Doctoral students earn national recognition
National awards recognize two UNC Charlotte doctoral students advancing research and professional development in aviation infrastructure and facility management
Two doctoral students mentored by Albert School of Construction faculty have earned competitive national awards supporting their research and professional development.
Fatemeh (Elnaz) Banani Ardecani, a Ph.D. candidate in Transportation Engineering at UNC Charlotte, was selected as one of eight recipients nationwide of the 2026 Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Graduate Research Awards. Her research, mentored by ASoC faculty member Omidreza Shoghli, is developing a BIM-based digital twin and data workflow for sensor-enabled runway pavement monitoring at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The FAA-sponsored award includes research support, expert mentorship and an opportunity to present her work at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.
Sunday Akanji, an Infrastructure and Environmental Systems doctoral student, received a 2026 IFMA Foundation Academic Scholarship. The award recognizes students pursuing careers related to facility management and includes sponsorship for Akanji to attend IFMA’s World Workplace conference in Anaheim, California, this November.
Together, these achievements demonstrate the growing impact of ASoC faculty mentorship and graduate education. By connecting doctoral students with applied research, professional organizations and real-world infrastructure challenges, the School is helping develop the next generation of researchers and industry leaders.