Sara continued in academia as she was curious to delve deeper into the topic of her master’s project
Sara Khoskhar graduated from the master’s programme in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure in 2014. She is now finalising her PhD at KTH.
Hi Sara, what are you doing at the moment?
I am finalising my PhD studies at the Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), focused on environmental management and assessment.
In my PhD studies, I have been a part of three research projects, Södertörnsmodellen, ISSUE (Integrating Sustainable Strategies in Urban Environments), and SPEAK. In the first two projects, I have been working closely with municipalities within the Stockholm region and looking into how to improve the municipal planning practice so to plan for urban green spaces and the ecosystem services provided by them, while also meeting the demands for development of new housing. In the SPEAK project, I conducted studies on the international practice of Strategic Environmental Assessment and identified learning experiences for Sweden. The research I have conducted in my PhD has been an extension of my master’s thesis and many of the topics discussed in the Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure (EESI) master’s programme.
What can a regular day look like at your job?
It can range from writing articles, teaching, to attending project meetings. My research is quite practical; so many times, I will be meeting with different municipalities.
Have you worked with anything else since you graduated?
No, I began as research engineer after I graduated the master’s programme at KTH, and then continued into the PhD programme. I chose the path of research engineer and PhD because I was curious to work more with the topic of my master’s thesis and continue learning and further develop my competence.
Why did you choose this programme at KTH?
I chose the EESI master’s programme, mainly because of the different competence profiles that are possible to follow within the EESI programme. I had an engineering background, but wanted to further develop my competence in policy and planning tools, so the Environmental Systems Analysis profile was really interesting to me. My advice to prospective students is to step out of your comfort zone and take advantage of the possibility of choosing from the different profiles.
What were the best aspects of your studies at KTH?
The best aspect of my master’s studies at KTH was the international environment, meeting and working in groups with people from all over the world. I also enjoyed, learning about the on-going research in different fields through the lectures. The courses I took invited guest lecturers from academia but also industry.
What is your best memory from your time at the university?
I have met some very great friends throughout my studies, from masters to PhD. One memorable moment was in my first year as PhD, when we PhD students planned our own international Julbord for Christmas. Each of us prepared a special dish from our home country. It was such a comforting feeling to see so many cultures come together.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to continue partially in academia, but also work in the industry. I would like to stay in Sweden for a few more years.