Alka Patel
· Associate Professor, Department of Art History, Art HistoryUniversity of California, Irvine · Middle East and Islamic Studies
Active 1982–2026
Academic metrics are sourced from OpenAlex and public funding records; values may differ from Google Scholar.
About
Alka Patel is a Professor of Art History at the University of California, Irvine, affiliated with the School of Humanities. She earned her Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2000 and specializes in the art and architecture of South Asia, Iran, Central Asia, and Spain (al-Andalus), with a focus on the early modern Andalusian/Islamicate diaspora in the New World. Her research primarily concentrates on the visual traditions and material culture of South Asia, especially the architecture of India and Pakistan from the 12th to 16th centuries. She has contributed to rethinking the rigidity of religious categorizations in South Asian material culture, challenging colonial-era classifications such as “Hindu,” “Jaina,” and “Islamic,” and demonstrating that buildings from this period transcend these historically imposed identifications. Her work extends to collaborative projects, notably with Dr. Karen Leonard, exploring the changing identities of mercantile and banking communities in Hyderabad, India, from 1730 to 1940, with an emphasis on architectural practices and social networks. Patel has authored and edited several publications, including books on the architecture of South Asia and the historiography of reuse in South Asian art, and has been recognized with a Senior Fellowship from the American Institute of Indian Studies. Her research continues to expand regional and chronological expertise, contributing significantly to the understanding of South Asian architectural history and…
Research topics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer Science
- Data Mining
- Environmental chemistry
- Chemistry
- Soil science
- Environmental science
- Statistics
- Econometrics
- Ecology
Selected publications
Edinburgh University Press eBooks · 2021-10-05 · 1 citations
book1st authorCorrespondingBrings together all the architectural patronage attributed to the Shansabānīs in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Swat and lower Indus region)Creates an architectural biography of this pivotal polity and its trans-regional empireTreats built remains as independent, primary sources - and juxtaposes them with the principal texts - to create a complex understanding of the historical processes the Shansabānīs initiated throughout the landscapes they re-conjoinedProvides the first analysis of this important…
Preparation of Emulgel and Antimicrobial Activity of Polyherbal Formulation
Research Review · 2025-08-04
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingThis research focuses on the formulation, evaluation, and antimicrobial assessment of a polyherbal emulgel incorporating Eucalyptus and Lemongrass essential oils.Herbal medicines have long been celebrated for their therapeutic properties, particularly their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.However, their topical delivery often faces challenges related to stability, penetration, and patient compliance.Emulgels, which combine the advantages of emulsions and gels, offer a p…
Merchants, Ghazis and the Inception of an 'Islamic' Architecture in South Asia
Manohar Publishers & Distributors eBooks · 2025-11-01
book-chapter1st authorCorrespondingPreprints.org · 2025-06-11
preprintOpen accessObjectives: To examine travel distance and its impact on wait time for Positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with lung, lymphoma, and prostate cancers in Alberta. Methods: We used Alberta cancer registry and diagnostic imaging database to identify patients with lung, lymphoma, and prostate cancers who had a PET/CT scan during April 2017 and March 2023. Alberta Facilities Distance/Time Look Up Table was used to calculate travel distance from patient’s residence to…
Exploring the Role of Primary Care Clinic Continuity for Patients with COPD or Heart Failure
2023-01-01
articleOpen access<h3>Context:</h3> Family physicians (FP) play a vital role in managing patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure (HF). Much emphasis has been placed on care pathways which involve community FPs caring for patients following hospitalization or treatment in the Emergency Department (ED). Given the trend in part-time practice, questions remain on the role of clinic continuity and its impact on health outcomes. <h3>Objective:</h3> Our objective is to understand the…
Frequent coauthors
- 27 shared
Judy Seidel
- 17 shared
Rizwan Shahid
University of Calgary
- 16 shared
Terrence McDonald
University of Calgary
- 16 shared
Nigel Waters
- 15 shared
Deborah A. Marshall
University of Calgary
- 14 shared
Lee A. Green
Indiana State Department of Health
- 13 shared
Xiaoxiao Liu
Zhejiang University
- 12 shared
Peter Faris
University of Calgary
Awards & honors
- Senior Fellowship, American Institute of Indian Studies, 200…
Similar researchers at University of California, Irvine
- Resume-aware match score
- Save to shortlist
- AI-drafted outreach
See your match with Alka Patel
PhdFit ranks faculty by your research interests, methods, and publications — grounded in their actual work, not templates.
- Free to start
- No credit card
- 30-second signup