Deepti Adlakha, PhD
I am a Fulbright alumna and Associate Professor of Urban Health in the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), The Netherlands. My work is driven by a commitment to reducing health inequities—particularly among vulnerable populations—by examining how urban environments shape human health and wellbeing.
Recent Events
The Sustainability Award 2025
Outstanding Research and Development for Intelligent and Sustainable Urban Solutions
Research Focus
Grounded in both theory and practice, my research addresses urgent urban challenges through an interdisciplinary lens. I work at the intersection of architecture, urban design, and public health to develop evidence-based strategies that advance healthier, more equitable, and climate-resilient cities. I have contributed to global initiatives such as the Global Observatory for Healthy and Sustainable Cities, and my research has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals and featured in public media platforms including the BBC, Scientific American, The Conversation and TEDx.
Methodological Expertise
My research employs a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative techniques, including behavioural mapping, participatory inquiry, action research, oral testimonies, storytelling, and emerging technologies. I adopt a transnational perspective and work in close partnership with communities, stakeholders, and policymakers to co-produce context-sensitive design and policy solutions.
Doctoral Supervision
My approach to doctoral supervision is grounded in interdisciplinary inquiry, reflective practice, and a strong commitment to societal relevance and impact. I work closely with students to co-develop research that addresses urgent urban challenges at the intersection of health, equity, and the environment. Doctoral projects under my supervision explore a diverse range of themes—for example, the role of urban nature in supporting health and well-being, the influence of built environment characteristics on physical activity across age groups, and the potential of shade infrastructure to reduce urban heat exposure and related health inequities. These projects employ varied methodological approaches—from spatial analysis to participatory and community-engaged research—and are anchored in applied, policy-relevant outcomes.
In addition to supervising PhD candidates at TU Delft and Queen’s University Belfast, I have served as an external examiner for doctoral theses at institutions globally, including Universiteit Gent (Belgium), Politecnico di Milano (Italy), University of Manchester (UK), Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT University, India), and Symbiosis International University (India).
Recent Journal Publications
Urban Climate, 64, 102716
Development and validation of the Global Urban Heat Vulnerability Index (GUHVI)
Cities & Health 2025, Vol. 9, No. 5, 785–788
Urban environments at the frontline of climate breakdown and health: planning, design, and management
Cities & Health, 1-22
Determinants and indicators of healthy, climate resilient cities: a scoping review.
URBAN DESIGN International
The socio-spatial roles of public space as an enabler for community resilience
Get in Touch
Please reach out with questions, collaboration ideas, speaking opportunities, or mentorship requests. I also welcome messages from colleagues and students wishing to reconnect.