Md. Kamrul Islam | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia 

Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam, an Australian national, currently serves as an Associate Professor at King Faisal University, KSA. With over two decades of experience in civil and transportation engineering, he holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and advanced degrees from the University of Tokyo and DUET, Bangladesh. Dr. Islam’s research focuses on stochastic modeling, asphalt performance, and public transport systems. He has successfully led more than 50 research projects funded by Deanship of Scientific Research and collaborated with premier institutions like University of Illinois and Texas A&M. His excellence has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Furuichi Kimitake Prize and Institute Gold Medal. Dr. Islam is also a proactive academic mentor, guiding numerous undergraduate projects and contributing to international academic collaborations. His technical, analytical, and conceptual skills have made a significant impact on the field of engineering.

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Summary of Suitability for the Research for Best Researcher Award – Md. Kamrul Islam

Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam, affiliated with King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, and an Australian citizen, presents a promising profile for the Research for Best Researcher Award. As a faculty member at a reputed institution in the Gulf region, he is likely engaged in cutting-edge research and academic collaboration, contributing significantly to his field. His dual academic and cultural experience, having connections in both Australia and the Middle East, potentially strengthens his international outreach and research dissemination impact.

Given the rigorous environment of King Faisal University, which emphasizes innovation and scholarly contributions, Dr. Islam’s ongoing involvement likely includes authoring peer-reviewed articles, mentoring postgraduate researchers, and participating in international conferences. If his work spans applied or interdisciplinary domains, it would further align with the award’s emphasis on impactful and forward-looking research contributions.

🎓 Education 

Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam’s academic journey showcases his deep-rooted expertise in transportation and civil engineering. He earned his PhD in Transportation Engineering from the University of New South Wales, Australia, in 2014. His doctoral thesis focused on stochastic modeling of public transit performance, leading to several high-impact journal publications. Prior to this, he obtained his Master’s in Engineering with a major in Transportation Planning from the University of Tokyo, Japan, in 2006. His master’s research on urban systems and consumption behavior across East Japan equipped him with advanced simulation and data analysis skills. Dr. Islam began his academic pursuit with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from DUET, Bangladesh, in 2002, where he graduated with top honors and was later accredited by Engineers Australia as meeting professional engineer standards. His educational background has laid the foundation for his exceptional contributions to engineering research and teaching.

💼 Professional Experience

Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam has extensive academic and industry experience. He is currently an Associate Professor (since September 2024) and was formerly an Assistant Professor (2015–2024) at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Faisal University (KFU), KSA. At KFU, he spearheaded multi-institutional research collaborations and managed projects under the Saudi Aramco Chair on Asphalt Pavement. Before joining KFU, he held faculty positions at DUET, Bangladesh, from 2003 to 2015, progressing from Lecturer to Assistant Professor. His international experience includes roles as a Casual Graduate Academic at UNSW, Australia, and as a Civil Engineer at Pacific Consultant International in Japan, where he contributed to deep-sea port planning. Earlier, he worked as a Project Implementation Officer for the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, Bangladesh. Throughout his career, he has balanced rigorous academic teaching, research leadership, and field-level infrastructure planning with exceptional professionalism.

🏅 Awards and Recognition

Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam’s outstanding academic and research contributions have earned him multiple prestigious accolades. In 2006, he received the Furuichi Kimitake Prize from the University of Tokyo for excellence in engineering graduation, recognizing his innovative thesis and academic merit. Earlier, in 2002, he was honored with the Institute Gold Medal by the Board of Governors of DUET, Bangladesh, for securing top marks in his undergraduate studies. His research success is further exemplified by securing and completing over 50 research projects sponsored by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Faisal University. These achievements are a testament to his commitment to advancing engineering through research, innovation, and academic collaboration. Additionally, his role in fostering international research networks and mentoring undergraduate students highlights his dedication to academic excellence and leadership in civil and transportation engineering.

🌍 Research Skill On Engineering

Dr. Md. Kamrul Islam exhibits a dynamic portfolio of advanced research skills. He specializes in transportation engineering, stochastic modeling, and asphalt material performance. His PhD research demonstrated his ability to analyze complex transit systems using computational techniques and large-scale algorithms in MATLAB. At KFU, he led multidisciplinary projects addressing sulfur-extended asphalt, pavement benchmarking, and life-cycle assessments. Dr. Islam has developed significant expertise in analytical modeling, data simulation, and numerical approximation, often applied to real-world transport networks. His work involves integrating academic theory with field-based applications, allowing for policy-relevant insights and innovations in civil infrastructure. He has also mastered collaborative research management, coordinating with leading institutions in the USA and Japan. With strong technical acumen, conceptual clarity, and problem-solving approaches, he continues to contribute to academic advancement and sustainable engineering solutions.

📖  Publication Top Notes

  • Title: A review of the evolution of technologies to use sulphur as a pavement construction material
    Authors: N. Sakib, A. Bhasin, M.K. Islam, K. Khan, M.I. Khan
    Journal: International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 22(3), 392-403
    Citations: 40
    Year: 2021

  • Title: Towards sustainable road safety in Saudi Arabia: Exploring traffic accident causes associated with driving behavior using a Bayesian belief network
    Authors: M.M. Rahman, M.K. Islam, A. Al-Shayeb, M. Arifuzzaman
    Journal: Sustainability, 14(10), 6315
    Citations: 33
    Year: 2022

  • Title: Climate change in Bangladesh: Temperature and rainfall climatology of Bangladesh for 1949–2013 and its implication on rice yield
    Authors: E. Alam, A.E.E. Hridoy, S.M.S.H. Tusher, A.R.M.T. Islam, M.K. Islam
    Journal: PLOS ONE, 18(10), e0292668
    Citations: 29
    Year: 2023

  • Title: Predicting road crash severity using classifier models and crash hotspots
    Authors: M.K. Islam, I. Reza, U. Gazder, R. Akter, M. Arifuzzaman, M.M. Rahman
    Journal: Applied Sciences, 12(22), 11354
    Citations: 28
    Year: 2022

  • Title: Coupling of machine learning and remote sensing for soil salinity mapping in coastal area of Bangladesh
    Authors: S.K. Sarkar, R.R. Rudra, A.R. Sohan, P.C. Das, K.M.M. Ekram, S. Talukdar, …
    Journal: Scientific Reports, 13(1), 17056
    Citations: 24
    Year: 2023

  • Title: A bulk queue model for the evaluation of impact of headway variations and passenger waiting behavior on public transit performance
    Authors: M.K. Islam, U. Vandebona, V.V. Dixit, A. Sharma
    Journal: IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 15(6), 2432-2442
    Citations: 23
    Year: 2014

  • Title: Reliability analysis of public transit systems using stochastic simulation
    Authors: M.K. Islam, U. Vandebona
    Journal: Not specified
    Citations: 21
    Year: 2010

  • Title: Greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial processes and product use sector of Saudi Arabia—An emerging challenge
    Authors: M.M. Rahman, M.S. Rahman, S.R. Chowdhury, A. Elhaj, S.A. Razzak, …
    Journal: Sustainability, 14(12), 7388
    Citations: 20
    Year: 2022

  • Title: A critical, temporal analysis of Saudi Arabia’s initiatives for greenhouse gas emissions reduction in the energy sector
    Authors: M.M. Rahman, M.A. Hasan, M. Shafiullah, M.S. Rahman, M. Arifuzzaman, …
    Journal: Sustainability, 14(19), 12651
    Citations: 19
    Year: 2022

  • Title: Flood hazard mapping using GIS-based statistical model in vulnerable riparian regions of sub-tropical environment
    Authors: A. Ghosh, U. Chatterjee, S.C. Pal, A.R.M. Towfiqul Islam, E. Alam, M.K. Islam
    Journal: Geocarto International, 38(1), 2285355
    Citations: 18
    Year: 2023

H M IMRAN KAYS | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Mr. H M IMRAN KAYS | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Mr. H M IMRAN KAYS, University of Oklahoma, United States

H.M. Imran Kays is a PhD candidate at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. He specializes in transportation engineering, particularly in flood propagation and cascading failures in interdependent transportation and stormwater networks. Imran’s research integrates socio-technical systems and crisis response communities, contributing to transportation resilience. His career includes work as a graduate research assistant at renowned institutions, with a solid background in transportation system modeling. Imran also serves as a major in the Corps of Engineers, Bangladesh Army, bringing a unique blend of academic rigor and practical experience. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous awards, including the 2024 Best Poster Award at the Oklahoma Transportation Symposium and various scholarships and fellowships. His innovative work is highly regarded in his field, influencing both academic research and real-world infrastructure solutions.

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Suitability for the “Research for Best Researcher Award” – H.M. Imran Kays

H.M. Imran Kays, a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, stands out as an exceptional candidate for the “Research for Best Researcher Award” due to his impactful research in transportation engineering, particularly focusing on interdependencies between transportation and stormwater networks, resilience frameworks, and the modeling of cascading failures in critical infrastructure systems. His multidisciplinary approach, blending engineering with risk and resilience studies, has led to several high-quality publications, including journal articles and conference proceedings, which reflect his deep understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of civil engineering and transportation.

Kays’ ongoing work, including his involvement in projects like “Modeling Flood Propagation and Cascading Failures in Interdependent Transportation and Stormwater Networks,” showcases his ability to address pressing global challenges like climate change and infrastructure resilience. His research bridges critical gaps in understanding the vulnerabilities of interconnected systems under stress, making it highly relevant to contemporary issues. Additionally, his impressive list of awards—such as the Best Poster Award at the 2024 Oklahoma Transportation Symposium and several prestigious scholarships—demonstrates recognition of his contributions from the academic community.

🎓 Education 

Imran Kays is currently pursuing his PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, specializing in transportation engineering. He earned his MSc and BSc in Civil Engineering from the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), Bangladesh, where he focused on transportation systems and their resilience. His academic journey includes distinguished research in socio-geographic monitoring, transportation policies, and infrastructure utilization metrics. Imran’s advanced education has been supported by several prestigious scholarships, including the 2024 Donald E Hall Scholarship and the Walt Kolb Civil Engineering Graduate Fellowship. His strong academic foundation underpins his research focus on transportation system modeling, including flood propagation and cascading failures in interdependent systems. The expertise gained during his PhD research is coupled with hands-on experience in major engineering projects, ensuring his work bridges theoretical knowledge with practical solutions in civil engineering.

💼 Professional Experience 

Imran Kays has substantial professional experience, including roles as a Graduate Research Assistant and PhD student at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida International University, and Georgia Southern University. His research primarily focuses on transportation engineering, with key studies on the interdependencies between transportation and stormwater networks. As a graduate research assistant, Imran has contributed to numerous high-impact projects, applying his expertise in flood modeling, traffic management, and crisis response frameworks. In addition to his academic work, Imran serves as a Major in the Corps of Engineers, Bangladesh Army, where he applies his engineering knowledge to real-world infrastructure and crisis management challenges. His professional experience spans a broad spectrum, from hands-on traffic analysis to sophisticated modeling and resilience planning, which has shaped his approach to solving complex engineering problems.

🏅 Awards and Recognition

Imran Kays has received multiple awards and recognitions throughout his academic career. He was honored with the Best Poster Award at the 2024 Oklahoma Transportation Symposium and has been awarded the 2024 Donald E Hall Scholarship and the 2024 Cleo Cross Scholarship. His academic excellence is further acknowledged by the 2024 Walt Kolb Civil Engineering Graduate Fellowship and the 2024 Bullard Dissertation Completion Fellowship. These accolades underscore his outstanding contributions to transportation research. Imran’s dedication to his field has also earned him the 2024 Robberson Travel Grant and the 2023 Gallogly College of Engineering Scholarship, among others. In addition to academic scholarships, Imran has been recognized for his work on the intersection of transportation and stormwater systems, with multiple publications and presentations at prestigious conferences. His achievements reflect his leadership in the field and his commitment to advancing transportation engineering.

🌍 Research Skills On Engineering

Imran Kays is a skilled researcher with a focus on transportation system modeling, resilience frameworks, and socio-technical systems in infrastructure. His expertise lies in analyzing and modeling the interdependencies between transportation and stormwater networks, exploring cascading failures during natural disasters. Imran has developed advanced resilience frameworks for transportation systems, incorporating data-driven approaches to assess infrastructure vulnerability and develop adaptive strategies. His work on integrating socio-geographic monitoring with transportation policies has received significant attention for its potential to shape future urban transportation planning. Additionally, Imran’s research includes flood modeling, crisis response communities, and risk perception analysis in online social networks. He employs a combination of AI, machine learning, and GIS to predict long-term traffic patterns and assess infrastructure resilience under varying conditions. Imran’s research contributes to the practical application of civil engineering in managing disasters and enhancing the resilience of transportation networks.

 📖 Publication Top Notes

  • H-CTM for simulating non-lane-based heterogeneous traffic
    Authors: HMI Kays, TH Shimu, M Hadiuzzaman, SM Muniruzzaman, …
    Citation: Transportation Letters, 11 (7), 382-390
    Year: 2019
  • Identifying crisis response communities in online social networks for compound disasters: the case of hurricane Laura and COVID-19
    Authors: KA Momin, HMI Kays, AM Sadri
    Citation: Transportation Research Record, 03611981231168120
    Year: 2023
  • Centrality-based lane interventions in road networks for improved level of service: the case of downtown Boise, Idaho
    Authors: MA Ahmed, HMI Kays, AM Sadri
    Citation: Applied Network Science, 8 (1), 2
    Year: 2023
  • Exploring the interdependencies between transportation and stormwater networks: The case of Norman, Oklahoma
    Authors: HMI Kays, AM Sadri, KKM Muraleetharan, PS Harvey, GA Miller
    Citation: Transportation Research Record, 2678 (5), 491-513
    Year: 2024
  • Towards Unifying Resilience and Sustainability for Transportation Infrastructure Systems: Conceptual Framework, Critical Indicators, and Research Needs
    Authors: HM Kays, AM Sadri
    Citation: arXiv preprint arXiv:2208.10039
    Year: 2022
  • Translating Social Media Crisis Narratives into Road Network Utilization Metrics: The Case of 2020 Oklahoma Ice Storm
    Authors: HM Kays, KA Momin, MB Thwala, KK Muraleetharan, AM Sadri
    Citation: arXiv preprint arXiv:2212.08616
    Year: 2022
  • Modeling Flood Propagation and Cascading Failures in Interdependent Transportation and Stormwater Networks
    Authors: HMI Kays, AM Sadri, PS Harvey, GA Miller
    Citation: International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, 100741
    Year: 2025
  • Translating Risk Narratives in Socio-Technical Systems into Infrastructure Utilization Metrics During Compounding Hazard Events
    Authors: HMI Kays, KA Momin, KK Muraleetharan, AM Sadri
    Citation: Arif, Translating Risk Narratives in Socio-Technical Systems into …
    Year: 2024
  • A Data-driven Resilience Framework of Directionality Configuration based on Topological Credentials in Road Networks
    Authors: HM Kays, KA Momin, KK Muraleetharan, AM Sadri
    Citation: arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.07371
    Year: 2024
  • A Structural Equation Modeling Approach to Understand User’s Perceptions of Acceptance of Ride-Sharing Services in Dhaka City
    Authors: MMI Sourav, MR Islam, HM Kays, M Hadiuzzaman
    Citation: arXiv preprint arXiv:2210.04086
    Year: 2022