International Centre for Interdisciplinary Heritage Studies

Meet Our Team

People of ICIHS

Our Team

Prof. Dr. Neel Kamal Chapagain

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Prof. Dr. Neel Kamal Chapagain

Director, ICIHS · Professor of Architecture

Neel Kamal Chapagain joined Kathmandu University on 17 July 2025 as a Professor of Architecture and was appointed Director of ICIHS on 17 July 2026. He previously served as Professor and Director of the Centre for Heritage Management at Ahmedabad University, India, and has contributed as an invited lecturer and resource person across Asia. He also taught at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Buddha Shrestha

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Buddha Shrestha

Assistant Professor · Department of Architecture

Buddha Shrestha is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, and a nominated Board Member of the Town Development Fund. His expertise spans architecture, infrastructure planning, urban development, and the built environment, contributing interdisciplinary perspectives on heritage, spatial planning, and sustainable development.

Jharna Joshi

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Jharna Joshi

Architect · Academic · Heritage Professional

Jharna Joshi is an architect, academic, and heritage professional specializing in historic conservation, cultural landscapes, vernacular architecture, and sustainable tourism. She holds a PhD in Management (Tourism) from Victoria University of Wellington and has over 20 years of experience in architecture, heritage conservation, tourism, and teaching. Her work focuses on urban conservation, adaptive reuse, community-based heritage, and sustainable cultural landscapes, with extensive experience in heritage and tourism projects in Nepal and internationally.

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Ashish Rijal

Research Assistant · Geomatics Engineer

Ashish Rijal is a Geomatics Engineer and Research Assistant at the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Heritage Studies (ICIHS), Kathmandu University. His interests include GIS, remote sensing, UAV mapping, digital documentation, and applying geospatial technologies to interdisciplinary research and heritage studies.

Ashish Rijal
Tejashwee Bashyal

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Tejashwee Bashyal

Research Assistant · Environmental Science

Tejashwee Bashyal is a Research Assistant at the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Heritage Studies (ICIHS), Kathmandu University. An Environmental Science graduate, her research interests include climate change, urban pollution, environmental health, and sustainable urban development.