Research Associate

Isaac is a Research Associate at the Daniels Faculty Centre for Landscape Research. He holds a passion for innovation, digital technologies and strives for design excellence. Isaac has held various roles in research, product management and product development in academia and the public sector where he has enabled clients to develop computational competencies to combat climate change and enhance urban planning processes. Isaac continues to apply his core experiences in analytics, design and digital product delivery in the provision of enterprise-level technology solutions across private and public domains.  

Research Associate

Ambika Pharma is a Research Associate at the University of Toronto's Centre for Landscape Research. Working for the Platform for Resilient Urbanism, she has contributed towards research on climate adaption in urban landscapes, coastal resilience, and land reclamation. Her current work explores the role of big infrastructure projects and logistical landscapes in efforts towards climate resiliency. Ambika holds a degree in Environmental Design from OCAD University and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto, receiving the Heather M. Reisman Gold Medal for excellence in design.  

With an academic background in biology, Louisa was drawn to landscape architecture by the field’s potential to reframe the relationship between humans and environment. Her research interests center on the intersection of urban and environmental systems, in particular the relationship between climate change resilience and social equity. She strives to work on projects in the public realm that promote not only ecological integrity, but also human health and well-being.

Niko is a student in the Master of Architecture program. Paired with his undergraduate degree in Environmental and Urban Sustainability, his research interest exits at the critical intersection of built form and environmental systems. With a specialization in computation, environmental simulation, and geographic analysis, Niko’s research addresses a myriad of scales. He is currently developing strategies to terraform urban areas susceptible to flooding, using generative design to adapt to future climate scenarios, and the digital fabrication of sustainable mass timber buildings.

Nadia Chan is a multidisciplinary designer based in Toronto, where she is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto. Interested in the reciprocal relationship between the physical landscape and people, her work reflects on how landscapes can support local biodiversity while shaping the urban experience. Nadia holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design at OCAD University and has professionally engaged in a range of spatial design work including interior, exhibition, and landscape design.  

Irene holds a BSc in Biology from the University of Ottawa as well as a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from Ryerson University. Her interests lie in the integration of urban design, landscape architecture and environmental planning which led her to pursue her Master of Landscape Architecture at the Daniels Faculty. Irene strives to work on projects that design resilient and sustainable landscapes that exist in harmony with the urban realm while promoting placemaking and supporting local biodiversity.

Luis Felipe Bendezu is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto, as a complement to his B.Arch at PUCP (Lima, Peru). His interests lie in the role of interactive architecture and responsive design to enhance daily life through landscape, social appropriation, energy and sustainability. His previous professional experiences are diverse, and include roles in project management, interior design and urban research.

Ying holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Beijing Normal University and a Master of Planning at University of Calgary. After practicing as an urban designer for two years, Ying started her study in landscape architecture at University of Toronto for her strong interest in how to reshape the landscape with respect to the nature of individual sites as well as their strong cultural-historical grounding.

Tina is a second-year candidate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Toronto, with a prior background in Interior Design at Ryerson University. Her previous work experiences include work as a junior designer in interior design firms and interning at multidisciplinary design firms in China. Tina is interested in exploring public space design and creating emotional landscapes that establish meaningful connections between nature, artificial structures, and surrounding communities.

Stefan holds a BAH in Studio Art from the University of Guelph and has maintained an independent visual art practice for 8 years. After exhibiting nationally, his interests in urban climate conditions, traditional ecological knowledge, and the natural sciences led him to pursue his Master of Landscape Architecture at the Daniels Faculty. Stefan is excited to be part of the CLR team and hopes its research will inform future resilient design practices locally and abroad.