we plan, design, manage and govern urban areas. Such work is critical for addressing contemporary challenges in climate change mitigation. To advance these research areas, I have developed related PhD projects and am fostering collaboration with colleagues to tackle these pressing issues.   

• Housing developers
• Built environment specialists
• Energy companies

• Local governments (e.g., city council and municipal corporations)
• Think tanks (e.g., ICLEI and C40)