Soheila Ghafoor

Dr. Soheila Ghafoor

Research Assistant

Details

About

Soheila conducts interdisciplinary research to improve the sustainability and productivity of housing and construction. Her work operates at the intersection of circular economy, modern methods of construction, life cycle assessment and systems thinking, with a focus on generating practical insights that inform decision-making across industry, practice and policy.


Soheila holds a PhD in Architecture and Built Environment from Deakin University, where her doctoral research on advancing a circular economy in housing construction received the 2024 Top Performing HDR Student Prize. She also holds a Master of Construction Management, a Master of Architecture, and a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering, and has received multiple awards, including the Brian Lewis Award for academic excellence in the project management specialisation.


As a Research Fellow at RMIT University, Soheila contributes to research and teaching and works closely with industry and government stakeholders to translate research into practical strategies and policy-relevant outcomes. Her teaching is informed by over six years of professional experience in architecture and construction project management. She is committed to the scholarship of teaching and learning and contributes to initiatives that support the development of the next generation of construction and project management professionals.

Research fields

  • 33 Built environment and design
  • 401106 Waste management, reduction, reuse and recycling
  • 401105 Life cycle assessment and industrial ecology
  • 330206 Building science, technologies and systems

UN sustainable development goals

  • 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  • 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • 13 Climate Action

Academic positions

  • Research Fellow
  • RMIT University
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • 1 May 2025 – Present
  • Academic Teaching Fellow
  • Deakin University
  • Geelong, Australia
  • 1 Feb 2025 – 31 Oct 2025
  • Project Researcher
  • RMIT University
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • 1 Apr 2024 – 1 May 2025
  • Research Assistant
  • Deakin University
  • Geelong, Australia
  • 1 Aug 2022 – 31 Dec 2024

Non-academic positions

  • Assistant Project Manager
  • Binks & Associates Pty Ltd
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • 1 Feb 2021 – 31 Jan 2022
  • Construction Coordinator
  • Subconnect Group
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • 1 Jan 2020 – 31 Jan 2021
  • Project Architect
  • Pararin Pendar Consulting Engineers
  • Tehran, Iran
  • 1 Sep 2014 – 31 Jan 2018
  • Architect
  • Fajr-e-Tosea Consulting Engineers
  • Tehran, Iran
  • 1 Sep 2013 – 31 Aug 2014

Research interests

  • Circular economy
  • Life cycle assessment
  • Systems thinking and systems modelling
  • Business model innovation in the built environment
  • Construction and demolition waste management
  • Modern methods of construction (MMC)
  • Social and affordable housing delivery
aboriginal flag float-start torres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Indigenous cultures