Dr Awwal's research interest lies within psycho-social interfaces and wider societal issues surrounding smart housing technologies, alongside user-valued innovations that enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of smart home systems. Her work also investigates the retrofitting of social housing to better capture tenant requirements and improve resident value and wellbeing through inclusive and sustainable design approaches.

Dr Awwal’s research further examines the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to improve requirement capture and decision-making processes in social housing retrofit projects. In addition, she is interested in sustainable urban design and public realm regeneration, particularly in waterfront environments and community-focused developments. Her research contributes to addressing complex urban and environmental challenges through innovative and socially responsive solutions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity and wellbeing for all communities.