Laith S. Al-Faqih
Department of Civil, Construction and
Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0206, USA
Academic Background
Ph.D. College of Engineering
Major: Environmental Engineering
Minor (1): Water Resources
Minor (2): Management Information Systems (MIS)
M.S.
B.S.
P.O Box 864749
Tuscaloosa, AL 35486
USA
+1-205-886-5211 (Cell)
+1-205-348-5525 (Office)
laithfaqih@gmail.com
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Expected: May 2007
College of Engineering
Major: Environmental Engineering
Title: “Investigation of a new peat based media for
the removal of heavy metals from wastewater”
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Major: Civil Engineering
Project: Construction Management
University of Jordan
Amman, Jordan
1999
2004
Relevant Coursework in PhD and MS
International Urban Water Systems, Homeland Security Implications for America’s Future,
Introduction to MIS, Database Management, Research Seminar on Aging Infrastructure Systems,
Construction Site Erosion, Bahamas Field Stream Restoration, Hydrology, Environmental Modeling,
Open Channel Flow, Statistical Analysis for Environmental Engineers, Experimental Design and Field
Sampling, Hydraulic Time Series, Hazardous and Solid Waste Management, Air Pollution Control
Engineering, Geographic Information System (GIS), Stormwater Management, Waste Containment
Facilities and Subsurface Remediation
Language Skills
English, Arabic, French, Italian, German
School Achievements
 Passed Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam in 2005
 President of the Black Warrior Environmental Association (BWEA). It is a student chapter of
Alabama Water and Environmental Association (AWEA) and Water Environment Federation
(WEF), 2005-present
 President of Alabama Water Resources Association (AWRA) student chapter, 2005-2006
 Vice President of Design for Engineers Without Borders (EWB) student chapter, 2005-2006
 $500 Scholarship from EWB-USA (2006 Conference in Houston, Texas)
 Final Nominee by the Dept for the Graduate Council Fellowship Nominations ($19,000) in 2003 at
The University of Alabama. This fellowship is one of the most highly recognized awards for
students at the university and only one student from each department is nominated based of merit.
 Assistantship from the Aging Infrastructure Systems Center of Excellence (AISCE)
 Assistantship from Vice President of Research at The University of Alabama
Research Experience
 Aging Infrastructure Systems Center of Excellence (AISCE)
University of Alabama
Dr. David Hale
June 2004-Present
Lead Research Assistant at the center. I am currently investigating the common means of
forecasting the effects on performance that occur overtime, and defining mitigation and
sustainability strategies. These projects involve a variety of infrastructure systems including
environmental, roads, bridges, and pipelines. I have been with the AISCE from its inception in
2004 and have helped it to grow to a multi-million dollar interdisciplinary research center.
I have lead teams of faculty, doctoral, masters and undergraduate students whose home
departments include engineering and business.
 Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department
University of Alabama
Dr. Rocky Durrans
January-May, 2005
I was a Research Assistant on “Coupling of PnET-II3SL and SWAT for modeling the combined
effects of forests and agriculture on water availability in integrated analyses of global climatic
change”. I conducted the literature review and studied the biological adaptation for project. I
submitted a report to the research group with recommendations on the future steps. This project
was funded by the National Institute for Global Environmental Change.
 Bahamas Environmental Research Center (BERC)
Andros Island, Bahamas
Dr. Albrey Arrington and Margo Blackwell
May 17-29, 2004
Assessed 10 hydraulic structures/estuaries on Andros Island and submitted a report to the local
municipalities. The structures were facing a serious aging problem, where no maintenance has been
performed on them. The estuaries were facing a serious ecological problem, where parts of the
estuaries were blocked, which affected the flow of water and consequently the eco-system in the
estuary.
 Chemical Engineering Department
Queens University at Belfast, Northern Ireland
Dr. Pauline Johnson and Dr. Stephen Allen
May-July, 2003
Ran the isotherm and kinetic experiments for M.S. project
 Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department
University of Alabama
Dr. Pauline Johnson
January-August, 2002
Team member of the “Innovative Metals Removal Technologies for Urban Stormwater” project. It
was funded by Water and Environmental Research Foundation (WERF).
 Unit of Waste Management
Bauhaus University, Weimar, Germany
Dr. Habil Bidlingmaier
July-September, 1999
I was a training engineer at the Unit. I assisted in lab scale experiments that studied the use of
chicken waste in the degradation of plastics. I worked on a Waste Management project that dealt
in the rehabilitation of an old landfill and designing a new one according to EU standards. I helped
in collecting environmental and water information about Middle East countries to be added to the
data base of Knoten-Weimar.
Research Achievements
 The stream restoration assessment on Andros Island, Bahamas, was presented to the local
municipalities to take action towards restoring these estuaries.
 In 2006, The Bahamian Ministry of Work stopped a road construction project that dams an estuary
by using the report that was submitted to BERC in 2004.
 The Waste Management project (Rehabilitation and Construction of new landfill) that was
developed at Bauhaus University is currently taught as an example project in Project Management
courses of the German association of Project Management and in courses of Bauhaus-University.
Publications
 Al-Faqih, Laith, Robert Pitt, David Hale, Pauline Johnson, 2006, “Decision analysis applications
for the sustainability of global urban water resources and drainage systems”, WEFTEC conference
publication, Dallas, TX.
 Al-Faqih, Laith, Fall 2006, “University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa - Environmental Engineering
Students Take the Lead in the SYPC Campaign to establish WEF Student Chapters Throughout
Alabama”, The WAVE magazine, WEF.
Interests
Decision analysis, Infrastructure systems, Environmental systems, and Water and drainage resources
Presentations
 “Decision analysis applications for the sustainability of global urban water resources and drainage
systems” 2006, WEFTEC, Dallas, TX
October 21-25, 2006
 “Coupling of PnET-II3SL and SWAT for modeling the combined effects of forests and agriculture
on water availability in integrated analysis of global climate change” at 2005 NIGEC Conference,
Oak Ridge, TN.
May 16-17, 2005
 “Heavy Metals Capture From Wastewater Using Pelletted Peat Media” at AWRA conference,
Perdido Beach, AL.
September 9-10, 2004
Work Experience
 Saueressig Jordan
Amman, Jordan
Quality Management Representative
September 2000 – January 2002
The company is a German-Jordanian joint venture. The parent company is located in Vreden,
Germany. I studied, implemented and helped in the knowledge transfer of the requirements of the
parent company to run the facility according to the German Standards. I attended various workshops
on ISO 9001:2000 and 14000 quality and environmental management systems and implemented them
at the facility. The facility in 2002 participated in a highly recognized national award, King
Abdullah II Award for Excellence; and I was appointed as the officer. I implemented the requirements
of the award at the facility, which is based upon Total Quality Management (TQM). I wrote the
documentation and submitted it to the committee.
 Management Systems and Dispute Resolution (MSDR)
Amman, Jordan
Trainee Engineer
March – September 2000
I conducted schedule analysis for delay claims in which the company was involved. I studied the
schedules and correspondences of the different parties and found documents that support the claims
of our clients.
Work Achievements
 Saueressig Jordan won First Place in the award.
 Saueressig Jordan became ISO 9001 and 14000 certified
Teaching Experience
 The University of Alabama, Mechanical Engineering Department. Teacher of Drawing 100 at the
College of Engineering
Fall, 2006
I am teaching around 140 students basic concepts of technical engineering drawing.
 The University of Alabama, Engineering Math Advancement Program (EMAP) for High school
students, Teaching Assistant
June-July, 2006 and 2005
I instructed the environmental engineering laboratory in order to introduce high school students to
environmental engineering. The students were so excited about that experience and they gave very

positive feed back in their evaluations. Many students wanted to major in the program at the
university.
The University of Alabama, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Introduction to
Environmental Engineering Lab. Instructor.
Spring and Fall, 2004
I taught Junior and Senior students at the department basic environmental laboratory concepts and
methods. The feedback about my teaching was positive and it was a good learning experience for
them.
Teaching Achievements
 At the 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) regional conference at The University of
South Florida, Tampa, Florida; I coached a group of students from my lab to participate in the
environmental competition. The students won 3rd place in the environmental competition.
Attended Workshops and Seminars
 Watershed Modeling System (WMS): The Water & Environment Research & Study Centre &
UNESCO Cairo Office, Amman, Jordan. July 2-9, 2002
 Workshop on Resources Management, at Nuqul Group, Amman, Jordan. October 15, 2001
 Environmental Management System (ISO 14000) Awareness Session. In house training, Saueressig
Jordan. Amman, Jordan. September 25, 2001
 Workshop on Process Management, Nuqul Group. Amman, Jordan. September 23, 2001
 Workshop on Strategic Planning, Nuqul Group. Amman, Jordan. August 20,2001
 Workshop on "ISO 9001:2000" Quality Management System and its requirements. In house
training, Saueressig Jordan. Amman, Jordan. August 14, 2001
 Training courses on the production and management systems that are implemented at the mother
company in Germany, to implement them in Jordan. Saueressig, Vreden, Germany. [October 17 December 18, 2000] & [May 27 - June17, 2001]
 Workshop on Negotiation Skills, presented by The Business Communications Unit at The British
Council in Amman, Jordan. June 5-6, 2000
 Course in “Managing & Controlling Projects with Primavera Project Planner for Windows”.
Amman, Jordan. November 27 – December 21, 1999
Special Skills
 Primavera Project Planner
 Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Front Page)
 Minitab
 GIS – Arc Map software
 Various environmental and water software: Environmental Modeling STELLA, Basic knowledge
about WMS (Watershed Modeling System), SLAMM (Source Loading and Management Models),
HELP model (Hydraulic Evaluation of Landfill Performance)
 Oracle SQL*Plus
Professional Associations
 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
 Alabama Water Environmental Association (AWEA)
 Water Environment Federation (WEF)
 Alabama Water Resources Association (AWRA)
 Engineers Without Borders (EWB)
 Jordanian Engineering Society
 Institution of Civil Engineers (Australia)