Dr. Huma Gupta

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Huma Gupta is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. Her research explores the historical emergence of hierarchies and pathways for dismantling systemic inequities in urban housing, focusing on issues of informal settlement and the sustainable practices necessary in the climate crisis context. Gupta's academic inquiries emphasize the intersection between urban history and policy interventions to better represent marginalized communities. She has undertaken significant infrastructure projects in Afghanistan and Syria and has worked on eviction prevention and humanitarian responses in areas affected by climate change and conflict. Gupta has published extensively, contributing to leading journals and presses and has been a Fellow at prestigious institutions such as Brandeis University and New York University-Abu Dhabi. Currently, she is producing a feature documentary that highlights the challenges faced by a nomadic woman in the Iraqi marshes, scheduled to premiere in 2026. Her teaching includes courses on climate futures, urban dwelling, and decolonial ecologies, further bridging theory and practice in architecture.

Research Interests

Courses

Archive Fever: Theory & Method Decolonial Ecologies Dwelling & Building: Cities Global South Environmental Histories Architecture (undergraduate) Environmental Histories Architecture (graduate) Climate Futures, Cities Past (Film Workshop) Earth, Reed & Water