Manu P. Sobti

Dr. Manu P. Sobti is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Queensland's School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Previously, he served as Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2006–2016). He holds a B.Dipl.Arch. from CEPT University (Ahmedabad), an SMarchS from MIT, and a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech.

Education:

• B.Dipl.Arch., School of Architecture-CEPT, Ahmedabad, India
• SMarchS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA
• Ph.D., College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA

Research Interests: Landscape history, urban studies in the Global South, borderland geographies, cultural heritage of Central Asia, Islamic urbanism, and de-colonizing narratives. His work emphasizes land-centered histories and critiques top-down master narratives. Key regions of focus include South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Awards & Fellowships:

• Fulbright Senior Specialist Scholar
• 7 International Research Fellowships
• ICOMOS-ICIP Expert Member

Advising & Grants: Directed India Winterim and Uzbekistan research programs; co-coordinated the Building-Landscapes-Cultures doctoral concentration at UW-Milwaukee. Supported by grants from the Graham Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and others.

Labs & Affiliations: Affiliated with the Centre of Architecture, Theory, Criticism, and History (CATCH) at UQ. Active in international collaborations, including film documentaries on Central Asian cultural heritage and urban histories.