Saeideh Sobhaninia (Saida Sobhani)
Ph.D., AICP
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Arizona State University
About Saida
I hold a Ph.D. in Planning, Design, and the Built Environment from Clemson University, where my dissertation explored the critical relationship between social cohesion and disaster recovery in Puerto Rico. This mixed-method research aimed to uncover how social cohesion can accelerate recovery and empower underserved communities to be more resilient against future environmental shocks.
My work bridges community resilience, environmental justice, sustainable development, and urban design. Through various studies, I have investigated the effects of the built environment on communities and explored strategies to empower those facing environmental disruptions and climate change. As an engaged scholar, my research spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of urbanism and humanities. Currently, my focus is on four interconnected areas:
I am currently a postdoctoral research scholar at Arizona State University, working on the US Department of Energy-funded Southwest Urban Integrated Field Laboratory project on heat resilience. This project involves a large interdisciplinary team aiming to equip stakeholders and decision-makers with the knowledge needed to address environmental concerns through observation, modeling, and resilience solutions.
Previously, I served as an associate planner at Greenville County's Long Range Planning Department, where I managed the "Back to Nature" program, transforming vacant floodplain lots into community spaces. I have also worked with Revitalization Organization and Naghshe-E-Piravash Consulting Engineers on urban planning and design projects, focusing on revitalizing historic neighborhoods through interconnected public spaces.
As a graduate teaching and research assistant at Clemson University, I contributed to the City and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture departments. Additionally, I have been a lecturer in Architectural Design and Urban Design programs at Shahab Danesh University and Qom Technical College. My interdisciplinary educational background includes a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Design from Clemson University, a master's degree in Applied Geospatial Information Systems and Technologies from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Urban Design from Shahid Beheshti University, and a bachelor's degree in Architecture.