Shrikant Fulari, a doctoral student in civil engineering, has been named an ITE Young Leader to Follow for 2026 and the ITE Council Leadership Team Young Member of the Year. (Courtesy Fulari)
Shrikant Fulari has always been fascinated by the way cities move: how roads, buses and trains connect people to jobs, services and each other. That passion for understanding urban life has taken him from early curiosity to national recognition.
Fulari, a doctoral candidate in civil and environmental engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and a student at Florida State University, has been honored as the ITE Council Leadership Team Young Member of the Year and named one of the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ 21 Young Leaders to Follow for 2026. The awards celebrate his vision, leadership and commitment to driving change in transportation.
“This is an extraordinary achievement,” said Eren Ozguven, professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “Shrikant has been enrolled in our doctoral program for four years as a part-time student. He is an outstanding researcher and practitioner, and I have no doubt he will continue to excel in the future.”
Balancing Career and School
Fulari is a senior associate with Cambridge Systematics Inc., where he works full-time, specializing in transportation data analysis and traffic operations. Part of his job involves helping agencies make informed decisions that advance mobility, safety and resilience.
He is a part-time doctoral candidate at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, balancing his studies with his professional career.
“Balancing a full-time career and a demanding doctoral program requires discipline, curiosity and strong time management,” Fulari said. “The real-world transportation challenges I face in my career continually inspire my academic research. In many ways, these experiences complement and strengthen each other.”
Research on Disaster Response and Mobility
Fulari pursues his doctoral research in the joint college’s transportation research program and the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response Center, known as RIDER, where he works under the mentorship of Ozguven, a leader in disaster response and resilient infrastructure.
His work centers on understanding human mobility and transportation system behavior, particularly during hurricanes and other disruptive events, with the goal of developing data-driven strategies that enhance public safety and resource accessibility.
He thrives on tackling big questions. “I work with data to identify travel patterns and understand how communities respond during and after these events,” Fulari said. “We seek to answer questions like: How can people evacuate safely? Can residents access essential services such as hospitals? By analyzing data, we aim to inform agencies and communities, leading to improved evacuation planning, effective resource allocation and better overall decision-making before, during and after disasters.”
Early Inspiration
Growing up in India, Fulari was captivated by the intricate choreography of urban life: the way people, vehicles and infrastructure come together to create opportunity. That fascination propelled him across continents to the United States to pursue advanced studies.
“Over time, I realized that transportation engineering uniquely blends problem-solving, technology and public service to directly impact people’s lives. That’s what drew me to this field,” he said.
Fulari credits his family as a source of support and inspiration. “They encouraged me to pursue higher education, lead with passion, work hard and always find ways to give back to the community. Those values are deeply rooted in who I am today and continue to shape both my personal and professional life,” he said.
Fulari’s curiosity and drive for discovery set him apart from his peers. “I enjoy asking questions, exploring new ideas and finding better ways to solve complex problems. That curiosity motivates me to keep learning and contribute meaningfully through my research and service to the profession,” he said.
Outside of work and research, Fulari is an avid sports fan who enjoys playing and watching cricket and soccer. He also loves exploring new places and capturing local culture and cuisine through photography. “And I’ve learned one thing over the years: never say no to a good sandwich,” he said with a smile.
Giving Back
The ITE Young Leaders to Follow program recognizes outstanding members under 35 who have already made significant impacts within ITE and the transportation industry, identifying them as leaders to watch in the years ahead.
For Fulari, the recognition is humbling. “ITE has provided opportunities, friendships and the chance to give back. I’m grateful to those who have supported and inspired me along the way.”
Fulari actively mentors students and young professionals, contributing to the profession at both local and international levels through ITE.
“ITE has helped me grow as an engineer, leader and individual,” Fulari said. “Being recognized through these awards is an honor and I’m grateful for the mentors, peers and friends who have supported me on this journey.”
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