Biography

Shrobona Karkun Sen (she/her) is a doctoral candidate specializing in spatial research using GIS, critical cartography, and Earth Observation with a research interest in drivers of land use change in emerging urban megaregions and issues arising from rapid urbanization. Her dissertation, tentatively titled “From Underground to Overground: How Delhi Metro is shaping land use,” will investigate the role of transportation development in changing the neighborhoods of the urban megalopolis through an empirical examination of changes in land use and land market.

Shrobona holds a Master’s in Urban Spatial Analytics (MUSA) from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s in Architecture (B.Arch) from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) India.

Before joining the doctoral program, she has worked as a GIS analyst in numerous projects at Philadelphia Land Bank, University of Pennsylvania, and Interface Studio LLC, notably on land vacancy, community health, education, and preservation projects. She also has previous experience working as an architect on master plans, design, and execution of residential developments with architecture and construction firms in India. When not teaching or working on her dissertation, Shrobona explores the world around her with photography and food.

Curriculum Vitae

Faculty Advisor: Sanjoy Chakravorty

Research Interests

India, Equity, Land systems, Urbanization, Urban megaregions, multi-method research, cartography, Urban GIS, Remote Sensing, Sustainability. 

Awards

  • Harris Webber Graduate Fellowship, Temple University, 2020-2021
  • Grantee, AAS-SSRC Dissertation Workshop Competition, 2019-2021

Publications

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles, Book Chapters, and Reports

  • Karkun, S. (2021). Geography and demography: Mapping the metropolis. In S. Chakravorty & N. Sircar (Eds.), Colossus: The anatomy of Delhi (South Asia in the Social Sciences, pp. 33-58). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI:10.1017/9781108935654.003
  • Karkun Sen, S., Pearsall, H., Gutierrez-Velez, V. H., & Gilbert, M. R. (2021). Measuring equity through spatial variability of infrastructure systems across the urban-rural gradient. Land, 10(11), 1202. DOI: 10.3390/land10111202

Cartography & Mapping

Courses Taught

Experience in teaching courses in-person, online, and hybrid learning modes. I have taught the following courses:

  • ENST/GUS 0842 Sustainable Environments
  • GUS 0867 World Regions and Culture
  • GUS 0831 Global Cities
  • GUS 0821 Digital Mapping