Dr Shivangi Singh Parmar, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, has a diverse professional background spanning teaching, research, architecture and consultancy. Her research interests lie at the intersection of Vulnerability Assessment, Flood Mitigation, Resilient Development, Sustainable Planning, Comprehensive Planning, Regional Planning, Infrastructure Design and Management and Traditional Knowledge Systems.

At the core of Dr Parmar’s research is the application of innovative methodologies, with a focus on vulnerability assessment and resilience planning, to reduce the impact of natural disasters. She employs a systems perspective to understand the complex interactions between environmental factors, infrastructure design, societal vulnerabilities and Traditional Knowledge Systems, thereby seeking to foster sustainable and resilient communities.

At Anant, her current teaching and research interests encompass the interdisciplinary fields of urban studies, development studies and public policy, with a focus on themes related to sustainable cities, buildings and communities. Further, she recognises the pivotal role that building architecture plays as an important component and unit in the overall landscape of disaster resilience. By integrating architectural principles and strategies into her research, she aims to enhance the resilience of communities against natural disasters, fostering sustainable urban environments that are robust and adaptive in the face of adversity.

Dr Parmar earned her PhD from the Ranbir and Chitra Gupta School of Infrastructure Design and Management (RCGSIDM), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. Subsequently, she pursued a postgraduate diploma at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr Parmar achieved a Master of City Planning specialisation from the Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the School of Architecture and Planning, Bhopal.

Before joining Anant, she served as an Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, Vellore Institute of Technology, where she taught undergraduate courses in Sustainable Architecture and Institutional Design. Dr Parmar also coordinated various academic activities, including serving as the thesis coordinator and coordinating the International Annual Research Symposium in 2022.

She also worked as a Research Fellow at the Science and Heritage Initiative (SandHI) of IIT Kharagpur, where she contributed to interdisciplinary research projects to reinvent traditional knowledge systems in India. Notably, she was associated with a significant research project focused on urban design, planning and engineering exploration of Varanasi. Before her research fellowship, Dr Parmar gained practical experience as a Project Architect at Sen and Lall Consultants Pvt Ltd, where she worked on various architectural projects, including Ganga Ghat redevelopment and slum rehabilitation. 

Furthermore, she participated as a Consultancy Project Team Member for the Comprehensive Development Plan of Talcher, Odisha, working with ARP, IIT Kharagpur. Additionally, she has served as a Teaching Assistant for several courses at RCG School of Infrastructure Design and Management and Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur, providing academic support to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Beyond academia, Dr Parmar loves travelling and exploring different cultures, immersing herself in diverse locales, savouring cuisines, observing lifestyles and connecting with new people. An avid reader of Hindi literature, she draws insights from its narratives to understand the struggles and resilience woven into history and culture. Her travels enrich her global perspective, revealing the intricacies of different cultures and traditions while deepening her appreciation of people’s vulnerabilities and their pursuit of resilience.