Research Consultant at LUGARIT.  Responsibilities include:  

• Leading and conducting research on territorial development, urban planning, and spatial governance.

• Analyzing data and producing reports on key areas such as peacebuilding, housing, cultural heritage, and local governance.

• Leading the design, build and management of custom digital tools for internal and external use. 

• Applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other digital tools for data visualization and spatial analysis.

• Designing and implementing participatory methodologies to engage local communities and stakeholders in development projects.

• Collaborating with international organizations and other key institutional partners.

• Coordinating and managing multidisciplinary research teams for large-scale studies.

• Providing strategic advice and recommendations for policy and program development based on research findings.

Participated in the creation, management and education of the Living Summer School (LSS) – An ERASUS+ informal education program on territorial innovation.  Responsibilities include:  

• Contributing to the design and development of the LSS curriculum focused on innovation in territorial development.

• Coordinating and facilitating educational activities, including workshops, in situ studios, and collaborative projects. 

• Supporting the selection of students from across Europe through an international jury process.

• Developing partnerships with local municipalities, associations, and cultural institutions to enhance the educational experience.

• Assisting in organizing and leading events, lectures, and discussions on urban planning, territorial innovation, and sustainable development.

• Permanent Member – LINA Community: European platform for young architects, researchers, and cultural institutions working towards sustainable, inclusive, and critical architecture.

  • Participated in annual jury selection of supported teams and projects.

  • Facilitated roundtables, workshops, and public events to foster dialogue and innovation in architecture.

Established a private practice in Paris, focusing on architecture and urban planning.  Key projects included: 

• 2023 - EUROPAN 17 Prize Winner: Co-designed a fluvial urbanism project for the Rouen site, integrating sustainable urban development with environmental considerations. The competition followed up with a pre-operational feasibility study commissioned by Metropole Rouen Normandie. 

• 2021 - Territorial Lab (Kortrijk, Belgium): Activated a heritage monument through participatory workshops, installations, and collective exhibitions, promoting community engagement in urban renewal.

• 2020 - Research on Moated Sites in Northern Europe: Contributed to UNESCO’s archives by researching and documenting the architectural and cultural significance of over 10,000 moated sites.

• 2020 – Municipal Medal of the Salvetat Saint Gilles (Toulouse, France): Recognition of the historical research on the Saint Gilles Castles in Lebanon and France. 

• 2017 – Honourable Mention - Renovation of the YMCA in paris: 19th century building designed by Gustave Eiffel. 

Assisted in the design and development of architectural projects, with a focus on urban planning and sustainable design solutions.

• Collaborated with senior architects on developing architectural drawings, plans, models.

• Conducted site analysis and surveys to inform design decisions.

• Assisted in the preparation of presentations and reports for clients and stakeholders.

• Coordinated with technical teams on project feasibility and compliance with regulations.

• Tabanlioglu Architects.  Mar 2021 - May 2021.  3 months.  Istanbul, Türkiye. 

• Designregio Kortrijk. Oct 2020 - Feb 2021.  5 months.  Courtrai, Belgium.

• Common Space Initiative.  Jun 2019 - Sep 2019.  4 months.   Beirut, Lebanon. 

• La Maison. Jun 2017 - Sep 2017.  4 months.  Paris, France. 

• Qatar Foundation.  Jan 2017 - Mar 2017.  3 months.  Doha, Qatar. 

• Visualizing Impact.  Jun 2016 - Nov 2016.  6 months.  Beirut, Lebanon. 

• Falomo, E, & Hallaj, J. (2025). Archiving Islands: Revealing a Cultural Heritage Landscape in Flanders. AIIA. 

• Hallaj, J., Alzoubi, Z., & Hallaj, O. A. (2025). The conditions of governance in Syria before 8 December 2024. LUGARIT.  Link >

• Hallaj, J., & Hallaj, O. A. (2025). Aggregating Power : The territorial orders of Syria. LUGARIT. Link>

• Hallaj, J., Alzoubi, Z., & Hallaj, O. A. (2025). The heavy legacy : The political economy of livelihoods in syria before the regime’s collapse. LUGARIT.  Link >

• Hallaj, J., Alzoubi, Z., Khurfan, B., & Hallaj, O. A. (2025). On the eve of the regime’s fall : Service indicators in syria. LUGARIT.  Link >

• Alzoubi, Z., Hallaj, J., & Hallaj, O. A. (2024). The political economy of city-regions : Lessons learnt for the post-conflict recovery. LUGARIT.  Link >

• Al-Zoubi, Z. and Hallaj, O. A. eds.; 2024. Administrative Divisions and the Conundrum of Natinal/Local Identity Formation in Syria. Istanbul: Omran for Strategic Studies.  Link >

• Hallaj, O. A., et al; 2023. A Roadmap for the Engagement of the EU with Syrian Civil Society. Brussels: The European Union.  Link >

• Al-Zoubi, Z.; Hallaj, O. A.; Al-Zoubi, S.; Hallaj, J.; 2022. The Making of Syria’s Administrative Divisions’ Map: One Hundred Years of a Problematic Relationship Between the Centre and the Periphery. London: London School of Economics.  Link >

• Hallaj, J. (2019). Camille Duraffourd et l’établissement du cadastre dans le Levant durant le mandat français (1920-1946). ENSA Paris la Villette. 

• Guinaudeau, D.,  Hallaj, J., Hamza, A. (2019). Yangon:  Water Megacity. ENSA Paris-La Villette.

• Speaker - "Aggregating Power: (Mapping) the Territorial Orders of Syria”. City Debates - American University of Beirut (AUB).  Link >

• Co-Organiser & Moderator – “Navigating Informal Education” Conference. Bolwerk, Kortrijk. 

• Keynote – “Researching Moated Homesteads”. École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture (ENSA), Versailles, France

• Speaker – Royal Geographic Society Annual Conference. London, UK – “Archiving Moated Homesteads”.  Link >

• Speaker – DPP-CFM Executive Program. Geneva Graduate Institute & Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar

• Facilitator – Forecast Platform Spring School. Berlin, Germany

• Speaker – “Architectures de l’Eau”, AIIA. 

• Speaker – UNESCO Cities of Design Sub-network Meeting. Geelong, Australia

• Facilitator – Mapathon Workshop. New European Bauhaus, Brussels, Belgium

• Speaker – “Explorations & Cartographies”. Architecture Research Seminars, Brussels

• Coach – “Cybernetics and Systems-Oriented Design”. University of Ghent, Kortrijk Campus

• Speaker – “From Toulouse to Tripoli: The Saint Gilles Castles”. Municipality of Salvetat St. Gilles, France.