Since 2003, Lehmann has supervised 12 doctoral students to successful completion and mentored 3 postdoctoral research fellows across institutions in the US, UK, and Australia. As head of school in Australia, he oversaw a cohort of 85 Ph.D. students.
He has been appointed external Ph.D. examiner by leading universities including the University of Sydney, the University of Western Australia, Bond University, the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Salford, KTH Stockholm, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Portsmouth, the University of Greenwich, the University of the District of Columbia, and Keio University Tokyo — examining 12 theses and chairing 6 viva voce examinations across architecture and urbanism.
He actively mentors early-career researchers, embedding them in live projects and his research groups — and every former Ph.D. student has gone on to secure a significant academic position.
Ph.D. Supervision and Postgraduate Mentorship
New Book (2027)
Lehmann, S., Designing for the Desert: Building and Living in an Extreme Climate (ORO Editions, 2027).
Drawing on Steffen Lehmann's ongoing research and practice, this forthcoming book examines sustainable urbanism, architectural strategies, and material innovations for living in hot, arid climates.
RESEARCH-INFORMED DESIGN:
INTEGRATED EXPERTISE WITH MEASURABLE URBAN IMPACT.
Ph.D. Supervision: Selection of Former Ph.D. Students
The following former doctoral candidates were supervised by Professor Steffen Lehmann and have since secured prominent academic positions:
Dr. Atiq U. Zaman
Associate Professor, Environment & Climate Emergency, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. Ph.D. completed 2015.
Dissertation: "A Strategic Waste Management Framework and Tool for the Development of Zero-Waste Cities." Completed at the University of South Australia, this thesis investigated waste management and avoidance strategies, establishing a new analytical framework for zero-waste cities — the Zero Waste Index.
Dr. Ehsan Sharifi
Senior Lecturer, Architecture and Built Environment, Adelaide University, Australia. Ph.D. completed 2016.
Dissertation: "Public Spaces for Liveable and Sustainable Cities: The UHI Effect and the Urban Microclimate of Australian Cities." Completed at the University of South Australia, this thesis examined the effectiveness of urban cooling strategies and urban greening in public space and place-making practices.
Dr. Monika Szopinska-Mularz
Assistant Professor in Architecture, Rzeszów University of Technology, Rzeszów, Poland. Ph.D. completed 2020.
Dissertation: "The Adaptive Reuse of Inner-City Car Parking Structures for Urban Farming." Completed at the University of Portsmouth, UK, this thesis investigated the potential of urban parking structures for adaptive reuse as food-growing hubs within the city.
Dr. Fortino Acosta
Lecturer in Landscape Architecture, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA. Ph.D. completed 2022.
Dissertation: "The Food-Water-Energy Nexus in a City-Region Framework: The Role of Landscape Design Narratives." Completed at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this thesis explored how landscape characterisation and back-casting for circular economy goals can contribute to strategic solutions within the Food-Water-Energy Nexus.
