Dr Negin Imani

Negin is a Senior Research Fellow at Bodeker Scientific with a rich background in biomimetic adaptive building design and sustainable architecture. She earned her PhD in Architecture from Victoria University of Wellington, focusing on energy-efficient building solutions inspired by nature’s thermoregulatory processes. Her work bridges architecture and biology, exploring how bio-inspired materials and intelligent facades can reshape our built environments for greater resilience and energy efficiency.

Negin has authored two books: Biomimetic Buildings: Copying Nature for Energy Efficiency and Heating with Wolves, Cooling with Cacti: Thermo-Bio-Architectural (ThBA) Framework, highlighting innovative strategies for energy-efficient building design.

As the Primary Investigator for the project Biomimetic Buildings for Climate Change Adaptation: Future Generation of Facades (2022-2024), funded by New Zealand's National Science Challenge for Technological Innovation, Negin has led a team of interdisciplinary researchers to investigate the potential of kinetic shading systems in reducing building operational energy use.

Negin has held academic positions at institutions like the University of Otago and has contributed to a range of influential research and publications in her field, including guest editorship for MDPI’s Biomimetics journal. Recognised as a finalist for the Wellingtonian of the Year Awards in 2023, her expertise and passion for innovation continue to influence sustainable design both in New Zealand and internationally.