Education

Academic Degrees

• MSc, Civil Engineering – Transportation , Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
• BSc, Civil Engineering – Transportation, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan

Employment History

• University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, US (Graduate Research Assistant/ Graduate Teaching Assistant, January 2023 – Present)
• TrafQuest, Dubai, UAE (Senior Transportation Engineer, January 2019 – January 2023)
• TrafQuest, Dubai, UAE (Transportation Engineer, June 2013 – January 2019)
• Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan (Teaching Assistant, January 2012 – June 2012)
• Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan (Research Assistant, September 2011 – February 2013)

Area of Research and Professional Interest

• Adaptive and consensus-aware AV control policy design using multi-objective and reinforcement learning frameworks
• Behavioral heterogeneity modeling
• Behavioral trade-off analysis across traffic contexts and automation levels
• Big data and smart data integration for traffic safety analysis
• Machine learning for demand forecasting and safety modeling

Teaching Experience

• CIVE 202 - Civil Engineering Analysis II – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• CIVE 361 - Principles of Transportation Engineering – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Surveying Laboratory – Jordan University of Science and Technology 
• Engineering Statics – Jordan University of Science and Technology
• Machine learning for demand forecasting and safety modeling

Publications

• Elayan, M. and Kontar, W. (2026) “Can Automated Vehicles Have It All? A Consensus Framework for Diagnosing Behavioral Trade-offs in Mixed Traffic.” Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, Vol. 190.
• Elayan, M., Karki, S. and Hawkins, J. (2025) “Better Safety Analyses through Smarter Data: Adding Open-Street-View and Traffic Calibrated-LBS Data to Pedestrian Crash Analysis in Lincoln, NE.” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 2680 (7)
• Elayan, M., Aldridge, N., Hawkins, J., & Nam, Y. (2025). “Integrating StreetLight, EPS Smart Location Data and Road Attributes: A Random Forest Approach to Multi-Modal Traffic Calibration in Lincoln, Nebraska.” Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems, Vol. 151 (8). 
• Nam, Y., Hawkins, J., Butler, D., Aldridge, N., Elayan, M. & Yoo, J. (2024) “Modeling Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crash Exposure with Location-Based Service Data.” Nebraska Department of Transportation, Technical Report No. SPR-FY23(025).
• Al-Khateeb, G., Al-Suleiman, T., Khedaywi, T. and Elayan, M. (2016). “Studying Rutting Performance of Superpave Mixtures Using Unconfined Dynamic Creep and Simple Performance Tests.” Road Materials and Pavement Design, Vol. 19 (2).
• Alsheyab, M., Khedaywi, T., and Elayan, M. (2013). “Laboratory Study on Solidification/Stabilization of Unwanted Medications Using Asphalt as a Binder.” Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, Vol. 15 (2).
• Al-Suleiman, T. and Elayan, M. (2013). “Gap Acceptance Behavior at U-turn Median Openings – Case Study in Jordan.” Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 7 (3).

Presentations:

• Elayan, M., & Kontar, W. (2026). “Behavioral Heterogeneity as Quantum-Inspired Representation." Accepted for Presentation at the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), Naples, Italy.
• Elayan, M., & Kontar, W. (2026). “Learning the Pareto Space of Multi-Objective Autonomous Driving: A Modular, Data-Driven Approach.” Presented at the IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV), Detroit, MI, United States.
• Elayan, M., & Kontar, W. (2026). “A Unified Framework for Consensus-Aware AV Behavior: Trade-offs Across Traffic Contexts.” Presented at the TRB 105th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
• Armantalab, O., Elayan, M., & Hawkins, J. (2026). “Clustering of Daily Human Activities: Patterns and Socio-Demographic Insights.” Presented at the TRB 105th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
• Elayan, M., & Kontar, W. (2025). “Consensus-Aware AV Behavior: Trade-offs Between Safety, Interaction, and Performance in Mixed Urban Traffic.” Presented at the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), Gold Coast, Australia.
• Elayan, M., Karki, S., & Hawkins, J. (2025). “Better Safety Analyses through Smarter Data: Adding Open-Street-View and Traffic Calibrated-LBS Data to Pedestrian Crash Analysis in Lincoln, NE.” Presented at the TRB 104th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.