Dr. Garcia-Hansen is an active researcher in the area of Lighting Design in Buildings, specializing in the design of daylighting devices, façade design, energy efficiency, evaluation of the luminous environment, lighting modeling, and lighting effects on health and wellbeing. Dr. Garcia-Hansen’s PhD thesis established her research significance to this field of lighting research. The research aimed to provide integrated solutions for the problem of naturally illuminating deep plan buildings in the tropics. The significance of the research contribution was recognized through an international award (Asian innovation Awards 2003) and nomination to the Fresh Innovators national program (2005). The PhD thesis was the 10th most downloaded thesis on QUT eprints, during 2008-09  and the research has also been published in international conferences (4), presented to research groups (Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic), and had extensive media coverage including TV scientific programs (http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1610451.htm) , industry magazines, and radio interviews. This research was the basis for the invitation to Dr Garcia Hansen to participate in the CIE Technical Committee TC 3-38 on”Tubular Daylight Guidance Systems”(2006) and as guest speaker for Eco building in Hot climate- Energy, Efficiency, Comfort: A Combination for our Future conference in Bolzano, Italy (April 29th 2010). Since PhD conclusion, Dr. Garcia-Hansen has been investigating many aspects of appropriate lighting solutions in the tropics to provide energy efficient solutions as well as providing healthy environments for people with three funded research projects totallying $75,000, where she is the main CI. These projects include:

1. Development of an assessment tool for selection of daylighting devices in tropical climates. This research has been presented in two international conference
2. Evaluation of luminous environments in open plan offices with top daylighting devices, presented in two international conferences and
3. Study of Light exposure patterns of office workers. This on-going research is the first one to assess light exposure patterns of office workers in a subtropical setting.

Dr. Garcia-Hansen is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Architecture (AIA), a member of Architectural Science Association (ASA) and Passive Low Energy Architecture (PLEA), Silver member of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) and the Australian representative for CIE (International Commission on Illumination) Division 3: Interior Environment and Lighting Design.

She has been a technical reviewer for numerous peer review journals including Building and Environment, Lighting Research and Technology. She is currently an associate editor for Architectural Science Review (Q1 journal). Dr. Garcia-Hansen is an Australian Research Council (ARC) assessor.