Maysaa Sati
a researcher and urban planner with a background in architecture and a strong interest in justice, displacement, and community rebuilding. She brings an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how people navigate change and create meaning through place, memory, and everyday practices.
Education
2023 – 2025
Master of City Planning (MCP) – City/Regional Planning
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Sep 2023 – May 2025 | 5.00 cGPA
2015 – 2021
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – Architecture
University of Khartoum, Sudan
Oct 2015 – Dec 2021 | Honors 2:1
Experience
Nov 2024 – Present
Founder & Director
AcasiaPulse
Established AcasiaPulse, a platform focused on geospatial analysis and digital tools to track displacement trends and humanitarian crises.
Developed a data-driven approach to visualize conflict patterns, forced migration routes, and humanitarian aid access.
Led a multidisciplinary team in building interactive dashboards and analytical reports to inform NGOs, policymakers, and humanitarian organizations.
Part of the MIT DesignX Accelerator, where the project is being incubated and supported.
Research & Academia
Human Rights & Advocacy
Feb 2021 - April 2024
Human Rights Investigator & Policy Analyst
Gisa Group, Khartoum
Led open-source investigations into state-sanctioned violence, producing internationally recognized reports.
Published analyses on human rights violations and political repression, informing advocacy and policy discussions.
Trained organizations in OSINT verification and investigative methodologies.
Jun 2019 - Feb 2022
Co-Founder & Human Rights Advocate
Midanik Movement
Documenting and monitoring survivors and witnesses of Human rights violations and producing an investigative report on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at the June 3rd, 2019 Sit-In in Khartoum, Sudan, with the assistance of Project Expedite Justice.
Designing and contributing to a crowdfunding campaign, through social media and networks, to empower women, leading to the distribution of 30 tea vendor kits prioritized based on the socio-economic need.
Policy & International Affairs
Jun 2023 - Aug 2023
Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, Doha, Qatar
Researched and drafted a policy briefing on the impact of the 2023 Sudan conflict on international diplomacy.
Analyzed Qatar mediation efforts in Darfur and compiled reports on targeted healthcare attacks post-April 2023 conflict in Sudan.
Skills & Expertise
Honors & Fellowships
Publications & Media
Organizer & Speaker – Sudan Solidarity Teach-In
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA | March 17, 2025
Coordinated and facilitated a campus-wide event to educate students on the complexities of the Sudanese conflict and explore actionable avenues for student engagement and solidarity.
Panelist – Sudan’s Story
Center for Computing & Data Sciences, Boston University, MA | February 21, 2025
Discussed data-driven insights into Sudan’s political and humanitarian crises, emphasizing the importance of narrative and visualization in advocacy efforts.
Guest Lecturer – From Temporary Settlements to Urban Entities: The Transformation of IDP Camps
University of Tshwane, Pretoria, South Africa | August 14, 2024
Delivered a lecture comparing informal settlements in South Africa and displacement camps in Darfur, highlighting methodological parallels and intervention strategies transferable between both contexts.