Enes Gusinjac joined HOBEL as a new PhD assistant

Enes shares his experiences, first impressions, and future goals as he joins EPFL and the Human-Oriented Built Environment Lab. Let's see what he shares.

• You just arrived at the EPFL Fribourg - what are your first impressions?

Before coming, I tried to minimize my expectations because I wanted to surprise myself when I arrived, and I have to say, the city’s charm did it for me. It’s a small, quiet, yet soulful place, which is the antithesis of Belgrade’s chaotic energy, so I believe the change of scenery is going to be interesting. Also, a big factor is the team that made sure my start was as smooth as possible.

• Can you tell us more about your career in academia?

I am very enthusiastic to be part of a broader academic community, especially one so high-ranking. Prior to enrolling at EPFL, I started my academic path at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Civil Engineering, specifically the Department for Management, Technology and Informatics in Construction, where I graduated with a Master’s degree. Toward the end of my Master studies, I found myself more drawn to the energy efficiency domain and human-related aspects of the construction sector, and I want to grow my knowledge not just in depth, but also across different areas such as public health and general sustainability.

• What are you most excited about your appointment at the Human-Oriented Built Environment Lab?

For one, it is being surrounded and mentored by top-tier scientists who engage in interdisciplinary research for the built environment. Having a strong team really gives me more confidence in pursuing my own research goals. Aside from that, working with state-of-the-art equipment is one of the biggest perks.

• What will your research focus on over the coming year?

For now, I will be investigating passive cooling strategies and the impact natural ventilation has on humans during scenarios of extreme events, such as heatwaves and wildfires, as I feel those aspects are not researched enough. Generally, I am interested in utilizing and analyzing built environment data to inform tomorrow’s decisions and policymakers.

• What inspires you about the built environment of the future and its research schemes?

The fact that building construction is shifting more and more toward a human-centric design has revealed numerous different research gaps that will, once addressed, enable us to create an environment that is going to be optimal for us, the occupants. We often overlook the fact that we spend most of our time indoors, and that’s where we should be putting a great amount of effort.

• Whenever you are not doing research, what are you interested in?

Back home in Serbia, I often went camping with friends, and here in Switzerland, I look forward to discovering its natural and cultural diversity, and perhaps learn a language or two. Sport-wise, I particularly enjoy swimming, among other things.