Postdoctoral Scholar in Biophilic Design for Optimal Child Development

Dr. Nazia Afrin Trina is an NLI Postdoctoral Scholar in Biophilic Design for Optimal Child Development, supported by the Natural Learning Initiative 25th Anniversary Award through the College of Design at NC State University.

Dr. Trina conducts environment/behavior research exploring relationships between childhood experiential learning, healthy development, and design of supportive child and family contexts in daily life. She is especially interested in the role of nature in these settings (i.e., biophilic design), with a central focus on the impact of interaction with nature on STEM/STEAM learning in preschool settings.

At NLI, Dr. Trina applies her research findings and evaluation skills to assessing how high-quality, naturalized outdoor environments can be designed adaptively and equitably to formal, nonformal, and informal community contexts to promote children’s playful learning, health, and well-being. Her responsibilities include contributing to grant development, research translation, resource creation and dissemination, professional development programs, and stakeholder engagement with educators, community partners, and policymakers.

Dr. Trina, as part of her MLA thesis, explored the adaptation of ecological planting design for child-friendly environments (receiving the Best Poster Award, CELA 2022, and the prestigious Award of Excellence in Research, National ASLA Student Awards, 2023).

Recent contributions to the scientific literature include nine co-authored journal articles, including four related to her dissertation, with Dr. Cosco, NLI Director of Programs, and other PhD Committee members.

Dr. Trina, who grew up in Bangladesh, holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). She was a lecturer in the Department of Architecture, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh, before completing a Master of Landscape Architecture and PhD in Land-Use Planning, Management, and Design at Texas Tech University, USA.