People

Founding Director (Linkedin)

Mehdi Ashayeri, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture at Southern Illinois University, where he leads the Urban Intelligence and Integrity Lab (URBiiLAB). Ashayeri earned his Ph.D. in Architecture–Technologies of the Built Environment, from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He also holds an M.Sc. in Architectural Engineering and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Tehran Azad University. Dr. Ashayeri's research is centered on environmental performance and computing, with a strong emphasis on their implications for human health and justice. This involves developing frameworks, tools, and digital platforms using data-driven techniques including artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, Big data, and sensing, as well as physics-based simulation methodologies. In recent projects, Ashayeri has specifically explored spatiotemporal modeling, energy performance evaluation, assessment of exposure to air pollution, and the integration of human feedback systems across various scales. These studies are designed to facilitate data-informed decision-making for health-centric and human-centered design, as well as to contribute to the development of sustainable buildings and cities. Ashayeri's research has been published in high-impact journals, including Environmental Research, Applied Energy, Energy and buildings, Building and Environment, and Sustainable Cities and Society.

Current

Zahra Najafi

Graduate Student in ArchitectureGraduate Research Assistant (LinkedIn) 2023 - 2024

Summer Schlepper

Graduate Student in ArchitectureGraduate Research Assistant (LinkedIn) Spring 2024

Former

Christymol Santhosh

Graduate Student in Computer ScienceGraduate Research Assistant (LinkedIn) Summer and Fall 2023

Golbahar Rafie Dehkordi 

Graduate Researcher (Linkedin)Design Professional at HOK (Starting 2024)Primary Advisor: Mehdi AshayeriFall 2022 - 2023

Ebrahim Maghsoudlou

PhD Student in Computer ScienceGraduate Research Assistant (LinkedIn) Summer 2023

Negin Zamani

PhD Student in Criminal JusticeGraduate Research Assistant (LinkedIn) Summer 2023

Soroush Piri 

Graduate Research Assistant (LinkedIn)PhD Student at Morgan State UniversityPrimary Advisor: Mehdi Ashayeri2021-23

Alemtsehay Mesfin 

Graduate Research Assistant 2022-23
Primary Advisor: Mehdi Ashayeri

Bill Broms 

Graduate Research Assistant2021-22

Samin Kamali Sarvestani

Graduate Researcher (Linkedin) Primary Advisor: Mehdi Ashayeri2021-22

Christina Payerhofer 

Graduate Researcher (Linkedin)Architect Technical at SCBPrimary Advisor: Mehdi Ashayeri2020-21

Seth Luitjohan

Graduate Research Assistant (Linkedin)Architectural Designer at CannonDesignPrimary Advisor: Mehdi Ashayeri2020-21

F.  Gholami.

Graduate Research Assistant 2021