Rodrigo Juarez

Profile

Rodrigo is a PhD candidate in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds (UK). His research is focused on the impact and dynamics of the termination of infrastructure megaprojects. He graduated from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies (ITESM) in Mexico, obtaining his BSc. In Civil Engineering (2015). He later obtained his MSc.(Eng) in International Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Leeds (2018-2019) and an MBA from EUDE Business School (2019-2020). He has completed other complementary training, such as the FIDIC´s Young Professionals Management Training Programme, the UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Infrastructure Foundation Class, and the Major Projects Association (MPA) Rising Stars 2022 programme.

In addition to his academic formation, Rodrigo has worked as a research assistant at the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), participating in the Border Crossing Study for the North America Development Bank (NADBank) and the National Logistics Platform study, for the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Also, he has worked for FOA Consulting, where he has participated in tourism infrastructure projects, interurban transportation, highways cost operation analysis and urban toll roads and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and the Project Management Office for the New Mexico City International Airport (NAIM) with PARSONS Corporation-FOA Consulting, in project controls and risk management. He has also worked with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), exploring best practices and lessons learned for rail transport and metro systems megaprojects in the Latin American region.

Rodrigo is also a member of different organizations. He is the Chair of the FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) Future Leaders Advisory Council, ECR Network Officer for the British Academy of Management Project Experiences SIG, and Chair of the Young Professionals Group for the Mexican Chamber of Consulting Companies. 

Research interests

List of publications

• Alberti, J., Beltran, O.M., Juárez, R., and Pereyra, A. (2022). “Medellin Metro Lines A & B: Lights and shadows of a transformative megaproject”. Inter-American Development Bank. Original manuscript in Spanish. Available from: https://publications.iadb.org/es/lineas-y-b-del-metro-de-medellin-luces-y-sombras-de-un-megaproyecto-transformador
• Juarez Cornelio, J.R., Sainati, T., Locatelli, G. (2021). “What does it take to kill a megaproject? The reverse escalation of commitment”. International Journal of Project Management, 39, pp. 774-787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2021.07.004.

Research Project Funding

• National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) – Scholarship to study a doctorate degree in Project Management in the School of Civil Engineering, at the University of Leeds, UK (2020-2023). Total Value of grant: £65,000, including tuition fees, living expenses and medical insurance.
• UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Infrastructure Foundation Course – Recipient of a grant to cover the cost of the course with a value of £2,000, granted by the British Embassy in Mexico.
• Major Projects Association (MPA) PhD Research Grant – Recipient of the One-off research grant with a value of £1,000 (July 2022).
• National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) – Alianza FIIDEM Scholarship to study a master’s degree in the development of Infrastructure related subjects (2018-2019). Total Value of grant: £22,000, including tuition fees, living expenses and medical insurance.

Academic recognitions

• John Grill Institute for Project Leadership 2022 International Symposium - Recipient of the "Best Research Presentation Award (November 2022).
• University of Leeds School of Civil Engineering Postgraduate Awards 2022 – In recognition of the academic performance for the 2021-2022 academic period (July 2022).
• European Academy of Management (EURAM) 2022 Doctoral Colloquium – Recipient of the “Relevant and Responsible Research Award” for the project titled “Large infrastructure projects: factors that influence their termination” (June 2022)
• Association for Project Management Festival of Research and Education finalist – Selected as one of the finalists for the category of Project Management Research Paper of the year (February 2022).

Qualifications

• PhD Candidate - University of Leeds (2020)
• MBA - Master in Business Administration - EUDE Business School (2019)
• MSc. (Eng) International Construction Management & Engineering - University of Leeds (2018)
• Diploma in Project Management - ITESM (Mexico) (2016)
• BSc. Civil Engineering - ITESM (Mexico) (2015)