Fernanda Leite has entered elite company among faculty members at The University of Texas at Austin.
Leite, interim vice president for research and Joe J. King Professor in the Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, has been selected to receive the 2026 Peurifoy Construction Research Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). She is only the third faculty member from UT to receive this prestigious award.
The award, considered akin to a lifetime achievement honor in construction engineering research, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing the field through research and development of new technology, principles or practices. The award will be presented during ASCE’s CI & CRC Joint Conference in San Antonio later this month.
An internationally recognized expert in Building Information Modeling (BIM), construction engineering and resilient systems engineering, Leite’s research explores the integration of 3D modeling and artificial intelligence to create sustainable and adaptable infrastructure. Her research has not only advanced theoretical understanding but also delivered practical tools and data resources widely adopted by both academia and industry.
“Fernanda’s impact on the construction industry and the Cockrell School has been transformative,” said Roger Bonnecaze, dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering. “I’m happy to see her receive this very well-deserved recognition. As interim vice president for research, she continues to lead by example and inspire those around her.”
Leite’s scholarly contributions are extensive, including over 200 peer-reviewed publications, a sole-authored book published in 2019 — now regarded as a definitive reference on BIM for design coordination — and several edited volumes of the ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering proceedings. Her editorial service as associate editor of the journal Automation in Construction and her prior work with the ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering have further established her as a thought leader ensuring rigorous scholarship and knowledge dissemination in the field. She also is past chair of the ASCE Computing Division Executive Committee.
“Over the course of her distinguished career, she has established herself as a pioneering leader at the intersection of construction project management and computing, with transformative contributions that have shaped research, education, and professional practice worldwide,” said Burcu Akinci, dean of the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, who wrote a recommendation letter for Leite’s nomination.
Leite joined the Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering as a faculty member in 2010 and was appointed associate dean for research of the Cockrell School of Engineering in 2023. She has served as interim vice president for research since August 2025.
As associate dean for research at Cockrell, Leite helped launch major interdisciplinary initiatives in semiconductors, quantum science, robotics and AI. She has also led cross-campus efforts, including the Planet Texas 2050 grand challenge, which addresses critical issues related to urban resilience.
Her impact extends through extensive mentorship: She has graduated 17 doctoral students and 49 master’s degree students, many of whom now hold prominent academic and industry positions worldwide.
“I’m grateful for this recognition from ASCE,” Leite said. “It reflects the creativity and dedication of the many students and collaborators who have contributed to this work and who share a commitment to advancing the construction industry.”
