As temperatures rise and cities grow, many people, especially in countries like India, struggle with heat, poor indoor air quality, and demand for increased cooling requirements.

Prashant Anand, our next pathbreaker, Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture & Regional Planning at IIT Kharagpur, teaches the cross-functional disciplines of architectural design, building science, and technology, while also researching passive and active design systems, ventilation, thermal comfort, the use of AI and simulation tools, and the role of human behaviour in energy use and well-being.

Prashant talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about his work on a computational tool, the Building Layout Optimizer, which laid the foundation for his subsequent work in building performance analysis.

For students, learning is not a straight line. There is always room to recover, redirect, and grow. What truly becomes a problem is when you stop learning from your experiences, become rigid in your approach, or give up.

Prashant, can you share your background with our young readers?

I grew up in Darbhanga, Bihar, and completed my schooling in state government institutions. I mostly learned at my own pace, guided more by curiosity than ambition. From an early age, like most kids, I was inclined to understand how household gadgets worked. I often explored household devices, repaired small wiring issues, and engaged in hands-on learning, which gradually strengthened my interest in technology more than any textbook could.

At home, my parents fully supported my education, even though they couldn’t guide me academically. My father was the first in our family to receive formal education and take up a regular job as a stenographer in the Land Department at the local Collectorate. My mother had no formal education, but she was the one who most cared about my early school education. Being the first graduate in my family, I learned gradually in my life that steady effort alongside the initial nourishment from home matters more than having everything perfectly planned.

My academic journey had its challenges, as the state school environment sometimes limited regular learning opportunities. However, one person who had a lasting impact on my early school years was my teacher, Jagatpal Banerjee Sir. He guided me toward opportunities I didn’t fully understand at the time, especially emphasizing the importance of quality schooling. Although some of those paths didn’t work out due to family circumstances, his belief in me broadened my understanding of what was possible.

What did you study?

I completed my Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) at NIT Patna. While learning the fundamentals of functional design, climate-responsive architecture caught my attention, and I gradually began exploring performance-driven design. I then pursued an M. Tech in Building Technology and Construction Management at IIT Madras, which further enhanced my understanding of building science, focusing on thermal comfort, ventilation, and energy use. Later, I completed my PhD at the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a research scholarship, studying building performance with a focus on occupant-centered energy-use systems.

What were some of the influences that led you to a career in Building Technologies?

Choosing mathematics in senior secondary education positioned me toward technical and design fields. Although I initially prepared for engineering, admission to the Architecture program at NIT Patna introduced me to a discipline combining design, environmental considerations, and functional problem-solving. Early familiarity with construction through my grandfather, combined with curiosity about mechanical and structural systems, naturally oriented me toward building technologies and building science.

Tell us about your career path

As mentioned earlier, at NIT Patna, I was introduced to climate-responsive design and the relationship between buildings, environmental conditions, and their impact on occupant comfort. This exposure inspired me to explore building performance in greater depth during my M. Tech at IIT Madras, where I first engaged in research on thermal comfort and ventilation with research groups led by Prof. Ramachandriah. During this period, I also developed a computational tool, the Building Layout Optimizer, which laid the foundation for my subsequent work in building performance analysis.

Before beginning my doctoral studies, I worked in professional practice under architect Sanjay Prakash in his Studio for Habitat Futures (SHIFT), contributing to projects ranging from small residential buildings to large institutional masterplans, including a proposed Net Zero Energy IIT campus. This experience highlighted the importance of making performance-oriented decisions early in the design process, further reinforcing my interest in research-driven approaches.

I later had the opportunity to join the National University of Singapore (NUS) for my PhD, working with research groups led by Prof. David and Prof. Chandra. I am grateful for the exposure the program provided to advanced laboratories and interdisciplinary research in the built environment, focusing on building systems, occupant behavior, and energy efficiency. My doctoral work focused on developing a framework for occupant-centric operation and control of building systems to improve comfort and energy performance. 

After completing my PhD, I also did a postdoctoral fellowship at NUS before returning to India and joining as a faculty member here. My career was not planned; over time, curiosity, guidance from teachers, mentors, and friends, along with various life experiences, gradually led me toward research, teaching, and building science.

How did you get your first break?

My first real break came when I was admitted to the Architecture program at NIT Patna. Like many students, I had initially prepared for engineering and turned to architecture only when I could not get into an engineering branch. But it soon became one of the best decisions of my academic life. Architecture introduced me to a world where every design is unique, creativity becomes a discipline, and thinking beyond conventional boundaries feels natural. This foundation later helped me in my multidisciplinary master’s and doctoral studies, where learning alongside students from civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering showed me how deeply architecture connects with other fields.

After completing my M.Tech, I received two offers: one from L&T Construction and another from the Studio for Habitat Futures (SHIFT). I chose SHIFT because it offered the opportunity to work with an architect whose energy-efficient and sustainable building design projects had inspired me for years. My time there expanded my understanding of sustainable design and allowed me to contribute to a variety of projects.

Why did you transition from the industry to an academic career?

Following my short industry experience, I sought a more research driven perspective on cooling systems, energy use and building performance. Before beginning doctoral studies, I also joined NIT Patna as a faculty member for a year or so. This allowed me to gain teaching experience and assess academic research as a long-term career choice, where I can equally learn, teach and practice research. During this period, I applied to doctoral programs and received an offer from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and subsequently from the National University of Singapore (NUS). The research environment and international exposure at NUS further helped me to nurture well my academic objectives.

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

One challenge I continue to work on is communicating effectively and placing trust wisely. I have realized that if I offer trust or responsibility too easily, it may not be valued and could even be misused. I am learning to let people earn trust through their actions, while understanding that colleagues are collaborators, not necessarily friends.

What do you do currently?

I am working as an Assistant Professor at IIT Kharagpur. Most of my work focuses on how buildings can keep people comfortable while using less energy, and how the built environment interacts with our changing climate. In my classes, I bring architectural design, building science, and technology together. We look at passive and active design systems, ventilation, thermal comfort, the use of AI and simulation tools, and the role of human behaviour in energy use and well-being.

Much of what I teach comes directly from the research and project work that my group is doing. We work on indoor air quality, cooling strategies, building performance simulations, and how buildings influence microclimates at the city scale. I actively try to collaborate with universities around the world for research. I also jointly supervise a research student with Curtin University, where I am an honorary Adjunct Lecturer. These partnerships help me stay connected with global research and bring those insights back to my students.

How does your work benefit society?

My work aims to create comfortable, energy-efficient buildings and cooler, more sustainable cities. In detail, my work is a small effort toward making our buildings and cities more comfortable, healthy, and energy-efficient. As temperatures rise and cities grow, many people, especially in countries like India, struggle with heat, poor indoor air quality, and increased cooling requirements. I try to understand how buildings affect people’s daily comfort and how simple design choices, natural ventilation, shading, and better building materials can reduce the need for energy-intensive cooling. Much of my research focuses on practical, climate-responsive solutions that blend traditional wisdom with modern tools. 

I study how people actually use buildings, how their comfort needs change, and how technology can help buildings respond more intelligently, providing comfort without wasting energy. I also explore ways for buildings to generate clean energy through rooftop solar and how these choices influence not just individual buildings but also neighbourhood temperatures and overall city climate. At its core, my work is about helping people live in healthier, more comfortable spaces while reducing the strain on our environment. I see research not as solving everything, but as contributing small pieces of understanding that, together with others’ efforts, can support more sustainable and human-cantered cities in the future.

Any memorable work?

Developing the Building Layout Optimizer was a basic project, but it marked the beginning of my research journey.

Your advice to students?

My journey taught me that even decisions taken reluctantly can become life-changing when we stay open to learning and choose mentors and paths that align with our long-term goals. Today, many students look for immediate benefits and compare early earnings. There is nothing wrong with wanting a good-paying job or exploring different skills, but it is also important not to overlook the rich learning environment and creative opportunities that fields like architecture offer. The field opens doors in many directions, and opportunities are always available for those who engage deeply and grow steadily with the discipline.

Also, remember that if you score poorly in some subjects, it’s fine. No one can excel in everything all the time, and learning is not a straight line. There is always room to recover, redirect, and grow later. What truly becomes a problem is when you stop learning from your experiences, become rigid in your approach, or give up. When that happens, recovery becomes much more difficult.

Stay curious, learn steadily, and seek mentors who give honest guidance on your strengths and areas for improvement. While some people may offer praise without substance, a true mentor helps you grow sincerely.

Trust your journey, stay open to learning, and let every experience shape you into a stronger and more capable version of yourself.

Future Plans?

So far, I plan to continue research and teaching, contributing to sustainable building design and climate-responsive cities, while mentoring the next generation of architects and engineers.

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