Master of Architecture Student Admitted into Prestigious Scholars Program

by Kerry Vondrak

January 29, 2020

Jati Zunaibi

The College of Architecture is pleased to announce Master of Architecture student Jati Zunaibi has recently been accepted into the 2019-2020 American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) CRIT Scholar Program.

According to AIAS the research-based CRIT Scholar program is supported by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in partnership with several prominent architecture firms. The program aims to support student research and serves as an exclusive opportunity for students to receive further guidance on their own research from a professional advisor. The long-term objective is to encourage students to be actively involved in furthering architectural innovation in support of the design profession through mentored research projects embedded in academia and practice.

Each recipient will receive a $1,000 grant for their research project and will be personally matched with a mentor involved in conducting research at an architectural firm. Mentorship from this practitioner will further assist them with their projects by giving them a practical perspective on their work as well as insights into working at an architectural firm. Scholars are also invited to present their final projects next year at their CRIT Live Research Symposia.

Zunaibi’s research will include investigating Cornell AAP’s Milstein Hall, designed by OMA, and Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture, design by Mack Scogin & Merrill Elam. His research is also being mentored by Amy Mielke, director of Ennead Labs, as part of the CRIT scholar mentorship component of the fellowship program.

Zunaibi is the college’s second CRIT scholar, the first being Evan Wermers in 2018 as part of AIAS’s first inaugural fellows admitted into the program.

“We are proud to have Jati selected into the 2020 CRIT Scholar program and look forward to his contributions to the AIAS Crit Live Research Symposia and AIAS Crit Journal,” said Architecture Program Interim Director David Karle.