Director

Bio

Chau "Charlie" Le is an Assistant Professor in the Albert School of Construction at UNC Charlotte. His research applies data analytics, machine learning and network science to construction contracting and cost estimating, work zone safety, and infrastructure resilience, in partnership with state departments of transportation and national transportation research programs. He joined UNC Charlotte in 2024 after three years on the faculty at North Dakota State University. He holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and spent five years in construction practice, in bidding, contracts, and project management roles.

Education

• 2021  Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Engineering (Focus: Construction Management & Engineering), Texas A&M University, CS, TX

• 2013  Master's in Construction Engineering & Management (Rank 1st/53), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, VN

• 2011  Bachelor's with Honors in Civil Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam

Professional Positions

• 08/2024 – present         Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina

• 10/2024 – present         Affiliate Faculty, Charlotte AIR Institute, North Carolina

• 04/2024 – present         Adjunct Faculty, Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Vietnam

• 08/2021 – 08/2014        Assistant Professor, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota

• 09/2018 – 08/2021        Graduate Research Assistant, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

• 06/2017 – 08/2018        Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

• 03/2016 – 05/2017        Lecturer, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• 06/2015 – 02/2016        Deputy Project Manager, Construction Corporation No. 1, Vietnam

• 04/2015 – 02/2016        Planning & Contract Manager, Construction Corporation No. 1, Vietnam

• 12/2013 – 03/2015        Deputy Planning & Contract Manager, Construction Corporation No. 1

• 09/2011 – 11/2013        Bidding Team Leader, Construction Corporation No. 1, Vietnam

• 03/2011 – 08/2011        Bidding Engineer, Construction Corporation No. 1, Vietnam

Honors & Awards

• 2026, Best Paper, Track 1: Advanced Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics in Construction, ASCE CI & CRC 2026

• 2025, Outstanding Reviewer, ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management

• 2025, Outstanding Reviewer, ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering

• 2025, Ralph A. Evans/P. K. McElroy Award (best paper), Reliability and Maintainability Symposium

• 2024, Best Paper Award, ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management

• 2024, William A. Golomski Award, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers

• 2024, SRE Stan Oftshun Award, 70th Annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium

• 2023, Recognition for Innovation in Teaching, President of North Dakota State University

• 2023, Best Poster Award, Transportation Research Board, Construction Management

• 2023, Editor's Choice Paper, ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management

• 2022, Outstanding Reviewer, ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering

• 2022, Best Paper Award, International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management

• 2020, Editor's Choice Paper, ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering

• 2018, Editor's Choice Paper, ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering

Earlier recognition includes Certificates of Merit from Vietnam's Minister of Construction (2014) and the Vietnam National Union of Building Workers (2015), and Silver Medal Graduate, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (2011).