Advancing acoustics through materials and multidisciplinary research
She’s also advancing materials science as part of her acoustic research program. Algargoosh is studyingthe use of aerogels, lightweight, porous materials with strong thermal and sound absorption properties. This work is a collaborative venture with Robert Moore, professor in the Department of Chemistry; Zhenhua Tian, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering; and their students.
Her goal is to offer sustainable alternatives to traditional acoustic treatments – and in doing so, address a growing public health concern.
“The World Health Organization ranks environmental noise as one of the top threats to global health,” she said. “We need solutions that are not just technical, but human centered.”
Whether using virtual reality, biosensors, or machine learning, Algargoosh’s work reflects a consistent vision: Architecture should actively support how we think, feel, and heal.
“We design buildings for safety, aesthetics, and energy – but we rarely think about how they sound,” she said. “My work is about changing that.”
Her impact is already reaching the broader field of architectural acoustics. Algargoosh has authored several influential studies, including an invited paper for the 2024 InterNoise Conference in France: “Psychoacoustic and Affective Response Analysis of Soundscapes.”
She also recently published a study in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America linking the unique sonic properties of worship spaces to their emotional effects. In a 2022 study published in Applied Acoustics, Algargoosh and collaborators introduced a novel method for analyzing room modal response using auralization, an approach that simulates how sound behaves in a space to better inform acoustic design.
Algargoosh holds two patents and is an active Acoustical Society of America member. Her academic journey – spanning architecture, affective computing, and sustainable design – continues to expand how buildings are understood and created.
As her work expands at Virginia Tech through leading the Advanced Acoustic Design Lab, Algargoosh is helping to redefine what architecture can be: not just a visual or structural experience, but a multisensory one, with sound as a key ingredient in health and quality of life.
“Understanding acoustics isn’t just about solving a technical problem,” she said. “It’s about creating spaces that help people feel better, focus more clearly, and live more fully.”
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