Rana is a researcher and lecturer in urban design at the Faculty of Built Environment of the University of Breda and an associate researcher at the University of Leuven. She has obtained her Ph.D. in Architecture (2015) and Master of Urbanism and Strategic Planning (2011) at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven). She also has a postgraduate degree in Urbanism from Università Iuav di Venezia. 

She teaches various courses, including Urban Design Strategies, Design Labs in different contexts of China, South Africa, and the Netherlands, and Energy Transition: Future Urban Strategy at the University of Breda. She is also a registered urbanist and designed numerous public spaces, revival of post-industrial sites, and infrastructural landscapes in Brussels, Flanders, Italy, and Vietnam contexts. She is a member of the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) and the American Organization for Afghan Female Student Outreach (AFSO).

Rana's research focuses on the intersection of non-western urban history, inclusive urbanism, and climate change. She is engaged in numerous European Union-funded projects such as Inclusive City, KreativEU, Neon (Energy Transition), and Greengage within Breda University. 
Rana has published over twenty peer-reviewed academic articles, book chapters, and a monograph book with reputed publishers such as Brill, Routledge, Springer, and Elsevier. Her monograph book (2021), "Modern Middle-Class Housing in Tehran - A Reproduction of Archetype: Episodes of Urbanism 1945-1979", stands out among her publications.

Rana is involved with Neon, DUT InclusiveCity and KreativEU projects and also part of people and flows community.

Modern Urban History, Housing, Inclusive Urbanism, Energy Transition, Climate Change.