We are always excited to hear from prospective student researchers. The lab offers a flat structure in which students are treated equally regardless of their personal identities, cultural backgrounds, or academic backgrounds. We also organize regular social events throughout the year, such as Friday beers and group dinners, etc., with fellow students, colleagues and friends.
We offer many funded research positions throughout the year. For undergraduate students in particular, the University offers opportunities such as the Undergraduate Research Award to support a full-time research position with us over the summer months (May - August).
If you would like to work with us as a student, please get in touch with Dr. Yuhao Lu directly (yuhao.lu@umanitoba.ca). In your email, please include the following: name, year of study, current program, 4-5 sentences on your personal research interests and what you would like to work on with the lab. Please be as specific as possible. If you have past research/design examples, you can also include them in the email.
Yuhao LU (PhD, BSc)
Yuhao is a student of maps. His research and teaching activities involve geospatial analytics, earth observation, and cartographic design. Yuhao’s work explores the calculative and propositional power of maps and map-making, particularly in settlement design and planning, (urban) forestry, and scenario generation and assessment.
Prior to joining the University of Manitoba, Yuhao has worked at the ETH Zurich Future Cities Laboratory and elementslab (UBC), engaging with projects from neighborhood (e.g. Vancouver, Prince George, Victoria) to regional (e.g. West Java), and global (e.g. pan-pacific) scale.
Yuhao completed his PhD with the IRSS lab in 2018.
A message from Yuhao for those interested in working with us.
Current member
Elia NIKKEL (B.EnvD L+U)
Elia is in her fourth year of Environmental Design in the Landscape + Urbanism stream. She loves studying the structure of trees and learning how they grow. She is also interested in digital and analog representations of trees and landscapes. She believes that just as trees grow in communities it is important that people do to and it is important that we find ways to design healthy cities where people can live in community and have a connection to nature. Her past experiences include leading canoe trips on lakes and rivers, rock climbing, lifeguarding and playing water polo.
nikkele1@myumanitoba.ca
Maryam HAJIZARGHNI (MLA, MEVDS, and BEng)
Maryam Hajizarghani is a senior lead landscape architect and urban-sustainability researcher specializing in ecological design, green infrastructure development, sustainable urban systems, and life-cycle environmental assessment. She studied Environmental Design at the University of Tehran and University of Calgary and completed postgraduate studies in the Master of Advanced Studies in Landscape Architecture program at ETH Zurich. She also has an academic background in natural resources engineering, providing a strong technical foundation for understanding ecological processes and environmental system performance. Maryam’s research explores how design decisions and urban policies influence land and water use, carbon emissions, environmental performance and well being, and the implementation of green infrastructure in urban and industrial environments. Her interdisciplinary training—spanning natural resources engineering, landscape architecture, and environmental design—combined with professional experience in sustainability consulting, supports an evidence-based approach to planning and design that advances ecological resilience in the built environment.
Maryam’s research is supported by Mitacs BSI.
Bayan Shaeri is a third-year student in the Environmental Design program at the University of Manitoba. He is curious to explore how technology enhances learning, and strives to contribute to this ongoing process of discovery and synthesis. Constantly seeking new opportunities to inform his perspective, Bayan integrates these insights into his evolving design approach. He is particularly interested in fostering harmony between humans and nature. Progressively learning various software tools enriches Bayan’s ability to visualize ideas, which are often accompanied by the playful addition of comedic scale figures in his renderings. Outside of academics, he enjoys facilitating Junior Youth Empowerment Program sessions and sipping espresso in the sunshine.
Bayan is a recipient of the 2025 URA at the University of Manitoba.
shaerib@myumanitoba.ca
Bayan SHAERI (B.EnvD L+U)
Previous members (2024 - 2025)
We are grateful for these who worked with us during their time at the Faculty.
They shaped who we are today.
Ben BOSWICK (MLA) Reece CULLEN (B.EnvD) Matthew GLOWACKI (MLA ) Gel ILAGAN (MLA) Kyra KWIATKOWSKI (B.EnvD) Zach PANKRATZ (B.EnvD) Miguel SIGUENZA (B.EnvD) Brandan GATZ (B.EnvD) Teegan GILLICH (MLA) Kimia TAGHAVI (MLA)
