As the new academic year begins, the Architecture PhD Graduate Group is pleased to welcome the latest cohort of students to our post- professional MS ( Research) in Architecture. Coming from diverse backgrounds, these students bring a range of interests and expertise that will enrich our academic community as they cultivate advanced research skills over the upcoming year. Please join us in welcoming Adeniyi (Niyi) Onanuga, Kelly Rice, and Vincent Zhang as they embark on this exciting journey with us.
Adeniyi “Niyi” Onanuga is pursuing his Master of Science with a Certificate in ecological architecture. He previously earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Drexel University in 2025, and became a licensed architect through NCARB’s integrated path to Architecture Licensure. Niyi began his career in practice in Philadelphia and has taught in Drexel’s Architecture program, where he worked closely with students on design representation. His curiosity about how buildings can restore disturbed ground and support life in extreme conditions, drawing on ecological modeling and seed bank research, drives his pursuit of architecture as a tool for ecological and social resilience.
Kelly Rice holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Florida Atlantic University, where she was awarded the AIA Florida Bronze Medal. Her research interests focus on biomaterials and sensing materials, particularly how materials can respond to environmental conditions and expand possibilities for architectural design. At Weitzman, she is interested in exploring these questions through research with DumoLab, with a particular interest in the RAMUS project. During her undergraduate studies, she experimented with alternative materials and fabrication processes, including electroplating, casting, and thermobimetal systems.
Vincent Zhang’s s research interest is rooted in the extensive implications of contemporary architecture and planning discourse in the area of urban ecology and social inequality. With a series of field experiences in global communities of need, he intends to continuously explore the integration of design and social studies in infrastructural system upgrades for informal settlements and developing societies. Vincent holds a B. Arch at Cornell University.
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