Biography
Dr Suha Jaradat is Associate Professor in Architectural Technology at the School of Engineering and the Built Environment. Dr Jaradat has held a number of strategic positions related to architecture and built environment disciplines including Head of Construction and Surveying and was appointed Advisory Group Member for QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Architectural Technology. Dr Jaradat leads the strategic development and delivery of a suite of postgraduate, undergraduate and graduate apprenticeship programmes in a wide range of built environment disciplines including Architectural Technology; Construction and Surveying. Dr Jaradat is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Chartered Architectural Technologist and Fellow of the Institute (FCIAT), which is a status based on demonstrating significant contribution to and excellence in architectural technology. In recognition of her outstanding contribution and expertise in architectural technology, Dr Jaradat was invited to be part of the first FCIAT group. Dr Jaradat is also a Chartered Building Engineer & Fellow of the Institute (C. Build E FCABE). Fellow Chartered Building Engineer is the highest level of CABE membership and reflects the knowledge, expertise and experience of the industry’s most experienced professionals and a commitment to furthering the profession of Building Engineering. Dr Jaradat is a fully qualified Member (Registered Architectural Engineer) of the Jordanian Engineers Association. Dr Jaradat is actively involved in research, teaching, and professional practice.
Dr Jaradat completed her MSc in Design and Digital Media at the Department of Architecture, The University of Edinburgh and worked as a Research Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Reading, School of Construction Management and Engineering after completing her PhD at the Design Innovation Research Centre (DIRC), University of Reading. Her PhD and Post Doctoral research were funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and investigated the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in interdisciplinary practices in the UK and USA. She collected data from leading architectural practices in Houston, Dallas, San Francisco and London. She was involved in large EPSRC funded research projects including the London 2012 Olympics Games Construction Project. Dr Jaradat was then appointed a Course Director of BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying Consultancy at the School of Engineering, Kingston University London before joining Edinburgh Napier University.
Dr Jaradat's research is interdisciplinary in nature and focuses on architectural practice and construction management using various data-driven management processes, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and software applications, designed to increase efficiency and improve performance across the life cycle of building and infrastructure projects. She is also interested in the interactions between buildings and people. Dr Jaradat is a Member of the Centre for Higher Education Research and Co-Lead of an interdisciplinary research centre: Centre for Mind and Creativity (CEDAR) in collaboration with Dr Marina Wimmer, Associate Professor in Psychology at the School of Applied Sciences. The outcome of Dr Jaradat's research is published in international journals and conferences.
Dr Jaradat has been successful in a Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) application for a funding competition from Innovate UK, to help businesses in the UK innovate and grow by linking them with an academic or research organisation and a graduate. She was awarded a total of £169,937.79 over 24 months to work as a Project Lead. The KTP is in collaboration with CSY – (Cameron, Strachan and Yuill Architects), a firm of Chartered Architects operating from four offices across South East Scotland and North East England. The aim of the KTP is to develop and implement an innovative and bespoke framework and recommendations to enable a more effective integrated systems approach to underpin growth of an SME in four strategic areas. This integrated approach is commonly referred to as BIM (Building Information Modelling and/or Management) and comprises tools, processes and technologies that are facilitated by digital documentation about a building, its performance, planning, construction and operation.
Dr Jaradat has led internal and external validation and review events a Panel Expert and Curriculum Adviser in over 20 national and international events to scrutinise a wide range of programmes (in subjects related to design, architecture, engineering, construction and surveying) at different levels including foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate and apprenticeships. Dr Jaradat was appointed External Examiner at national and international institutions to support the development of programmes in Architectural Engineering, Building Technology and related areas; and examine a range of academic perspective in Architectural Technology and Design.
Dr Jaradat is an experienced PhD Supervisor/Examiner and a Reviewer for funding bodies including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Peer Review College and Royal Academy of Engineering. She is also a Member of the Editorial Review Board of a peer-reviewed research journal: Open House International (OHI), Guest Editor on Special Issues of "Applied Sciences" and "Sustainability" journals, and reviewer for over 15 international refereed journals in the built environment including Sustainability; Buildings; Applied Sciences; Building Research and Information; Construction Management and Economics; Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management; Buildings and Cities; Cities; Smart Cities; European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and much more. Dr Jaradat's research interests span across a wide range of topics covering three main areas:
1. The Digitisation of the Built Environment including:
- Building Information Modelling (BIM) across the Life Cycle of Buildings and Infrastructure Projects
- Professionalism in Digitally-mediated Construction Projects
- Digitisation and the Role of Built Environment Professionals
- Digital Twins in the Built Environment
- Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM)
2. Architectural Practice & Construction Management including:
- Architectural Design and Technology
- Architectural Education and Continuous Professional Development in the Built Environment
- Architectural Engineering
- Construction and Industrial Heritage Management
- Circular Economy and Refurbishment Practices
3. The interactions between Buildings and People including:
- Inclusive Design
- Participatory Design
- Sustainable Building Design
- Design for Adaptability and Human Cognition
- Thermal Comfort, Energy Efficiency and Occupant Behaviour
Dr Jaradat is available to supervise and examine PhD students in these areas.
In recognition of Dr Jaradat's expertise in research, she has been appointed a PhD Examiner for a number of thesis including:
a. Architecture of emergencies in the Middle East: proposed shelter design criteria (2019)
b. Enhancing storm surge resilience for coastal habitat: a framework to support sustainable development (2020)
c. Performance and environmental sustainability assessment of a rectangular integrated solar water heater designed for disassembly, under Scottish weather conditions (2020)
d. An investigation into micro-level competency barriers to an effective macro-level diffusion of Building Information Modelling in the UK (2021)
e. Digital Transformation in Asset Management Organisations: Towards a Data Driven Approach for Life Cycle Asset Management (2022)
Dr Jaradat has been teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in architecture, architectural technology, engineering, surveying and construction management including:
Design Project and Technical Report
Building Information Modelling
Strategic Management
Architectural Practice and Management
Context of Building and Quantity Surveying
Sustainable Design and Development
Building Design and Application
Sustainable Construction Technology and Practice
Research Project