Hamed Alavi

Hamed Alavi is a tenured Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam and founding member of the Digital Interaction Lab. His work bridges computer science, architecture, and urban design to develop inclusive intelligent spaces that reflect human values across architectural and urban dimensions.

His educational background includes a PhD in Computer Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and post-doctoral research at University College London (UCL). Prior to academia, he led an educational technology start-up for eight years with global impact.

Alavi's research focuses on Human-Building Interaction (HBI), exploring how intelligent environments can co-create inclusive spaces through biophilic design, physiological sensing, and human-centered methodologies. His work emphasizes socio-technical integration in smart buildings and cities, addressing neurodiversity, environmental comfort, and ethical data practices.

His recent publications reveal strong trends in multisensory interaction design, urban computing, and inclusive technology development. Key themes include physiological-environmental sensing integration, AI ethics in urban contexts, and human experience frameworks for smart buildings, with growing emphasis on neurodiverse populations and biophilic elements.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Inclusive City-Making Grant (PI, €3.8M, NWO)
• Best Paper Award at CHI 2025

As Principal Investigator for the NWO-funded Inclusive City-Making project, Alavi leads large-scale interdisciplinary research translating academic insights into urban solutions. His entrepreneurial background informs practical technology deployment strategies and industry-academia collaboration models.

The Digital Interaction Lab, which he co-founded, serves as a research hub for intelligent environment design, bringing together computer scientists, architects, and urban planners to prototype responsive built environments through living lab methodologies and wild deployment studies.