Ana Luisa Rolim, Ph.D., is an architect, interior designer, researcher, and educator whose work bridges design practice, critical theory, and neuroscience. She is Assistant Professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Hillier College of Architecture and Design. She holds a Ph.D., M.Arch., and B.Arch. from the Federal University of Pernambuco, where her doctoral thesis received distinction and was recommended for publication.
Rolim’s academic career spans Brazil and the United States. She previously taught at the Catholic University of Pernambuco for over a decade, and has served as faculty at the Rhode Island School of Design, Kean University, and other institutions. Her teaching integrates design studios, history and theory, parametric and biomimetic design, and thesis advisory, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and research-based practice.
As Principal of Coletivo-RT Architecture Studio (Brazil/U.S.) and through roles at firms in New York and Berlin, Rolim has combined professional practice with academic inquiry. Her work has received numerous national and international awards, including first prizes from the Brazilian Institute of Architects and the Berlin MOKIB competition.
Her research explores spatial morphology, adaptive reuse, and the interface between architecture and neuroscience. A member of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture and the Society of Architectural Historians, she has published and presented widely in international conferences and edited volumes, advancing interdisciplinary approaches to the built environment.

Ph.D. ; Federal University of Pernambuco ; Architecture ; 2020

M.Arch. ; Federal University of Pernambuco ; Architecture ; 1999

B.Arch. ; Federal University of Pernambuco ; Architecture ; 1994

Mon and Thu, 11:00-12:30pm

https://www.anarolim.com/

AD 493 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

INT 464 - INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO V

Teaching means preparing students with the skills, confidence, and curiosity to build meaningful professional lives. At a polytechnic institution like New Jersey Institute of Technology, I foster an inclusive, hands-on environment where students connect theory to real-world design challenges. My pedagogy integrates global perspectives, rigorous critical inquiry, and applied, industry-relevant work so that students develop both intellectual depth and technological fluency.
I broaden students’ cultural frameworks while grounding their work in strong theoretical foundations. In my studios, theory is activated through case studies, prototyping, material experimentation, and collaborative problem-solving that reflect professional practice. Whether developing collective housing proposals, constructing spatial maquettes, or producing authorial publications, students learn to synthesize research, concept, and technical execution. Critiques function as constructive dialogues that strengthen analytical thinking, communication skills, and design precision.
My classrooms prioritize inclusivity and engagement. I adapt instruction to varied skill levels, integrate digital platforms and multimedia resources, and create opportunities for exhibitions, competitions, and practitioner collaboration. In this way, students experience design as both intellectual inquiry and public contribution- advancing innovation and leadership.
I am prepared to teach Interior Design Studios, seminars on contemporary architecture and interior design, cognitive-based spatial analysis, architecture and neuroscience, creative graphic representation, and thesis preparation and advisory.

Ana Rolim’s research examines how spatial configuration shapes human experience by focusing on how the arrangement of spaces influences movement, perception, and social interaction. As a Ph.D. student at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) in Brazil, she studied human interaction in art exhibition spaces, investigating how sequential gallery layouts affect visitors’ attention and behavior. The study combined Space Syntax, a framework developed at UCL in the 1970s that analyzes how spatial layouts influence movement and interaction, with neuroscience tools to measure focus during virtual navigation via a Brain-Computer Interface.

At NJIT, Rolim extends this inquiry to domestic spaces designed and inhabited by women architects and designers, offering a counter-narrative to architecture’s male-dominated history. Using Space Syntax theory, it analyzes how spatial thresholds and configurations shape social relations and everyday life. The project bridges architectural history, spatial theory, and gender studies to offer new perspectives on domesticity and design knowledge.

By combining spatial analysis with neurophysiological data, Rolim aims to develop a framework linking spatial configuration, embodied experience, and social meaning to inform both architectural history and design practice. Her interdisciplinary work has been presented at major forums, including the Space Syntax Symposia, the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, and the Society of Architectural Historians.