<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I would like to be a part of NICMAR due to its great reputation of being one of the leading institutes that have closed the gap between academia, industry and applied research sector in the built environment sector. NICMAR can provide me with an excellent opportunity to enhance my interdisciplinary approach to urban planning, urban infrastructure development, and evidence-based decision-making due to my academic training in architecture, city planning, and data science and my teaching and research experience.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;My educational background and studies have been in the field of urban and regional planning with a Master of City Planning degree and subsequently followed by a PhD degree in regional competitiveness and infrastructure evaluation. I have over the years gained a high level of research orientation in the areas of spatial analysis, GIS and machine learning application to the urban systems. The experiences of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and attending international conferences allowed me to develop a research mentality that puts more premium on quantitative research and policy implications. I would especially like to delve into the application of the new technologies and technologies like artificial intelligence and geospatial analytics in order to make urban development and optimization of infrastructure more sustainable.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;The multidisciplinary ecosystem and focus on applied education present NICMAR as the singularly qualified institution to assist me in achieving my academic and research goals. Of particular interest to me are the areas of the institute that include infrastructure planning, project management and sustainable development as this corresponds closely to my research interests. I feel that the teamwork spirit at NICMAR will enable me to engage the scholars and other industry experts to come up with new planning solutions that address the current urban issues like high rates of urbanization, climate resilience, and efficiency of resources.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;I also have good teaching and academic administration experiences on top of my research experience. Being an Associate Professor, I have been involved in the development of the curriculum, introducing programs, and mentoring students in the field of urban planning and architecture programs. I have also participated in the organisation of conferences, organisation of academic activities and industry partnerships. I believe that these experiences have enhanced my leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, which I can use in the NICMAR academic community in the future. The combination of academic and professional practice gives me a well-rounded view, which I can carry with me in teaching, collaborative research projects, and institutional development programs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The other important reason to join NICMAR is the possibility to work with industry-focused research and consulting initiatives. In my opinion, education planning must be deeply related to the real life problems, and NICMAR has superior industry connections that can offer a great platform of implementing the theoretical knowledge into the practical results. I am especially keen on making contributions to the research projects connected to the infrastructure systems, smart cities, and data-driven urban governance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">All in all, becoming a member of NICMAR is a significant milestone in my career as it is going to allow me to make my impact on the field of academic excellence, research, and capacity building in the urban planning field. I believe that my academic and research background, as well as my interdisciplinary learning orientation, will enable me to generate value to the institution, but at the same time, I will be able to gain by the vibrant, progressive environment.</p>