Before joining GUC in February 2023, Ayham was a postdoctoral researcher at the CNRS; he worked at the Collaborative Research Centre “Re-Figurations of Space” at TU Berlin; and was a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford. In addition to consultancy work, he taught at different universities in Germany, Oman and the USA.

In his research, Ayham focuses on urban space, informality, resilience, culture, power dynamics, and identity politics. In particular, he is interested in the socio-spatial practices and transformations of space and how they can be mapped and visualized through mixed media and illustration techniques. His research is driven by strong interest in ethnography, anthropology, cultural studies and urbanization theories and how they can be linked to architectural design and contemporary urban practices. In his book “From Shelters to Dwellings” he looks at the intersections between the production of space, home, identity and the refugee camp. From the macro to the micro, he utilizes ethnographic observations, co-mappings, narratives, 3D modeling and detailed architectural drawings to explain processes ranging from camp planning to spatial transformation, social grouping, and the representations of identity, homemaking and the social coding of space.

In Cairo, Ayham’s research focuses on the impact of different global crises on the built environment and how they engender new forms of top-down strategies and bottom-up practices and tactics, with special focus on displacement, housing, neoliberalization, and the right to the city.

Husam is currently an invited consultant and director of engineering studies and research at the REC, Jordan, and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Mediterranean Cities. His academic activities began at the American University in Cyprus before he moved to Cairo in 2018. These activities were developed in parallel with the initiatives of organizing several conferences, seminars, workshops, internships, supervising MA and PhD dissertations, and research activities in different countries and in cooperation with several institutions. Husam is an editorial member of several journals, and currently directs a not-for-profit Urban Research Laboratory, which aims at expanding the regional network and provide a refreshing perspective on urban related matters through several discourses with a particular focus on urban transformation in the Mediterranean Basin: Africa, Asia, Europe, and global geo-economic contexts.

During Dr. Saleh obtained his Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering & Theories of Design from Ain Shams University – Egypt in 2021 titled: “A Framework for School Design Based on Participatory Approaches”, obtained his Master of Sciences in Architectural Engineering & Environmental Design from Cairo University – Egypt in 2015 titled: “School Design through Participation with Reference to Children in Primary Education”, and obtained his B.Sc. in Architecture from Cairo University – Egypt in 2010.

His Research fields Include: Participatory Urban Planning - Urban Design - Architectural Design Approaches, Generative design tools, and Optimization strategies.

Dr. Fayed research focus on passive strategy methods for contemporary buildings to improve the thermal performance. She tends to apply transdisciplinary approaches in her research work integrating digital simulation tools within the design process to address key aspects of building performance in order to enhance design development. As a researcher, she has participated in several workshop, seminars, conference and guest lecture in several Institute and Universities.

Her conviction is congruent with the importance of research to improve our environment through expansion of sustainable & creative strategies based on research and development.  She seeks to expand her professional life in the academic and broaden her research prospects focusing on the relationship between built environment and nature to improve building performance with a focus on environmental values.