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Jean Martin Caldieron, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture at ´óÏó´«Ã½ and a globally recognized authority on informal settlements and sustainable urban development. His interdisciplinary research spans housing rehabilitation, community-driven urban transformation, and the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for optimizing self-built environments. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Caldieron has been awarded multiple prestigious grants, including three U.S. Department of State grants and two Fulbright Scholar Awards for academic appointments in Mozambique and Côte d'Ivoire.

Dr. Caldieron holds a Ph.D. in Engineering (specializing in Architectural Structures) from Tohoku University in Japan, where his dissertation examined self-improvement strategies within unauthorized settlements. He further advanced his expertise with a recently completed Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies from Universidade Nova Lisboa (Portugal) and Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany), where he focused on applying GIS technology to informal settlements. Additionally, he earned a Master of Architecture with honors from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Grenoble (France), specializing in sustainable construction using raw earth as a building material. His foundational architectural training includes a six-year professional degree in Architecture from Simón Bolívar University in Venezuela, where he specialized in urban studies and architectural design.

Dr. Caldieron's extensive academic and professional trajectory spans multiple countries and institutions. Before joining ´óÏó´«Ã½ in 2007, he held faculty positions at Tohoku University (Japan), Simón Bolívar University (Venezuela), and St. Petersburg College (USA). His professional practice has encompassed architectural and urban projects in Japan, Venezuela, and various international settings. His research integrates advanced GIS technology with architectural and urban planning methodologies to develop innovative solutions for improving informal settlements across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. His expertise also encompasses structural integration in architectural design education and the study of open building systems.

An accomplished scholar, Dr. Caldieron has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on informal housing, resilience in self-built environments, and urban vulnerability. His two landmark publications, Manual for Building Back Better in Self-Built Dwellings and Housing & Sanitation Manual Against Epidemic Diseases: Preventive and Sustainable Design in Peripheral Settlements of Mozambique, funded by the U.S. Department of State, have become essential references for improving housing conditions in marginalized communities in Mozambique. His research has gained international recognition, and he has been a keynote speaker at leading academic and professional conferences worldwide.

Beyond academia, Dr. Caldieron has played a crucial role in architectural and urban development initiatives. He has served as a consultant on projects concerning informal settlements in Puerto Rico, Mozambique, Venezuela, and Mongolia, collaborating closely with governments, NGOs, and academic institutions. He has successfully secured and led major research grants focused on sustainable urban development, resilience strategies, and the application of remote sensing technologies in informal housing analysis.

A multilingual scholar, Dr. Caldieron is fluent in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, and Japanese. A dedicated global traveler, he has visited over 160 countries, continuously fostering international collaborations in architecture and urban planning. Through his teaching, research, and professional engagements, he remains at the forefront of advancing knowledge on informal settlements, driving sustainable, resilient, and equitable housing solutions on a global scale.