Dr Francisca Rodriguez Leonard

Biography

Francisca Rodriguez, Ph.D., FHEA, is a Lecturer (Interior Design) with the School of Architecture and Built Environment, QUT. She incorporates interdisciplinary perspectives from architecture, computer vision, and behavioural sciences to further understand the role of light on human functioning and interaction. Dr. Rodriguez previously worked as a senior lighting designer at Estudio DIAV, an award-winning design studio specialising in lighting design projects in Chile. She has 10+ years experience in the lighting industry, having consulted for various architectural firms and organisations in Latin America on the integration of design and technology for energy efficiency and visual comfort. Dr. Rodriguez wrote the chapters on lighting systems for indoor visual comfort, energy efficiency, and light pollution for the Sustainability Standards for Housing – Chile (2016), which are currently used as design guidelines for all new housing developments in Chile. She is a member of the International Commission of Lighting (CIE), Australian Division, and a collaborator for IEA SCH Task 70: Low Carbon, High Comfort Integrated Lighting; Subtask B: Visual and Non-Visual User Requirements (2023-26).

As an active member of the QUT Human-Building Interaction research group, Dr. Rodriguez is committed to developing a research program that contributes to improving the well-being of diverse users through lighting design and interventions. She uses biometric sensory data, advanced visualisation tools, and ethnographic approaches to more effectively understand human responses to dynamic light in real contexts, including hospitals (The Prince Charles Hospital, The Princess Alexandra Hospital, STARS) and workplaces (Conrad Gargett). She has a growing number of publications as a first author in top-decile (D1) journals and is an active collaborator with the international research community, acting as a peer-reviewer for D1 and Q1 journals (Building and Environment, Architectural Science Review, Leukos, Buildings, and Sensors). Dr. Rodriguez has vast experience in writing successful grant applications, leading her to secure over $490,000 for research-related activities.