School of Architecture and Planning welcomes new faculty in 2025 | MIT News

This fall, four new faculty members joined the School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P), providing multidisciplinary roles for the MIT community’s creativity, knowledge and scholarships.

“These people add a lot of strength and depth to our faculty,” said Hashim Sarkis, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning. “We are excited about the academic vitality they bring to research and teaching.”

Karrie G. Karahalios ’94, Meng ’95, SM ’97, PhD’04 joined MIT Media Labs as a full professor of the Professor of Media Arts and Sciences. Karahalios is a pioneer in exploring social media and how people communicate increasingly through algorithmic-mediated environments that, as she wrote, “shape the world around us.” Her work combines computing, systems, artificial intelligence, anthropology, sociology, psychology, game theory, design and infrastructure research. Karahalios’s work has received numerous honors, including the National Science Foundation Career Award, the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, the Sigsmeade Best Paper Award, and recognition as an outstanding member of the ACM.

Pat Pataranutaporn SM ’18, Ph.D. ’20 joined MIT Media Labs as Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Sciences. Visionary technologist, scientist and designer Pataranutaporn explores the cutting-edge of human interaction, inventing and investigating AI systems that support human thriving. His research focuses on how personalized AI systems can amplify human cognition, from learning and decision-making to self-development, reflection and well-being. Pataranutaporn will work with AI programs to guide the progressive humanity.

Mariana Popescu Joined the Department of Architecture and served as an assistant professor. Popescu is a computing architect and structural designer with a strong interest and experience in approaching the manufacturing process and innovative ways of using materials. Her areas of expertise are computing and parameter design, with a focus on digital manufacturing and sustainable design. Her extensive involvement in projects related to promoting sustainability has led to multilateral developments in skills that combine the fields of architecture, engineering, computing design and digital manufacturing. Popescu received his PhD from Eth Zurich. She was rated as MIT Technology Review 2019’s global list of “Innovators under 35”.

Holly Samuelson Join the Department of Architecture and serves as an associate professor in the MIT Architecture Technology Program, teaching a course in architecture technology. Her teaching and research focus on architectural design issues that affect human and environmental health. Her current project uses advanced building simulations to investigate issues of greenhouse gas emissions, heat vulnerability, and indoor environmental quality, while considering the future of buildings in a changing grid. Samuelson Energy and Construction. As a recognized expert in construction technology Washington Post,,,,, Boston globeBBC, and Wall Street Journal. Samuelson received his PhD in Design from Harvard Graduate School of Design.