Sahar S. Hosseini

Sahar S. Hosseini is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History of Art and Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on the socio-cultural dimensions of built environments in pre-modern Muslim societies, particularly Safavid Iran, and contemporary Iranian urbanism. She holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and degrees from the University of Tehran.

Her current book project reinterprets 17th-century Isfahan’s urban development by centering the Zayandehrud River’s role. She collaborates with digital storytellers at Rutgers University-Newark to map Newark’s immigrant history through its built environment. Her teaching emphasizes critical engagement with landscape as a social and historical artifact.

Awardees include an Andrew Mellon Fellowship (2018) and a Seed Grant (2018). Her work bridges historical scholarship with digital methods, exploring themes like global flows, local practices, and environmental contexts.

Advising includes student Hossein Nakhaei. Grants and fellowships include support from Dumbarton Oaks and the New York Botanical Garden. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates material culture, urban history, and digital visualization.