Dr. Vicky Achnani

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Vicky Achnani is an educator and architectural designer based in Pittsburgh, with extensive experience in self-initiated design-build community projects. Her professional background includes a strong expertise in unconventional materials and tailoring designs to specific site conditions. She is a licensed architect in India and runs a small design practice focusing on sustainable materials for underserved communities. Vicky's academic journey began with a Bachelor of Architecture from the Faculty of Architecture at CEPT University in 2013, and she later earned a Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture, completed in 2022. She has received several accolades, including the India2EU II scholarship in 2013-14 and the JN Tata Scholarship in 2020. Since joining the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture as special faculty in the fall of 2022, Vicky has been actively involved in teaching design studios and seminar courses on design-build projects. Her pedagogical focus includes developing architectural education that appreciates the interaction between built and natural environments through innovative material use and structural investigation.

Research Interests

Experience

Special Faculty

2022-09-01 — Present

Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture • Pittsburgh, PA

Teaches design studios and seminar courses focused on design-build and sustainable materials.

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.