Ms Heba Mohammed A Alshahrani Alshahrani
Teams and roles for Heba Mohammed A Alshahrani Alshahrani
Research student
Overview
I am a PhD researcher at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, studying the relationship between workspace design and academic work in higher education. I am interested in how the design of university offices and workspaces influences well-being, autonomy, and the everyday practices of academic staff. My research is interdisciplinary, sitting at the intersection of architectural design, workplace studies, and job quality.
Before beginning my PhD, I worked as a lecturer in Saudi Arabia, teaching design and architectural subjects and supervising graduation projects. This professional experience shapes my interest in how spaces support academic life, not only as physical settings but as environments that influence motivation, productivity, and connection to academic culture.
I use diaries and creative workshops to explore how academics use and experience their workspaces. I also facilitated sessions and shared my work through the ESRC Festival of Social Science and Cardiff University’s Research Culture programme in 2025.
Research
My research explores the relationship between workspace design and the experience of academic work in higher education, focusing on how physical environments influence well-being, autonomy, and everyday academic practices. This interdisciplinary PhD examines academic office spaces and the role of flexibility, privacy, and environmental comfort in shaping job quality. I use diaries and creative workshops to understand how academics interact with their workspaces and what environments best support their work. In 2025, I delivered workshops and talks through the ESRC Festival of Social Science and Cardiff University’s Research Culture programme, supported by a limited-term Research Culture Fund grant.
Thesis
Academic Offices for the Future
Biography
I am a PhD researcher at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, focusing on the relationship between workspace design and the experience of academic work in higher education. My research explores how architectural environments can support well-being, productivity, and the everyday practices of university staff.
I am a lecturer in Saudi Arabia and contributed to teaching design studios and supervised graduation projects in the College of Design and Architecture. My professional background bridges architectural design, academic practice, and an interest in creating environments that enhance job quality and learning.
Academic positions
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PhD Researcher, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
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Lecturer, Saudi Arabia
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Teaching Assistant, Saudi Arabia
Speaking engagements
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Speaker, Virtual Roundtable on ESRC Festival of Social Science (2025)
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Workshop Facilitator, ESRC Festival of Social Science (2025)
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Workshop Facilitator, The Architecture of Academic Life, Cardiff University Research Culture Initiative (2025)
