<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I Dr. Puneet Mishra, with a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from IIT Roorkee and around 8 years of experience, divided equally between high-level industry practice and full-time architectural faculty, am keen to join the faculty at NICMAR, Pune, as an Associate Professor. My professional journey is defined by a unique mix of academic rigor and professional practice focused on solving complex built environment issues. Having navigated the intricacies of large-scale infrastructure, master planning, and various group housing and architectural projects within institutions of national importance, I have developed a 'ground-truth' perspective. This experience allows me to bring a level of practical insight to the classroom that transcends traditional pedagogy. While my doctoral research provided the analytical framework to solve modern urban crises, representing cross section of mixed land use, commercial development and transportation, my industry experience taught me the vital importance of project feasibility, stakeholder management, and regulatory compliance. At NICMAR, an institution synonymous with excellence in construction and infrastructure management and beyond, I aim to bridge the "execution gap" by mentoring students to become planners who are technically proficient and have acquired theoretical hold through research in spatial planning.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">My commitment to the Urban Planning department at NICMAR is to provide a twin focus on high-impact research and development of relevant curricula. During my experience of teaching, I have been able to successfully integrate technical research and case-based learning to simulate real-world constraints, which I look forward to progress further in the vibrant academic landscape of this institution. I am particularly eager to contribute to NICMAR&rsquo;s consultancy and research wings, leveraging my industry network to foster corporate partnerships and synergies that enhance student industry alignment. My goal is to lead initiatives in areas, e.g., Urban Resilience, Smart Cities and Informality ensuring that our graduates are prepared to navigate future urban landscape with both innovation and in-depth knowledge. With an experience of professional practice and academic excellence, I believe in taking the vision of NICMAR to the next level, bridging the gap between the industry requirements and shaping the future of urban development in local and truly global context.</p>