Dr. Dorit Aviv

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Dorit Aviv is an Assistant Professor in Architecture at the Weitzman School of Design, specializing in environmental performance. She directs the Thermal Architecture Lab, a cross-disciplinary laboratory focused on the intersection of thermodynamics, architecture, and material science. Aviv's research examines pathways for decarbonization in the built environment, particularly the interplay between renewable environmental forces and architectural materials, influencing energy performance, air quality, and human health. Her work has been supported by federal grants from agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. In 2024, she received a grant from the Ramboll Foundation to investigate membrane-assisted radiant cooling applications in architecture. Aviv has also been honored with the Holcim Award for Sustainable Design for a cooling prototype aimed at desert climates. She has led initiatives to develop mobile urban cooling stations to address Urban Heat Island effects in North Philadelphia. With an academic background that includes a PhD in architectural technology from Princeton and a B.Arch from Cooper Union, she has taught at several prestigious institutions and practiced with noted architecture firms. Aviv has published extensively in top-tier journals and participated in prominent architectural exhibitions.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

— Present

Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania • Philadelphia, PA

Teaching architecture and directing the Thermal Architecture Lab.

Faculty

— Present

Cooper Union • New York, NY

Taught architecture courses.

Faculty

— Present

Pratt Institute • Brooklyn, NY

Taught design and architecture.

Licensed Architect

— Present

Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects • New York, NY

Worked in design roles on various projects.

Licensed Architect

— Present

KPF • New York, NY

Involved in architectural design.

Awards

#

Holcim Award

#

Ramboll Foundation Grant

Requirements for University of Pennsylvania

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.6
GRE General
Verbal
Required:162
Quantitative
Required:162
Overall
Required:162
GMAT
Total Score
Required:728
Overall
Required:728
TOEFL
Total
Required:115
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong quantitative background
Application Checklist
  • Academic Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation (2-3)
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Essays
Specialization Notes

Wharton Doctoral programs cover fields like Finance, Marketing, Management, and Operations, Information and Decisions.