Dr. Pankaja Gunwant Bagul, Heading the School of architecture is an architect, urban designer, and planner with over 32 years of professional experience in private practice and 24 years in academia. Her expertise spans critical research, innovative sustainable technologies, computational design, digital fabrication, AI, and advanced construction.
She holds a Ph.D. in Digital Architecture from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and has received an Erasmus Fellowship for her doctoral studies at Politecnico di Milano, Milan. Her educational journey also includes a Master’s degree in Town Planning (COEP), Critical Architecture (UK), and Indology, along with specialized training in programming and parametric software.
She has received numerous accolades, including the IIA Award for Excellence in Academics and the prestigious Jijabai Award for Architectural Contribution to Society.
Dr. Bagul has held leadership positions and taught at prestigious institutions, nationally and internationally, while also contributing extensively to research through workshops and publications in reputable conferences and journals. As a principal architect, she has led diverse projects encompassing master planning, conservation, institutional, and commercial developments, showcasing her multidimensional expertise in the field.
Dr. Pankaja envisions to shape the future of architecture at NICMAR with a blend of academic rigor, innovative thinking, and practical experience.

Shruti is an architect-urban planner with diverse experience of more than 15 years working with industry, academic institutions, and non-profits both in USA and India. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Environmental Planning from Arizona State University, USA; a bachelor’s in architecture from Pune University; and currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. Shruti brings extensive knowledge of urban planning, outstanding research and analytical skills, exceptional communication and academic writing abilities in her current role as an academic. Her teaching and research interests include Urban Housing, Renewal and Redevelopment, Gentrification, and Valuation of Properties. She also takes keen interest in Green Buildings, Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Planning and Sustainable Development.

Dr. Dhaarna is an architect-planner and completed her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. She was awarded the GATE, MHRD, and Newton-Bhabha Scholarship. She was a Visiting Scholar at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She completed her Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad, and Bachelor of Architecture from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. She possesses professional experience in the disciplines of community mobilization, rural development, urban and regional planning, WASH, and policy planning at the national, regional, and local levels. She teaches courses in programmes: Urban Planning, Architecture, Energy & Environment, and Real Estate. Her research encompasses topics like water-energy-food nexus, policy planning, systems approach, GIS, sustainable development, decarbonization, UHI, urban and regional planning, rural development, and WASH.

Dr. Sameer D. Gujar is an academician and researcher in the field of Architecture. He holds a Bachelors in Architecture from Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Mumbai, a Masters in Environmental Planning from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and a Ph.D. from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur. His research interests include the design of unbuilt spaces, sustainable built environments, and climate-based simulation studies. Passionate about how spaces can better respond to people and the environment, he aims to contribute significantly to architectural education and research, particularly in unbuilt spaces and sustainable design. His teaching experience has honed his skills in academia and administration, fostering a research-based approach to architectural education. He has joined the School of Architecture and Planning as Assistant Professor.

Dr. Prinyanka Gayen is an Architect and Urban Designer with her PhD from School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi. Her topic of PhD was Framework for Designation of Modern Heritage of India. She has taught subjects like Design Studio, Housing and Urban Design, Solar Energy & Built Environment, Architectural Professional Practice, Working Drawing, Building Construction, History of Architecture, Ecology and Environment, Climatology.

Dr. Manas Marathe is an architect-urban planner with professional experience of more than 10 years, including 7 years of teaching experience at different colleges in Pune. Manas completed his B.Arch from Sinhgad College, Pune in 2008. After working for 2 years in the architectural firm Mitimitra Consultants Pvt. Ltd, Pune, he did his Masters in Urban and Rural Planning from IIT Roorkee in 2012.  He was a recipient of the prestigious DAAD German academic exchange scholarship in 2011 to pursue Master’s research at TU Darmstadt, Germany and has done his PhD from the same university in 2019. His areas of research include cultural landscapes, urban infrastructure, and traditional water management systems. Currently, he is working as an Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, NICMAR University.