AUS celebrates graduation of first PhD candidates

Mustafa Al-Tekreeti, Hasan Mahmoud and Taha Anjamrooz successfully defended their dissertations for the PhD in Engineering Systems Management. 

Guided by Dr. Vian Ahmed, Professor of Industrial Engineering, and Dr. Salwa Beheiry, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Al-Tekreeti and Mahmoud’s dissertations focused on the areas of sustainable construction and project management. Entitled “Tracking the Commitment to Sustainable Development Decisions,” Al-Tekreeti’s thesis evaluated the commitment to sustainable decisions undertaken in capital projects. It introduced a novel methodology to assess and track commitment to leadership decisions at key stages of a project. 

Reflecting on the program and his doctoral studies, which began three years ago, Al-Tekreeti said that his journey has had a significant impact on how he views research-driven solutions in his field. “The PhD journey changed my perception of construction processes by seeking novel solutions to traditional problems. The excitement of connecting ideas to form a solution drove me to a new research horizon in the field,” he said.

For Mahmoud, the experience was enriching. “Having gone through the challenge of getting a PhD degree, I can honestly say that it was definitely worth it. I would like to thank AUS for its support, especially my advisors Dr. Vian Ahmed and Dr. Salwa Beheiry. Moreover, I would like to thank my family for their continuous love and support,” he said.

His study, entitled “A Data Analytics Approach for Forecasting Cash Flow in Construction Projects,” highlighted the importance of risk assessment and mitigation on forecasting construction projects cashflow and developed an early detection model for cashflow predictability.

Dr. Sameh El-Sayegh, Professor of Civil Engineering, served as an advisor for Anjamrooz’s dissertation, which is entitled “Portfolio Value Optimization Model for Sustainable Construction Projects”. Anjamrooz focused on developing a new portfolio value optimization model that integrates sustainability, organization benefit realization and project success criteria. The research encourages construction developers to consider sustainability as key criteria in their portfolio selection, and that, in turn, can result in a more sustainable construction industry.

With a master’s degree from AUS in ESM, Anjamrooz pursued his PhD while working as an operations manager at a construction company in the UAE. Speaking about the support he received during his doctoral journey, he said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Sameh El-Sayegh, for his continuous support, invaluable advice and encouragement throughout this dissertation. I would also like to express my deep appreciation to AUS and the Engineering Systems Management program's faculty for their guidance and support during my course of study.”

Launched in 2018, the PhD in Engineering Systems Management addresses fundamental research problems of national and global importance for the 21st century, such as the management of supply chains, sustainable construction projects and smart cities. 

Students in the program work with highly qualified AUS engineering faculty who are at the forefront of their fields, are engaged in a wide range of disciplines, and hail from some of the best universities in the world. The faculty’s commitment to research, in cooperation with other academic institutions and major industrial and government organizations, creates an ideal environment for candidates to acquire cutting-edge knowledge and cultivate their own research interests.

Dr. Sameer Al-Asheh, Interim Dean of CEN, spoke about this important milestone in the history of AUS: “It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we witness the graduation of the first doctoral students in our PhD-ESM program. We have worked hard to establish a PhD program that is the equivalent to programs at some of the world's most prestigious universities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the faculty that worked hard to create such a great program as well as the university’s administration and leadership. And, to our existing and future doctoral candidates, I assure you that you have made the best decision of your career to join our program.”

The university also offers PhD degree programs in Material Science and Engineering and Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance.