Dr Rodrigo Juarez

Profile

I completed my PhD in Project Management in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Leeds (UK). My research is focused on the termination of infrastructure megaprojects. I graduated from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies (ITESM) in Mexico, obtaining my BSc. in Civil Engineering (2015). I later obtained my MSc.(Eng) in International Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Leeds (2018-2019) and an MBA from EUDE Business School (2019-2020). I have 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 my academic formation, I have 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, I have worked for FOA Consulting, where I have 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, working in project controls and risk management. I have also worked with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) as a junior consultant, exploring best practices and lessons learned for rail transport and metro systems megaprojects in the Latin American region.

I am also a member of different organizations. I’m the past Chair of the FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) Future Leaders Advisory Council, the ECR Network Officer for the British Academy of Management Project Experiences SIG, Chair of the Young Professionals Group for the Mexican Chamber of Consulting Companies (CNEC), and Sustainability Ambassador from the Leeds Center for Projects with the Major Projects Association (MPA). 

Research interests

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

• Recipient of the 2024 “Project Management Research Paper of the Year” – Awarded by the Association for Project Management (APM) for the paper titled “Digging in the Megaproject’s graveyard: Why do megaprojects die, and how to check their health?” (June 2024)
• Finalist: Doctoral Candidate of the year – Selected as one of the finalists of the category of “Project Management Doctoral Researcher of the year” by the Association for Project Management (APM) (June 2024).
• 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 in Project Management - University of Leeds
• MBA - Master in Business Administration - EUDE Business School
• MSc. (Eng) International Construction Management & Engineering - University of Leeds
• Diploma in Project Management -Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico
• BSc. Civil Engineering - Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico

Student education

For the 2024-2025 Academic year, I am module leader for the “Risk and Resilience” and, co-teach the “Applied Project Management”  modules for the Engineering Project Management (EPM) and International Construction Management and Engineering (ICME) Master programmes in the School of Civil Engineering. 

Current postgraduate researchers

• Kashif Malik