EDRAite of the Month - Sharmin Kader

Sharmin Kader August 2014

Sharmin Kader With a vision to enhance the built environment through credible research and evidence based design practice, I am currently pursuing my PhD degree in architecture at the University of Kansas. I am developing a Post Occupancy Evaluation tool for hospice environment, titled “Hospice Environment Assessment Protocol (HEAP); it will provide a standardized method for measuring environmental quality to support end-of-life care for dying patients and their families. I received the 2013‐14 AIA Arthur N. Tuttle, Jr. Graduate Fellowship in the Health Facility Planning and Design for this research. I have also achieved the International Fellowship by the American Association of University Women, and have recently awarded the Excellence in Gerontology Graduate Student Award from the Life Span Institute of the University of Kansas. I have master’s degree from Texas A&M University with Certification of Health System and Design from the Center for Health System Design. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in architecture and have designed projects in Bangladesh, India and United States. EDRA works as a great motivation for me to stay excited and invigorated about being a researcher. It is a very productive experience for a PhD candidate to increase awareness of new trends and emerging themes, and to get feedback from the experts. It provides the opportunity about meeting people, building own network, sharing interest, and reaching a new stage of career. EDRA is having fun in a fabulous city, and getting recharged to work more for next year.