Qadri Hafez Shaheen is a civil engineer and infrastructure researcher whose work branches across public policy, finance, and project delivery. Currently a Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland, Qadri is affiliated with the Build America Center, a U.S. DOT-funded national research center advancing innovative infrastructure finance. His doctoral research focuses on financing tools such as State Infrastructure Banks, Value for Money frameworks, and emergent AI methods for project control.

Qadri’s professional roots lie in over a decade of hands-on project management and design engineering experience across the U.S. and the Middle East. From supervising structural works in Palestine to coordinating utility permits for MDOT in Michigan, he has remained grounded in the practical realities of civil infrastructure. He later transitioned into research roles, completing a master’s in Construction Management with a perfect GPA, then leading consulting assignments funded by the World Bank, UNOPS, and others.

At the University of Maryland, his work at the Build America Center has involved supporting more than 35 communities and state DOTs through federal grant development, technical assistance, and strategic financing guidance. He has contributed to national-level efforts including the NCHRP study on agility in project delivery, FHWA’s SIB Advancement Program, and Value for Money (VfM) guidance development. His recent publications and presentations cover infrastructure equity, AI applications in project control, and smart mobility systems.

A frequent reviewer for the TRB Annual Meeting and Transportation Research Record, Qadri is committed to bridging research and practice. He brings a global perspective, an engineer’s precision, and a policy researcher’s curiosity—aiming to grow impactful ideas that serve both local needs and national priorities.