In June, Sara Bayramzadeh, Ph.D. 2015, received the Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation, an annual $5,000 grant that recognizes an outstanding interior design research project relating to wellness and design.
Bayramzadeh, now a research assistant professor in the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing at Clemson University, received the award for her doctoral dissertation that she completed while enrolled in DCP’s interdisciplinary doctoral program with a concentration in interior design. Her research explored the role of interior environment on the physical and psychological safety of psychiatric patients, one of the most vulnerable and underrepresented patient populations.
“I’m very proud of this interdisciplinary program and the education I received at UF. The interdisciplinary nature of this doctoral program encouraged me to look for problems that can be fixed through interdisciplinary collaboration. This allows for innovative solutions that would not be possible otherwise,” Bayramzadeh said. “I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the recipient of this award. I hope this dissertation can pave the road for further design research in healthcare environments including psychiatric units.”
Advisor: M. Portillo
Committee: R. Steiner, PhD; C. Carmel-Gilfilen, NCIDQ, EDAC; J. Hobbs, M.D.