md ehsan alam
B.Arch, MUD
Research Assistant, University of Michigan ehsanxalam@gmail.com https://ehsanxalam.com/
EDUCATION
Master of Urban Design
2023 - 2024
United States
Bachelor of Architecture 2015 - 2021
Bangladesh
Research Assistant
Feb 2025 - Present
United States
Research Associate
Aug - Dec 2024
United States
Instructional Aide
Aug - Oct 2024
United States
Research Assistant
Jun - Aug 2024
United States
Graduate Student Instructor
Jan - May 2024
United States
Research Assistant
Jan - Jun 2024
Michigan, United States
Lecturer
2022 - 2023
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Teaching Assistant
2021 - 2022
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Post Professional Degree; CGPA: 3.98 / 4.00
Research Focus: Intermediate Urbanisms, Hydrology, Governance.
Department of Architecture, BRAC University
Professional Degree; CGPA: 3.79 / 4.00
Language of Instruction: English; Research Focus: Spatial Thresholds, Informal Urbanism
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Contributing to a Multi-Discplinary Planning Project titled ‘Integrating Nature-Based Solutions into a Comprehensive Stormwater Strategy for Southeast Michigan’.
Landuse Visualization Team with Kathy Velikov (Co-PI) + María Arquero de Alarcón + Geoffrey Thün. Role includes: Remote Sensing, Cartography, Urban Analysis, Literature Review, Dissemination, Conducting Workshops with Partner Advisors, Documentation.
Hydrology, Land Cover & Climate Change Lab, LSA, University of Michigan
Supervisor: Jessica Fayne
Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis to explore urbanism and hydrology in secondary cities of Bangladesh. Guided, independent research.
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, LSA, University of Michigan
EARTH 408: Introduction to GIS with Jessica Fayne + Ayesha Saeed Lectures on Core Concepts, Lab Demonstrations, Curriculum Development.
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Principal Investigator: María Arquero de Alarcón
Compilation of student works for web dissemination, award submissions and journal publications for the Spring Studio titled ‘Struggles and Resistances in the South’, São Paulo, Brazil
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
ARCH 411: Becoming Digital with Ellie Abrons + Ana Milagros Hurtado Castro
Conducted course discussions and interactive workshops, evaluated and graded assignments, and provided individual consultation to support student learning.
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Principal Investigator: Gabriel Cuéllar
Installation titled ‘Property Ecologies’ for the exhibition: Big, Hot and Sticky, in Houston, Texas
Role included Literature Review, Illustration & Model-Making
Department of Architecture, BRAC University
Full time teaching at undergraduate level with departmental administrative responsibilities and research collaboration. Instructing: Design with Climate, Graphic Communication and foundational Design Studio courses.
Department of Architecture, BRAC University
Full time employment at undergraduate level with administrative and research related responsibilities, assisting in: Design Studios, Graphic Communication, Project Documentation and Student Consultation.
Junior Architect 2021 - 2023
Bangladesh
Associate Consultant 2021 - 2023
Bangladesh
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
arch.con Architects
Part time architect working on task basis in Bangladesh. Responsibilities include design ideation, public consultation, construction document production, and implementation with site supervision. Selected Projects: Vacation House in Noakhali (2023); BATB Regional Office Complex in Rangpur (2022)
Urban Co.Re.
Part time consultant working on task basis in Bangladesh. Responsibilities include scoping, research, design ideation, public consultation, implementation with site supervision, project documentation and dissemination. Selected Projects: Canal Redevelopment Project in Singra (2021); Community Chapel in Phulbari (2022)
Architectural Intern
Jan - May 2019
India
Leonard B. Willeke
Portfolio Competition 2025, United States
MUD Academic Excellence Award 2024, United States
Excellence in Research Award 2022, Bangladesh
Noman Award for Excellence in Design 2021, Bangladesh
Excellence in Design Award 2018 - 2021, Bangladesh
Rafiq Azam Travel Bursary 2018, Bangladesh
World Green Infrastructure Congress Sep 2024, New Zealand
Sangath, Vastu Shilpa Consultants
Supervised by: Balkrishna Doshi + Rajeev Kathpalia
Contributed to construction drawings for Nalanda University; co-organized the Habitat Design Studio in partnership with the University of Michigan; assisted in compiling documentation on Nalanda University and Smriti Van Memorial for publication, engaging in interdisciplinary design and research coordination.
AWARDS
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Third Prize awarded for Best Portfolio in the Graduate Category, Portfolio titled ‘Not A Portfolio’.
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Awarded for consistent, excellent academic performance in the Master of Urban Design program, reflecting sustained engagement with coursework, intensive participation in studio, and the production of outstanding thesis research.
Department of Architecture, BRAC University
Awarded for valuable contribution to research through undergraduate thesis. Project: Negotiating Thresholds
Department of Architecture, BRAC University
Design award for best undergraduate thesis titled, ‘Negotiating Thresholds’. Exploring the spatial thresholds of Dhaka
Department of Architecture, BRAC University
Awarded 4 times for highest score in design studios: Year 4 Level 1, Year 4 Level 2, Year 5 Level 1 and Year 5 Level 2
Department of Architecture, BRAC University
Travel scholarship awarded in a competition. Country of visit: Indonesia Documentation of journeying through the lenses of architecture, culture and geography.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Jabeen, Huraera, and Md Ehsan Alam. “Mimicry and Responsiveness in Urban Design: A Case of a Public Open Space Development.” Presented at the World Green Infrastructure Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, September 3–5, 2024.
SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPTS
Coastal Futures
Cambridge Prisms
Submitted Sept 2025
Alam, Md Ehsan, María Arquero de Alarcón, Geoffrey Thün, and Kathy Velikov. Grounding Water: Expanding the Methods for Nature-Based Solutions in Great Lakes Coastal Urban Regions. Submitted to Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures (Special issue: System Impacts of Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal and Water Management) - under editorial consideration.
ARCC-EAAE International Conference
Apr 2026
Georgia, United States
EWRI LID Conference
Mar 2026
Florida, United States
ACCEPTED ABSTRACTS
Alam, Md Ehsan, Maria Arquero de Alarcón, and Kathy Velikov. 2026. “Ghosted Pasts, Liquid Futures: Designing Multifunctional Nature-Based Solutions in De-industrializing Regions.” Abstract accepted for presentation at the ARCC International Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, April 2026.
Velikov, Kathy, Md Ehsan Alam, Maria Arquero de Alarcón, et al. 2026. “Multi-Disciplinary Planning for Large-Scale Nature-Based Solutions for Stormwater Mitigation and Habitat Creation in SE Michigan.” Abstract accepted for presentation at the EWRI Low Impact Development Conference, Jacksonville, Florida, March.
PUBLISHED DESIGN PROJECTS
KSRM Award for Future Architects 2024, Bangladesh
Sthapotya O Nirman 2021, Bangladesh
Folio 2 2018, Bangladesh
Projections & Layout
2025, United States
Property & Partition
2024, United States
Instruments of Democracy 2024, United States
Working In Mumbai 2022, Bangladesh
Negotiating Thresholds
Publication of shortlisted undergraduate thesis projects for a nationwide academic award. Alam, Md Ehsan. “Negotiating Thresholds.” KSRM Award for Future Architects: Third Cycle
Negotiating Thresholds
Publication of Undergraduate Research Thesis in a magazine. Published Online, March 2021 Link: https://sthapattya-o-nirman.com/en/2021/03/08/negotiating-thresholds/
Urban Design Studio + BRAC Museum of Development
Publication of two academic projects from B.Arch in a student project compilation. Editors: Zainab F. Ali et. al. BRAC University Press, 2019. ISBN: 978-984-34-6172-8
INVITED LECTURES
Introduction to GIS Class Lecture on Projection Systems in Cartography, Layout Design and Connotation of Projections. Instructor: Jessica Fayne, University of Michigan
Introduction to GIS
Class Lecture on Georeferencing as a method to trace historic events through the Partition of the Indian subcontinent. Instructor: Jessica Fayne, University of Michigan
Politics of Balance
Public Lecture on the National Parliament Building of Bangladesh, University of Michigan Course: Politics of Balance. Instructor: Ana Morcillo Pallares, University of Michigan
Angan Lecture Series
Panelist in ‘Working in Mumbai’ by Rahul Mehrotra. Co-Panelist: Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury; Host: Fuad Hassan Mallick, BRAC University
INVITED REVIEWS
Institutions Studio 2025, United States
Option Studio
2025, United States
ArcStart 2025, United States
Politics of Balance 2024, United States
Thesis Studio 2024, United States
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
External Reviewer at Midterm Review of Master of Architecture Studio. Instructor: Dawn Gilpin. Engaged with concepts of commercial design, waterfront development, sustainable design.
Graduate School of Design, Harvard University
External Reviewer at Final Reviews of ‘Navigating Korail’. Instructor: Fuad Hassan Mallick. Engaged with approaches to architectural and urban challenges in an informal urban setting.
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
External Reviewer at Final Presentation of ArcStart. Instructor: Saylor Allen.
Engaged with concepts of community, and self-discovery in Detroit-focused collaborative design.
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
External Reviewer at Final Presentation of Seminar. Instructor: Ana Morcillo Pallares. Engaged with themes of architecture’s political, cultural, and social agency, and memory.
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Penultimate Thesis Review for ‘Non_Identical Studio’. Instructor: Ana Morcillo Pallares. Engaged with ecological agency, memorialization, climate adaptation, and urban transformation.
University of Michigan Fall 2024
Winter 2024
BRAC University
Summer 2023
COURSES TAUGHT
Instructional Aide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, LSA
EARTH 408: Introduction to GIS (Theory + Lab Course; Co-Taught)
Graduate Student Instructor, Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning
ARCH 411: Becoming Digital (Elective Course; Co-Taught)
Lecturer, Department of Architecture
ARC 101: Design I (Architectural Design Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 214: Computer Graphics (Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 251: Design with Climate (Theory Course)
ARC 311: Working Drawings I (Studio Course; Co-Taught)
Spring 2023
Fall 2022
Propositions Studio
2024, United States
4° Encontro de Favelas e Ocupações 2024, Brazil
ARC 102: Design II (Architectural Design Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 111: Graphic Communication I (Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 214: Computer Graphics (Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 251: Design with Climate (Theory Course)
ARC 311: Working Drawings I (Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 111: Graphic Communication I (Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 202: Design IV (Architectural Design Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 214: Computer Graphics (Studio Course; Co-Taught)
ARC 251: Design with Climate (Theory Course)
WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED
Taubman College, University of Michigan
Demonstrating NDWI Calculation using Satellite Imagery for Graduate Architecture + Urban Design students, University of Michigan
União dos Movimentos de Moradia (UMM) + Centro Gaspar Garcia de Direitos Humanos + Defensoria Pública do Estado de São Paulo + Peabiru Trabalhos Comunitários e Ambientais
Organization, graphic production and logistical support for the 4° Encontro de Favelas e Ocupações, São Paulo (4th Meeting of Favelas and Occupations)
Public Design Corps, University of Michigan
Graphics Consultation Workshop 2021 - 2023, Bangladesh
MUD Student Association 2024, United States
BRAC University Convocation 2023, Bangladesh
Architectural Design Charrettes 2017-2020, Bangladesh
Department of Architecture, BRAC University
Conductor of weekly ‘Graphics Consultation’ workshop for students of the Department of Architecture, BRAC University.
ACADEMIC + PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Graphic Designer, Master of Urban Design
Preparation of graphic material for various events of Matters of Urban Design Student Association (MUDSA), University of Michigan
Organizer, BRAC University
Production of graphical content and organization of convocation in blended mode due to COVID-19, BRAC University
Participant, BRAC University
North South University, 2020; Institute of Architect’s Bangladesh (IAB), 2018; Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), 2017
PROFICIENCIES
Software Skills Geographic Information System (GIS): ESRI ArcGIS, QGIS, ArcGIS CityEngine Graphics + Motion: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects
Drawing + Modelling: Autodesk AutoCAD, Graphisoft ArchiCAD, Trimble SketchUp, Rhino Visualization: Enscape, VRay; Office: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace