AECOM and SMU announce strategic partnership to invest in the future of AI infrastructure

AECOM, the trusted global infrastructure leader, today announced a strategic partnership with SMU, establishing a framework to advance artificial intelligence driven research, workforce readiness, and long‑term talent development in infrastructure engineering. The partnership builds on AECOM’s deep domain expertise and global experience delivering complex infrastructure solutions, alongside SMU’s academic leadership and research excellence.

At the center of the partnership is a doctoral fellowship program within SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering, designed to develop advanced engineering and AI expertise in areas critical to the future of infrastructure delivery. Through sustained collaboration, AECOM and SMU aim to strengthen the connection between academic research, real‑world application, and high‑value careers, reinforcing the role of universities and industry as engines of workforce development and economic growth.

“Building the infrastructure of tomorrow requires more than technology, it requires people with the skills, vision, and leadership to apply it responsibly and at scale,” said Troy Rudd, chairman and chief executive officer at AECOM. “This partnership with SMU reflects our commitment to talent and innovation, translating advanced AI research into practical solutions and meaningful careers that support resilient, future‑ready communities.”

The fellowship program will support PhD and Doctor of Engineering candidates whose research focuses on applying AI to complex infrastructure challenges. Fellows will work closely with SMU faculty and AECOM technical leaders on complex, high‑value engineering challenges with real commercial application, drawing on AECOM’s technical expertise and client experience to link academic discovery directly to industry.

“Preparing the next generation of engineers means closing the gap between academic research and real‑world application,” said Nader Jalili, Mary and Richard Templeton Dean of the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU. "Through this partnership, our doctoral fellows will be co-mentored by SMU faculty and AECOM technical leaders on real commercial applications. This creates a seamless pipeline where our students translate rigorous academic discovery into immediate industry impact, culminating in guaranteed career pathways that deliver lasting societal benefit.”

The partnership will be guided by a joint advisory board comprising representatives from both AECOM and SMU, ensuring alignment between research priorities, academic rigor, and evolving industry demands. The program preserves SMU’s academic independence and commitment to publishable research, enabling knowledge generated through the collaboration to contribute broadly to the advancement of science, engineering, and society.

The partnership was formally announced at the Industry Innovation Summit 2026, hosted by the SMU Lyle Center for Digital and Human‑Augmented Manufacturing. The announcement was led by Lara Poloni, president of AECOM, and Janne Aas‑Jakobsen, head of AI for Engineering at AECOM, alongside Nader Jalili, dean of SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering, Amin Salehi-Khojin, Mechanical Engineering Department Chair and Usama El Shamy, Interim Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.