MIT SA+P & Media Lab Welcome New AI-Focused Faculty for 2025
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) is set to welcome four distinguished faculty members this fall, enriching the institution with a diverse array of expertise in artificial intelligence, social media, computational design, and sustainable building technologies. These additions are poised to inject significant creativity, knowledge, and scholarship across various multidisciplinary roles within the MIT community.
Hashim Sarkis, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, expressed considerable enthusiasm for the new appointments. “These individuals add considerable strength and depth to our faculty,” Sarkis noted. “We are excited for the academic vigor they bring to research and teaching.”
Among the new cohort is Karrie G. Karahalios, an MIT alumna (B.S. ’94, M.Eng. ’95, S.M. ’97, Ph.D. ’04), who joins the MIT Media Lab as a full professor of media arts and sciences. Karahalios is recognized as a pioneer in the nuanced exploration of social media and the evolving dynamics of human communication within environments increasingly shaped by algorithms. Her pioneering work seamlessly integrates computing, systems, artificial intelligence, anthropology, sociology, psychology, game theory, design, and infrastructure studies. Her contributions have garnered numerous accolades, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, a SIGMOD Best Paper Award, and recognition as an ACM Distinguished Member.
Also joining the MIT Media Lab as an assistant professor of media arts and sciences is Pat Pataranutaporn, another MIT alumnus (S.M. ’18, Ph.D. ’20). A visionary technologist, scientist, and designer, Pataranutaporn’s research delves into the cutting edge of human-AI interaction, focusing on the invention and investigation of AI systems designed to foster human thriving. His work primarily explores how personalized AI can amplify human cognition across various domains, from learning and decision-making to self-development, reflection, and overall well-being. Pataranutaporn will also co-direct the Advancing Humans with AI Program, further cementing his role in shaping the future of human-centric AI.
The Department of Architecture welcomes Mariana Popescu as an assistant professor. Popescu is an accomplished computational architect and structural designer, celebrated for her innovative approaches to fabrication processes and the use of materials in construction. Her core expertise lies in computational and parametric design, with a particular emphasis on digital fabrication and sustainable design principles. Popescu’s extensive involvement in projects promoting sustainability has led to a versatile skill set that bridges architecture, engineering, computational design, and digital fabrication. She earned her doctorate from ETH Zurich and was notably named a “Pioneer” on the MIT Technology Review’s global list of “35 Innovators Under 35” in 2019.
Rounding out the new appointments is Holly Samuelson, who joins the Department of Architecture as an associate professor within MIT’s Building Technology Program, where she will teach architectural technology courses. Samuelson’s teaching and research are dedicated to the critical intersection of building design and its impact on human and environmental health. Her current projects leverage advanced building simulation techniques to investigate complex issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, heat vulnerability, and indoor environmental quality, all while considering the future resilience of buildings within a dynamic electricity grid. Samuelson has co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers, earning a best paper award from the journal Energy and Building. As a recognized authority in architectural technology, her insights have been featured in prominent news outlets including The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, the BBC, and The Wall Street Journal. She holds a Doctor of Design degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
These four distinguished scholars represent a significant infusion of talent and forward-thinking research, poised to advance MIT’s leadership in shaping the built environment and the future of human-technology interaction.