CIB Doctoral School at WBC2025

The CIB Doctoral School took place at the recent World Building Congress 2025 at Purdue University.

This is a key academic initiative that provides a valuable platform for early and mid-stage PhD researchers to present and refine their work with the guidance of internationally recognised experts. By engaging with leaders in their respective fields, participants have the opportunity to enhance the quality of their research and enrich their academic development.

The Doctoral School creates an international platform to present doctoral research to a broader audience, gain global recognition, and distinguish outstanding contributions. It also supports the development of a global early-career research network during the initial stages of doctoral study. Through expert feedback and mentorship, the CIB Doctoral School fosters knowledge advancement and contributes to world-class doctoral research in the building and construction sector.

Award winners

Best Proposal

• 1^st place – Benjamin Kwaku Ababio, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• 2^nd  place – Yasaman Norouzi, Texas A&M University, United States
• 3^rd place – Pedro Maximiliano Cortez Lara, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico

Best Presentation

• 1^st place –  Shashini Jayakodi, Western Sydney University, Australia
• 2^nd place –  Samira Mirhasani, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
• 3^rd place – Kathrine Godsvig Laursen, Aalborg University, Denmark

Best Poster

• 1^st place –  Shashini Jayakodi, Western Sydney University, Australia
• 2^nd place –  Yasaman Norouzi, Texas A&M University, United States
• 3^rd place – Hyewon Seo, Purdue University, United States

Doctoral school in numbers

• 105 expressions of interest received
• 53 full proposals
• 22 countries represented
• 29 papers presented
• 14 full travel grant scholarships issued
• 12 partial travel grant scholarships

The Doctoral School was organised by the dedicated team of:

• Srinath Perera (Chair of the Doctoral School)
• Dulcy Abraham (Senior Advisor)
• Samudaya Nanayakkara
• Navodana Rodrigo
• Buddhini Ginigaddara
• Sogand Hasanzadeh
• Amos Darko
• Gaang Lee
• De-Graft Joe Opoku
• Ania Khodabakhshian
• Lovelin Obi

More information on WBC2025 is available here.