Overview
Background
I am an Associate Professor of urban planning. Since joining the University of Queensland in 2015, my research has focused on the built environment triad: urban design, transport, and housing - in both the Global North and South. I approach my work from a feminist perspective, considering the role of gender in the city.
My personal and academic journey has been international in nature. I am a native of Albania. Over the years I have held guest teaching and/or research positions in Austria (UWien), Canada (UBC), Chile (PUC), Italy (IUAV), the Netherlands (UvA), Oman (GUTech), and Vietnam (UTC), and I have provided consultancy services to various United Nations agencies including the UNDP, UNESCAP, and UN Habitat. I speak Italian, Spanish, and French in addition to English and Albanian.
My latest books are Trophy Cities: A Feminist Perspective on New Capitals (Edward Elgar, 2021) and Alternative Planning History and Theory (Routledge, 2023). For three years in a row (2022-2024), I have been included in the 'Stanford/Elsevier World’s Top 2% Researchers' list, and have ranked among the top-ten 'urban and regional planning' researchers in Australia. Alongside my academic research, I also publish broadly in non-academic outlets and regularly give interviews on national and international media. My articles in The Conversation have reached nearly half a million readers. Prior to joining academia, I worked in urban design and planning in California.
My research has been funded by domestic and international granting bodies, including the Australian Research Council. Overall, I have attracted $700,000 in external funding and $100,000 in internal funding. For a full list of my publications, click the 'Works' tab, which displays results live from UQ eSpace, or visit my external profiles listed on the left panel.
Qualifications
- Postdoctoral Residency, Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft, the Netherlands. 2012-2014.
- PhD in Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tirana, Albania. 2007-2010.
- Visiting PhD student, University of California at Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs, Los Angeles, Ca, USA. 2009.
- Master in Urban Planning, University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning, Cincinnati, Oh, USA. Full scholarship award. 2003-2005.
- Visiting Master student, Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Architecture (St Lucas), Brussels, Belgium. Recipient of US government FIPSE grant. 2004.
- Professional Degree in Architecture, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tirana, Albania. 1998-2003.
Availability
- Dr Dorina Pojani is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Urban Transport in Developing Countries, Polytechnic University of Tirana
- Master of Community Planning, University of Cincinnati
Research impacts
Funded Projects*
2025-2026. Project: Closing the loop on first/last mile transportation in Brisbane: Assessing the connection between micromobility and 50 cent public transport fares. iMove CRC, Brisbane City Council, Australia. Grant co-writer ($100,000).
2025. Project: Diaspora 4Innovation: Integrating work practice in urban planning curricula in Albania. GERMIN Fellowship, Albania. Lead grant writer ($18,500).
2023-2025. Project: Evaluation of separated cycle tracks in new developments. Transport Academic Partnership, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Australia. Sole grant writer ($50,000).
2023. Project: A gendered critique of early planned utopian cities. School of Architecture, Design and Planning Seed Funding, University of Queensland, Australia. Grant co-writer ($3,000).
2023-2025. Project: Study of factors associated with the choice of private electric transport vehicles in Vietnam. National Foundation for Science and Technology (NAFOSTED), Vietnam. Grant co-writer ($50,000).
2023-2024. Project: The woman-friendly city: Case studies of post-industrial areas in Tirana. READ Fellowship, Albanian-American Development Foundation, Albania. Lead grant writer ($17,000).
2022. Project: Minimising corruption in urban planning and development: What can the Balkans learn from Scandinavia? UQ Promoting Women Fellowship (PWF), Australia. Sole grant writer ($12,500).
2022. Project: We don’t know where to go or how to get there: Mapping out the mobility needs for tourists in urban destinations. UQ BEL Connect Grant, Australia. Grant co-writer ($18,500).
2021-2022. Project: The impact of Covid-19 on Brisbane / Southeast Queensland. UQ Faculty of Science COVID Research Recovery Fund, Australia. Lead grant writer ($50,000).
2021-2022. Project: Bikeability for Transportation: Tools and Data for Research and Practice. AURIN grant, Australia. Grant co-writer ($135,600).
2017-2020. Project: Reclaiming lost ground: Transitions of mobility and parking. Australian Research Council, Linkage grant, Australia. Grant co-writer ($358,000).
2016. Project: Planning Tiger Cub City-Regions: Role Models and Policy Transfers in Sustainable Transport in Southeast Asia. Project based in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. UQ Early Career Researcher grant, Australia. Sole grant writer ($26,150).
2015-2017. Project: Urban planning issues in planned capital cities in seven countries: Burma, India, Korea, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Brazil, and Australia. UQ Startup grant, Australia. Sole grant writer ($15,000).
2014-2015. Project: Informal Housing in five Balkan countries: Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Bosnia, Albania, and Kosovo. Grant from: Van Eesteren-Fluck & Van Lohuizen Stichting (EFL) Foundation, The Netherlands. Sole grant writer ($15,000).
Editorial Boards
- Sustainable Cities and Society
- Journal of Transport Geography
- Australian Planner
- Urban Policy and Research
- Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
- Journal of Planning Education and Research
Works
Search Professor Dorina Pojani’s works on UQ eSpace
2011
Journal Article
From carfree to carfull: the environmental and health impacts of increasing private motorisation in Albania
Pojani, Dorina (2011). From carfree to carfull: the environmental and health impacts of increasing private motorisation in Albania. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 54 (3), 319-335. doi: 10.1080/09640568.2010.506076
2011
Conference Publication
Tirana, Albania: from car‐free and bicycle‐full to car‐full and bicycle Free
Pojani, Dorina (2011). Tirana, Albania: from car‐free and bicycle‐full to car‐full and bicycle Free. Velo-City, Seville, Spain, 23-25 March 2011.
2011
Book
TRAFIK! Pushtimi i Tiranës nga automjetet (dhe si të çlirohemi)
Pojani, Dorina (2011). TRAFIK! Pushtimi i Tiranës nga automjetet (dhe si të çlirohemi). Tirana, Albania: Epoka University Press.
2011
Journal Article
Urban and suburban retail development in Albania's capital after socialism
Pojani, Dorina (2011). Urban and suburban retail development in Albania's capital after socialism. Land Use Policy, 28 (4), 836-845. doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.02.001
2011
Conference Publication
Urban sprawl and weak regional transport in “Durana”
Pojani, Dorina and Pojani, Elona (2011). Urban sprawl and weak regional transport in “Durana”. Regional Science Conference with International Participation, Peja, Kosovo, 3-4 June 2011. Zenica, Bosna i Hercegovina:
2011
Journal Article
Environmental taxation in Central and Eastern Europe: the case of Albania
Pojani, Elona and Pojani, Dorina (2011). Environmental taxation in Central and Eastern Europe: the case of Albania. Scientific Annals of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 441-448.
2011
Conference Publication
From slum to suburb: the success story of Bathore, Albania
Pojani, Dorina (2011). From slum to suburb: the success story of Bathore, Albania. ECA Housing Forum: Europe & Central Asia, Budaest, Hungary, 4-6 April 2011.
2010
Journal Article
Tirana
Pojani, Dorina (2010). Tirana. Cities, 27 (6), 483-495. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2010.02.002
2010
Journal Article
Public transport and its privatization in East Europe: the case of Tirana, Albania
Pojani, Dorina (2010). Public transport and its privatization in East Europe: the case of Tirana, Albania. European Transport, 45 (45), 64-82.
2010
Conference Publication
Albania in transition: international assistance for roads but not public transport
Pojani, Dorina (2010). Albania in transition: international assistance for roads but not public transport. International Conference on Urban Planning and Regional Development in the Information Society, Vienna, Austria, 18-20 May 2010.
2010
Journal Article
Strategji per permiresimin e transportit ne Tirane
Pojani, Dorina (2010). Strategji per permiresimin e transportit ne Tirane. Forum A+P, 5, 82-102.
2009
Journal Article
Urbanization of Post-communist Albania: economic, social, and environmental challenges
Pojani, Dorina (2009). Urbanization of Post-communist Albania: economic, social, and environmental challenges. Journal of Contemporary Central and Eastern Europe, 17 (1), 85-97. doi: 10.1080/09651560902778394
2008
Other Outputs
Kostoja e varësisë ndaj automjeteve në Tiranë
Pojani, Dorina (2008, 12 01). Kostoja e varësisë ndaj automjeteve në Tiranë Mjedisi Sot 6-7.
2008
Other Outputs
Skemat Woonerven ose "Rruget-Kopshte"
Pojani, Dorina (2008, 04 02). Skemat Woonerven ose "Rruget-Kopshte" Ndërtuesi 22-25.
2008
Journal Article
Skema Woonerven ose "Rruget-Kopshte"
Pojani, Dorina (2008, 04 01). Skema Woonerven ose "Rruget-Kopshte" Ndertuesi
2008
Journal Article
American downtown pedestrian "malls": rise, fall, and rebirth
Pojani, Dorina (2008). American downtown pedestrian "malls": rise, fall, and rebirth. Territorio.
2008
Journal Article
Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade: the failure and resurgence of a downtown pedestrian mall
Pojani, Dorina (2008). Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade: the failure and resurgence of a downtown pedestrian mall. Urban Design International, 13 (3), 141-155. doi: 10.1057/udi.2008.8
2007
Journal Article
Kostoja e varësisë ndaj automjeteve në Tiranë
Pojani, Dorina (2007, 12 01). Kostoja e varësisë ndaj automjeteve në Tiranë Mjedisi Sot
2007
Journal Article
Car-free areas in Tirana: fantasy or necessity?
Pojani, Dorina (2007). Car-free areas in Tirana: fantasy or necessity?. Albanian Journal of Technical Sciences, 22 (2).
2007
Journal Article
Përmirësimi i kushteve të jetesës në Tiranë: Ulje e dendësisë së banorëve apo trafikut të automjeteve?
Pojani, Dorina (2007). Përmirësimi i kushteve të jetesës në Tiranë: Ulje e dendësisë së banorëve apo trafikut të automjeteve?. Bulletin of Technical Sciences.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Dorina Pojani is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reconstructing A Gender Perspective Approach for a Sustainable New Capital City
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust
-
Doctor Philosophy
Housing affordability issues in Malaysia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust
-
Doctor Philosophy
Active Citizenship in planning scheme implementation : A case study into how members of a community engage in the development assessment process in Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Neil Sipe
-
Doctor Philosophy
Active transport and gender issues: A comparison between Brisbane and Sylhet
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust
-
Doctor Philosophy
Are car-free lifestyles feasible in low-density, sprawling contexts? A comparison of a city in Australia and Saudi Arabia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust
-
Doctor Philosophy
Policy Barriers to Livable Cities in South East Queensland
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust
-
Doctor Philosophy
Digital Deconcentration and the Changing Face of American Cities: Examining the Effects of Working from Home on America¿s Post-pandemic Urbanisation.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Sigler
-
Doctor Philosophy
Residents¿ perceptions of a government-initiated anti-gating policy: A study of open communities in Shanghai
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi, Dr Sara Alidoust
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and Sustainable Transport Policy Transfer: An Analysis of the Approaches in Five Western Countries and China
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Neil Sipe
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Gender, Transport and Mobility Biography in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Neil Sipe
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Healthy neighbourhood planning: investigating the evolving relationship between urban planning and public health through a path dependence lens
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Are cities still building highways? A comparison of Australia and Iran
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Neil Sipe
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Public Space Privatisation: The Experience of Indonesian Cities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sebastien Darchen
-
2020
Master Philosophy
Climate sensitive urban design: a comparison between Brisbane (Australia) and Nagpur (India)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sebastien Darchen
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Placing power to the people: The Australian community renewable energy movement and place-making in framing for prefigurative collective action.
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
A Living Room in the City: The Place of Public Space in the Everyday Lives of Middle Eastern Women in Greater Brisbane
Principal Advisor
-
2022
Master Philosophy
INVESTIGATING THE LEVEL OF TRAFFIC STRESS ON STREETS AND BICYCLING ROUTE PREFERENCES: A CASE STUDY ON THE CITY OF BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Pullar
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Governance Process in the Implementation of Land Acquisition Plan for Infrastructure Development in Indonesia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Roitman
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Dorina Pojani directly for media enquiries about:
- affordable housing
- community
- compact cities
- cycling
- mobility
- neighbourhood design
- parking
- pedestrian areas
- public transport
- sustainability
- urban planning
Need help?
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