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Supervisors: Prof. Sirkku Juhola, Dr. Janina Kayhko, & Dr. Paula Russell
With a background in Urban & Regional Planning and a Masters' in Geo‑information Science & Earth Observation (2023), Ara’s current research focuses on advancing climate‑neutral cities by regenerating nature in lost and derelict spaces through citizen engagement and Nature‑based Solutions (NbS).
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Supervisors : Prof. Ulrike Gerhard, Prof. Thomas Rausch & Dr. Jeremy Auerbach
With a background in urban planning engineering and a master's degree in urban planning and policy design from Politecnico di Milano plus a year of study in urban agglomeration at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Alirezas focus is on how digital technologies can reshape urban policymaking; building on his master’s thesis, “The Digital Transformation of Policymaking: The Promises of Digital Twin,”. He is currently working on mobility justice and the electric mobility transition in a comparative context. His research investigates innovative ways to enhance decision-making, sustainability, and quality of life in cities.
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Supervisors: Prof. Ignasi Rodriguez-Roda Layret, Prof. Joaquim Comas Matas & Dr. Aura Istrate
With a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Engineering, Shahid's academic background focuses on hydroclimatology, water resources, and sustainable development. Shahid’s current research explores how Decision-Support Frameworks (DSFs) can help cities tackle urban water scarcity by integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Passionate about bridging science, NbS options, policy, and sustainability, Shahid aims to contribute to climate-resilient urban water management through data-driven and systems-oriented approaches.
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Supervisors: Prof. Jacopo Gaspari; Dr. Lia Marchi & Dr. Cristian Silva
Shantanu Raut is a Doctoral Candidate in the C-NEWTRAL program at the University of Bologna, Italy. With a background in architecture and urban development, and a master's degree in International Cooperation in Urban Development, his research explores the barriers that hinder the uptake of deep energy renovation in the EU housing sector, with a focus on case studies in Italy. He investigates how behavioural, financial, and institutional dynamics shape renovation outcomes and employs a systems thinking approach to identify leverage points. He aims to develop user-centred, equitable, and scalable frameworks that advance energy efficiency and support a just climate transition.
Supervisors: Dr. Alexandra Popartan, Prof. Joaquim Comas, Prof. Francesco Pilla
Oussama Chaabouni is a doctoral candidate in Water Science and Technology at the University of Girona, Spain. Oussama has a BSc in Information Management and MA in Management Consulting from the University of Sfax, Tunisia, and an MSc in Environment and Development from the University of Leeds, UK. His research interests are around justice and equity in sustainability transformations, and his doctoral thesis investigates a critical approach to the green and digital transition in EU urban water management.
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Supervisors: Dr. Aura Istrate, Dr. Jeremy Auerbach & Prof. Ulrike Gerhard
Yanxia Qiu is a doctoral researcher in the C-NEWTRAL programme at University College Dublin, focusing on data-driven approaches to nature-inclusive and participatory urban planning. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning (Landscape Architecture) from Aalto University and has worked as a landscape architect, urban designer, computational designer, and researcher across China, Finland, and the Netherlands, focusing on ecological planning in cities. Her research interests include digital tools for climate adaptation, data-driven environmental landscapes, and integrating digital technologies in landscape and urban planning.
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Supervisors: Dr. Aura Istrate, Prof. Francesco Pilla & Prof. Sirkku Juhola
Francesco Fonzino is a doctoral researcher in the C-NEWTRAL program at the University College Dublin (UCD), founded by the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship programme. Academically, he holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Cities from Aalborg University in Copenhagen and a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Florence. Professionally, he has 6 years of experience working for an engineering firm in Italy as a project manager, providing digital technologies and services to facilitate the operations of telecommunication, Energy and Utility infrastructures.
His research focuses on active mobility and Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI), examining the potential impacts and decision-making processes for integrating these infrastructu
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Supervisors: Prof. Francesco Pilla, Dr. Paula Russell & Dr. Alexandra Popartan
Nyma Haqqani has a background in sustainable prosperity, participatory research, and social inclusion in urban spaces. She holds a Masters degree in Global Prosperity from UCL and her prior work in sustainability includes building a toolkit with and for community groups to make urban greenpaces more inclusive, developing participatory methodologies for Nature-based Solutions, building Indigenous partnerships, and business development for circular economy solutions that address both environmental and social issues. Nyma's current research is focused on the intersections of social sustainability, climate action, and just urban transitions. Her work explores how inclusive approaches to climate action, such as sustainable mobility, can advance equitable and resilient pathways toward climate-neutral cities.
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Supervisors: Prof. Ernesto Antonini (UNIBO), Prof. Jacopo Gaspari (UNIBO), Prof. Brendan Williams (UCD)
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Supervisors: Prof. Sirkku Juhola, Dr. Alexandra Malmstrom & Prof. Rodriquez-Roda (UdG)
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Supervisors: Dr. Cristian Silva, Prof. Geraint Ellis, Prof. Jacopo Gaspari (UNIBO)
Roos has a broad interest in environmental issues, planning for liveable and ecological cities, and citizen participation. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Amsterdam in Human Geography and Planning, followed by a master’s degree in Human Geography at Lund University in Sweden. Both fields of geography and planning encouraged her to think transdisciplinary.
Her research is focusing on the social acceptance of decarbonisation policies in neighbourhood planning. The aim is to look critically at local responses to energy-related issues at the neighbourhood level and what planning practices allow for transformative urban change. Her research focuses on areas in Glasgow and Bologna. Two cities with the ambition to become climate-neutral in 2030.
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Supervisors: Dr. Sean Cullen, Prof. Geraint Ellis & Dr. Richard Waldron (UCD)
Shane is a RIAI Registered Architect and Creative Director of award-winning arts collective Unqualified Design Studio. He has practiced in the UK, Australia, and Ireland, where he completed his professional training with the Office of Public Works, and he is currently based in the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s University Belfast. Shane’s work within C-NEWTRAL examines governance and decision-making processes for sustainable-affordable housing policy. He holds a MPhil in Architecture & Urban Design from the University of Cambridge and a MSc in Environmental & Architectural Acoustics from London Southbank.