Ali Khan, an architect with experience in India, shifted his focus to sustainable built environments, driven by a passion for circularity and efficiency. His Master’s degree ignited his interest in carbon-neutral solutions. His achievements include winning the Multi-family Building Division at the US DoE Solar Decathlon Design Challenge 2024 with a net-zero energy retrofit proposal. He was also a global runner-up in the 2023 Build Challenge for a net-zero carbon residential building using circular materials. Additionally, he developed an agent-based model for city-wide waste management, reaching the global final at the World Architecture Festival Student Charette 2019. Currently, at TU Delft, his PhD focuses on quantum-inspired real estate valuation, aiming to integrate environmental and societal impacts. He is excited to explore this multidisciplinary field, combining real estate economics, sustainability, and quantum mechanics. The QuiVal network’s collaborative environment, with its workshops and training, presents an ideal platform for growth and impactful research. He is eager to contribute to this groundbreaking work.

Muhammad Arif Abdurrahman brings a diverse background to his research. With an MSc in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and a BArch from Universitas Gadjah Mada, he combines architectural and management expertise. Prior to his doctoral studies, he gained industry experience in real estate and multidisciplinary design, and founded the startup Huniflex. Arif has participated in numerous innovation programs across Asia and Europe, receiving multiple awards. Notably, he was a finalist in the Schneider Go Green Europe competition and the Innovate 2030 SDG 11 competition. He also contributed to the MIT Solve: Climate Adaptation & Low-Carbon Housing Challenge. His research, within the QuiVal project, focuses on integrating circular economy, product-service system models, and building valuation. He aims to develop an innovative business model for buildings and explore its impact on value. Collaborating with peers from leading European universities, Arif is dedicated to developing a climate-aware approach to real estate valuation.

Originally from Northern Italy, Bianca Chiusi possesses a background in architecture and a passion for sustainable built environments. Holding a Master’s in Sustainable Architecture from NTNU and a Bachelor’s from Politecnico di Milano, she launched her career as a research assistant for Horizon 2020’s syn.ikia and FME ZEN, exploring plus-energy neighborhoods and design for disassembly. She also gained experience in sustainable public transport design at an architecture and engineering firm in Florence. Driven to deepen her research, Bianca joined the QuiVal project, focusing on circularity in real estate valuation. She aims to introduce a novel approach, addressing the need for adaptable, future-ready real estate. She values QuiVal’s multidisciplinary nature and extensive network, believing diverse perspectives will refine her approach. Bianca looks forward to collaborative engagements with fellow PhD candidates and professors, contributing to meaningful research.

Mingyang Yu holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Science and an M.Sc. in Geographical Information Systems, demonstrating expertise in spatial analysis and sustainable urban systems. His studies centered on environmental modeling and data-driven research, exploring the impacts of climate change on urban environments. His background encompasses geospatial analysis, environmental science, and urban data management. He has participated in projects utilizing spatial regression and machine learning applications. His master’s dissertation employed GWR and MGWR models to investigate non-hedonic factors influencing London housing prices. His research projects have effectively bridged theory with practical applications. He is enthusiastic about joining QuiVal, an interdisciplinary platform that integrates climate adaptation into real estate valuation. His objective is to develop data-driven models for sustainable urban resilience. Through collaborative efforts, he aims to advance knowledge on incorporating climate factors into urban development, contributing to the creation of adaptable, circular, and equitable cities.

Satyam Kumar, originally from India, brings a diverse background to his PhD. Holding a Master’s from TUM and a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, he’s transitioned from traditional construction to a multidisciplinary focus encompassing econometrics, sustainability, BIM, and real estate finance. His professional experience spans banking, construction, and real estate, including co-founding a startup. At TUM, he developed a passion for data-driven real estate decision-making. His Master’s thesis at Patrizia SE utilized machine learning for housing market analysis. He gained credit risk experience at HVB-UniCredit Bank and co-founded WayNexus, a crowd analytics startup. His career began at Larsen & Toubro, working on a major tunnel project. His research covers building stock modeling, ESG ratings, and real estate valuation. The QuiVal project offers a unique opportunity to integrate his expertise, addressing gaps in valuation methods by incorporating quantum concepts. He seeks to contribute to innovative valuation methods, driven by the desire to integrate sustainability and circularity. He anticipates valuable collaboration with fellow doctoral candidates, supervisors, and industry partners within the QuiVal network, contributing to the project’s success.

Zinan Lin is the PhD student dedicated to the QuiVal project, “Multi-layer Building Stocks Characterisation and Circular Economy Potential.” His academic journey includes an MPhil in Civil Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where he specialized in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics, notably the Photovoltaic Integrated Green Roof system. This research focused on enhancing energy generation and improving urban microclimates. His expertise extends to the intelligent management of rooftop photovoltaic systems, including fault detection and performance optimization. Through internships in construction, real estate, and engineering consulting, Zinan gained valuable industry insights. Within QuiVal, he employs innovative methodologies to analyze building material characteristics and distribution, integrating material stocks and flows, GIS, civil engineering, and socio-economic statistics. By examining European case cities, he investigates circular economy strategies like material recycling and component reuse. He values QuiVal’s transdisciplinary environment, with researchers from eight universities and fourteen industry partners. Zinan anticipates participating in courses and networking events. He believes understanding building value dynamics is essential for achieving CO2 neutrality by 2050, and he aims to develop valuation methods that reflect the benefits of circular real estate.

Xinyi Jiang (Luna) is working on the project “Multi-level Material Cycles and Market Dynamics.” Her research focuses on understanding how material flows and market dynamics influence the value of demounted building materials, particularly in the context of circular economy strategies. With an MSc in Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management from UCL’s Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, Xinyi specializes in point cloud data processing and spatial database management. Her technical expertise was honed through urban renewal initiatives, where she integrated IoT, AR, and 3D geometric algorithms for environmental modeling. Prior to commencing her doctoral studies, she served as a Research Assistant at Tongji University’s Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Renewal and Spatial Optimization Technology. There, she pioneered analyses of multimodal urban datasets — synthesizing GIS, BIM, satellite imagery, and planning databases — to enable high-resolution built environment characterization. As part of the QuiVal project, Xinyi’s research focuses on economic valuation dynamics of deconstructed materials (notably steel and timber), evaluating factors like scrap availability, reuse adaptability, and market fluctuations. By incorporating quantum-inspired computational approaches, she aims to model complex market interdependencies and uncertainties, ultimately developing a comprehensive framework for sustainable material recovery. 

Originally from northern Germany, Antonia Klipp relocated to Hamburg after six years of study in Aachen. Her lifelong passion for ballet, which began at age eight, underscores her dedication to sport and physical activity. Weekends often find her running along Hamburg’s Außenalster or immersed in a good book, both serving as vital stress relievers. Her interest in cities and real estate stems from a recognition of their profound impact on quality of life. With increasing urbanization, the urgent need for sustainable urban transformation fuels her enthusiasm for circular cities. Her professional background includes consulting at PwC Germany, where she contributed to major sustainable infrastructure projects. Academically, she holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from RWTH Aachen University, with exchange semesters in Sheffield and Vancouver. Her master’s thesis focused on circular business models for modular construction. She intends to pursue a PhD centered on sustainability in the built environment, aiming to apply her consulting experience to address critical challenges. A particular interest lies in re-evaluating and repurposing existing buildings, aligning with her commitment to a circular economy. She sees QuiVal as an ideal platform to assess the true value of the building stock by incorporating social and environmental factors into real estate valuation. The program’s academic network offers a unique opportunity for collaboration and the consolidation of scientific findings, essential for navigating the complexities of real estate valuation. She believes that, within QuiVal, the perception of real estate value can be collectively transformed.

Eo Seung Won, a knowledge-hungry South Korean with an entrepreneurial spirit, specializes in Geographic Information Science (GIS). His passion for GIS ignited during his Master’s program at Seoul National University, where he contributed to a state-funded project on geospatial big data management and analytics. This experience honed his skills in handling large datasets, particularly using Python and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to extract geographic insights from Twitter data. He recognized GIS’s potential for spatial information collection, analysis, and visualization. Building on his academic foundation, he co-founded a GIS start-up in South Korea, collaborating with professionals in construction, urban planning, and real estate. He developed methods to optimize site selection and forecast market demand by integrating diverse datasets. His educational background includes a B.A. in Urban Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Seoul National University. He has also worked as a Senior Researcher and Technical Assistant on state-funded GIS projects. He pursues a PhD to deepen his expertise in advanced spatial analytics and machine learning, aiming to address complex real estate challenges. His research focuses on combining GIS with quantum-inspired probability for precise property valuation and urban planning. He joined the QuiVal research project, which aligns with his interests in integrating GIS, sustainability, and innovative valuation methods. QuiVal’s collaborative environment will allow him to enhance GIS-driven analyses and contribute to sustainable, low-carbon urban development. His long-term goal is to establish a prop-tech start-up in Europe, rooted in data-driven intelligence.

Aishuak Kerimzhanova is a doctoral candidate within the QuiVal research project, bringing a diverse academic and professional background to her work. She earned her Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Munich, specializing in Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Planning and Design, Computational Engineering, and Real Estate Development. Additionally, she holds a Double Degree in Construction and Industrial Engineering from institutions in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and Lappeenranta, Finland. Her professional experience spans architectural and engineering bureaus, as well as the Infrastructural Department of the municipality of Espoo. Furthermore, she co-founded a real estate and interior design company in Almaty. Her doctoral research, DC10 – The Impact of Digitalisation on Real Estate Market Dynamics, investigates how digital technologies alter trading dynamics. Specifically, she examines the role of distributed ledger technologies, such as blockchain, and their influence on housing supply and demand through cryptographically secured transactions. As a member of the QuiVal Doctoral Network, she anticipates collaborating with fellow researchers to develop innovative solutions for the real estate sector. She is enthusiastic about contributing to the pioneering quantum-inspired valuation of circular real estate and aiding Europe in achieving its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Her multifaceted experiences and academic expertise position her to make significant contributions to the field.

Rabab Raydan possesses a rich multicultural background, shaped by experiences in Saudi Arabia, Germany, Lebanon, Portugal, Spain, and the UK. She holds an Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in Sustainable Design, Construction, and Management of the Built Environment, and a civil engineering degree from Beirut Arab University, where she also led the ASCE Student Chapter. Rabab is deeply committed to community service, notably contributing to the renovation of buildings affected by the 2020 Beirut explosion and aiding NGOs in disaster relief. Professionally, she has worked as a Graduate Researcher at TECNALIA Research & Innovation in Spain, focusing on EU-funded projects related to infrastructure resilience, climate change adaptation, and decarbonization. She also has experience as a structural design engineer in tall building construction and has conducted research on circular construction materials. Her publications reflect her expertise in these areas. Rabab aims to disrupt traditional valuation models through her PhD research within QuiVal, developing dynamic frameworks that address climate change and ensure sector adaptability. Her research focuses on creating practical, data-driven valuation models that integrate sustainability and climate resilience. She emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure her research addresses real-world industry challenges. Her goal is to develop policies that prioritize long-term resilience and transformative practices in the face of a rapidly changing world.

Heli Song was born and raised in Estonia, where she had a multicultural upbringing and received her education in multiple locations. Her interest in real estate began in high school when she assisted a real estate cost consultant on a long-term redevelopment project in Tallinn’s Old Town. During this experience, she gained firsthand insight into how asset values evolve. She earned an interdisciplinary BSc with a specialization in economics from the University of Amsterdam and an MPhil in Real Estate Finance from the University of Cambridge, focusing on commercial real estate, the impact of macroprudential policies on housing, and household finance. Now starting a PhD at University College London on New Ways to Assess Value in Real Estate and Housing Markets, Heli applies quasi-experimental statistical methods and explores the integration of machine learning and quantum-inspired models. As part of QuiVal, she looks forward to collaborating across disciplines to advance real estate valuation methods in support of EU policy objectives.

Bayo Windapo, a Nigerian-born PhD candidate at ETH Zurich’s Chair of Circular Engineering for Architecture, also leads Onile, a construction industry digital services startup. A registered architect with over nine years of experience, he earned his master’s degree from the University of Cape Town. His professional portfolio includes significant projects like the Watershed at the V&A Waterfront and the Bahá’í Temple in the DRC, completed during his tenure as an Associate Architect at Wolff Architects. He has shared his expertise in architectural design, theory, and digital skills at institutions like UCT and SEA, demonstrating deep expertise in BIM, computational design, and reality capture. His PhD research, “Exploring the Integration of Advanced Technologies and Circular Economy Principles in the Valuation and Reuse of Existing Buildings,” delves into recycled material supply chains in cities like Cape Town and Zurich. He explores how digital systems can optimize material reuse, while considering socio-economic factors. He is drawn to the QuiVal program due to its alignment with his passion for developing digital solutions that enhance construction industry productivity and sustainability. QuiVal offers a valuable platform for professional growth, expert networking, and exploring the potential of digitalization to improve the built environment.