9/11/2026 Sameer Sanadi
Written by Sameer Sanadi
Illinois Center for Transportation is pleased to welcome two new members to the ICT team — Lama Abufares and Faheem Bhuiya.
Lama Abufares
Abufares joins ICT as a research scientist after previously working as an ICT graduate research assistant beginning in fall 2020.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Birzeit University in Palestine in 2020. She went on to earn her master’s degree in 2022 and doctorate in 2026 in civil engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a focus on transportation infrastructure.
At ICT, Abufares will support the planned Illinois Autonomous and Connected Track (I-ACT) through stakeholder engagement, strategic planning and implementation. Another major part of her role will involve developing technical proposals for agencies and organizations. She will also work closely with graduate students, providing research guidance and helping them succeed in their graduate studies.
“I’m most excited about transitioning from being a student to a staff member at ICT,” Abufares said. “I hope to serve as a trusted link among students, staff and faculty and help strengthen collaboration and efficiency across the center.”
Outside of work, Abufares is a professional Dabkeh dancer and enjoys hiking, sports and picnics. During her time at Illinois, she has also learned to dance the Mexican ballet folklórico and Spanish flamenco. She is passionate about learning about other cultures, particularly through their food, traditional attire and dance, and meeting people from around the world has been one of her favorite parts of living in Illinois.
Faheem Bhuiya
Bhuiya, a program coordinator, will assist ICT’s director, help plan and organize ICT events, including the Illinois Bituminous Paving Conference, and work with the communications team to promote events and support outreach efforts. He is especially looking forward to bringing his organizational, communication and people skills to his new role.
Bhuiya joined Illinois in March 2024 and previously worked for the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree focused on management and service management. He is excited to join ICT and contribute to the center’s work in transportation research.
“What excites me most is the opportunity to be part of a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to transportation engineering,” Bhuiya said. “ICT has established itself as a pioneer in transportation research, not only in Illinois, but also at a global level. I am excited and glad to be part of such an esteemed organization and to contribute to its mission.”
Outside of work, Bhuiya enjoys traveling and exploring new places, as well as trekking, hiking and other outdoor activities. He is an avid soccer fan and enjoys spending time with his family and watching movies. Bhuiya has lived on three different continents and traveled to several countries across each of them, experiences that have helped him appreciate different cultures, foods and perspectives.