I am an environmental psychologist with a background in architecture, conducting applied psychological research linking built environment designs and features to people’s needs and wellbeing.
The overarching aim underpinning my work is empowering people to use and manipulate the design of their environments to attain their psychological and wellbeing needs in it.
My research looks at:
- Evaluating the impacts of buildings on individual wellbeing
- Establishing associations between design features and psychological processes that can be applied to building design
- Sustainable behaviours within environmental contexts
- physical environment as a setting for human behaviours and behaviour change
- Translating fundamental psychological needs (identity, control) into built settings
My current research looks at identifying design concepts and features that support people’s key psychological processes, which can be implemented easily into building designs. For example, I have explored the design concept of flexibility in housing settings. You can find all past projects on the ‘Projects‘ page.
I am currently working as a postdoctoral researcher in academia. I have recently completed my ESRC postdoctoral Fellowship examining impacts of flexible building designs on user wellbeing which you can read about here. I currently work as a Research Associate on a Behaviour Change project at the Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London.
S A D H A N A J A G A N N A T H
CV
EDUCATION
PhD in Environmental Psychology, University of Surrey, UK 2019-2023
MSc in Environmental Psychology, University of Surrey, UK 2017-2018
Bachelor of Architecture, University of Mysore, India 2011-2016
EMPLOYMENT AND EXPERIENCE
Research Associate, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, Dec 2025 – current
ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, Dec 2024 – Dec 2025
Honorary Research Associate, Environmental Psychology Research Group (EPRG), University of Surrey, Jun 2023 – Current
Research Associate in Human-Centred Design, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, Mar 2024 – Nov 2024
Research Fellow (Impact), Dementia and Ageing Department University of Stirling, Feb 2023 – Mar 2024
Research Assistant roles, University of Surrey, UK, Nov 2019 – Jan 2023 New Mobility Services (Jan22-Jan23), UoSLL Active Travel (Sep-Nov22), STEEP Carbon Trans (Jul22)
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
2024-2025: ‘Impact of flexible building design on resident and user wellbeing’, (PI; £194,686), ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship.
2019-2023: ‘Flexibility of the home and psychological wellbeing, (PI; £44,919), Doctoral College Studentship Award, University of Surrey
TEACHING
Pedagogical training: Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (FHEA), University of Surrey (2022)
Supervision: PhD, MEng, MSc, BSc, BA Architecture
Teaching Support and Assessments: MSc Environmental Psychology, MSc Business and Marketing, BSc Psychology at the University of Surrey (2020-25); MSc Digital Health and Entrepreneurship, University College London (2024); BSc Psychology, University of East London (2024, 25); MSc Design with Behaviour Science, Imperial College London (2024, 25).
NETWORKS
Designing BUILT environments for psychological wellbeing 