Minerva Bonilla

Dr. Minerva Bonilla is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M University and a Research Scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). Her research focuses on construction workforce development, women in construction, transportation infrastructure (including alternative intersections and funding allocation), and sustainability metrics. She holds a Ph.D. (2023) and M.S. (2020) in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University, and a B.S. (2018) in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University.

Research Interests: Her work bridges construction education, workforce diversity (Hispanic and women), and transportation infrastructure optimization. She develops strategies for enhancing work zone safety, promoting cultural competency in education, and improving project performance through constructability reviews. Recent efforts include AI-driven platforms for cultural competency and leveraging local resources for urban equity.

Grants & Projects:

• PI: $421,677.50 (2025–2027) – Enhancing Work Zone Safety in Innovative Intersections
• Co-PI: $2 Million (2024–2029) – Aggie Construction Management Apprenticeship Program
• PI: $30,000 (2025) – AI-driven Cultural Competency Education Platform
• Startup Fund: $N/A (2024–2025) – Equity-focused Urban Infrastructure in Texas

Labs & Teams: Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams at TTI on projects like risk assessment for innovative intersections, constructability reviews, and gender equity initiatives in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sectors.