Introduction
Dr. Michael W. Ibrahim is an associate professor of Civil Engineering as well as the founder and director of the Construction and Engineering Management specialization at California State University, Los Angeles.
Research Interests
As a Principal Investigator (PI)/co-PI, Dr. Ibrahim has spearheaded research initiatives backed by funds and grants exceeding $10 million. These grants have been secured from a variety of prestigious funding bodies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Transportation, among others.
Dr. Ibrahim’s research areas span three themes:
- Improving the performance of construction projects using innovative business strategies, project delivery methods, lean methodologies, digital tools and technology, including Virtual reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Building renewable energy infrastructure
- Improving engineering education to move from the notion that students should be "college-ready" to the more empowering perspective that universities/colleges should be "student-ready"
As an active researcher and consultant, Dr. Ibrahim has monitored, collected, and examined data from over 500 construction professionals, 250 construction projects (collectively valued at more than $46 billion), and 75 construction companies. Using this data, Dr. Ibrahim and his team incorporate a hybrid approach that blends engineering expertise with statistics and business to holistically assess and significantly improve the performance of the built environment in terms of productivity, economic and environmental sustainability, and profitability. Dr. Ibrahim’s research work is distinguished by its application in the industry as well as its multi-disciplinary nature.
Click here to visit Dr. Ibrahim’s Google Scholar Page.
Teaching Interests
Dr. Ibrahim’s teaching interests span three areas:
- Construction and engineering management
- Statistics and data analytics
- Business strategy
As an educator, Dr. Ibrahim developed and modified the following courses:
- CE 3220 - Statistics and Data Analysis for Engineers
- CE 3650 - Fundamentals of Construction Management
- CE 4560 - Construction Project Planning, Scheduling, and Control
- CE 4570 - Construction Cost Estimation & Financial Management
- CE 5560 - Construction Legal Aspects and Risk Management
- CE 5570 - BIM and Advanced Technologies in Construction
Additionally, Dr. Ibrahim is the director of the Minor in Construction and Engineering Management at California State University, Los Angeles.
Organizational Affiliations
Dr. Ibrahim is a published author and a frequent reviewer in top construction and engineering management journals, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Journal of Construction Engineering and Management (JCEM) and Journal of Engineering Management (JEM). In addition, Dr. Ibrahim is a sought-after speaker in conferences for leading construction institutions and consortiums, such as the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC), and the Construction Industry Institute (CII) from which he received a prestigious academic award for his work in minimizing out-of-sequence activities in construction projects.
Dr. Ibrahim is also the faculty advisor of the CMAA at Cal State LA student club
Educational Background
Dr. Ibrahim earned his MS and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with an emphasis in Construction Engineering and Management, and doctoral minors in Statistics and Business. He also received graduate/professional certificates from the Wisconsin School of Business in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Innovation, and Business, Environment, and Social Responsibility.
Dr. Ibrahim earned his BS in Construction Engineering from the American University in Cairo, graduating summa cum laude and top of the class with double concentration in Construction Materials and Structures, and Construction Management and Technology.