ALEJANDRO HENAO
Summary
Dynamic Research Scientist with a proven track record at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, driving over $1.1 million in funding through strategic proposal writing and business development. Expert in data analysis and client communication, I excel in mentoring teams and delivering impactful insights on mobility strategy and electrification initiatives.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Scientist
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Golden, CO
01.2018 - Current
- Develop, pitch and lead new business opportunities that generated at least $1.1 Million in new funding for NREL portion of a $8.5 Million in total funding from a mix of collaborations with federal (mostly from the Department of Energy), public agencies, private-sector partners, research labs and academic institutions.
- Led strategic initiatives by developing and writing proposals, engaging external partners to build multi-institution teams, and performing research in on-demand mobility, curb management, and electrification to help cities, transit agencies, and airports adopt data-driven mobility solutions.
- Communicate insights through client-focused storytelling, presentations, and written proposals; presenting regularly at national conferences such as the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).
- Mentor and coach interns and early-career researchers to deliver high-quality, client-ready research products.
Deputy Director
Mobility Choice
Denver, CO
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Advised regional leadership on mobility strategy, technology adoption, and investment priorities.
- Engaged public- and private-sector stakeholders to guide regional planning discussions and build alignment around mobility goals.
Postdoctoral Researcher
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Golden, CO
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Supported proposal development, co-authored publications, and delivered presentations to national and international audiences on emerging transportation technologies.
Research Assistant & Adjunct Lecturer
University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO
01.2013 - 01.2017
- Secured $250,000+ in research funding and co-authored peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
- Led an ethnographic ride-hailing study by driving for Uber and Lyft, gaining firsthand customer and market insight relevant to on-demand mobility operations.
- Taught transportation engineering courses and mentored graduate students.
- Department of Civil Engineering
Independent Driver / Research Practitioner
Uber & Lyft
Denver, CO
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Conducted field-based research on rider behavior, service patterns, and travel decisions using direct operational experience as a driver.
Bridge Engineer
Contech Construction Products
Denver, CO
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Provided technical consulting to public agencies and private-sector clients; delivered engineering recommendations and solutions to meet project needs.
Education
Ph.D. - Civil Engineering
University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO01.2017
M.S. - Civil Engineering
University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO01.2013
B.S. - Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO01.2006
Skills
- business development
- data analysis
- research design
- proposal writing
- client communication
- mobility strategy
Selected Presentations
- On-Demand Transit provides opportunities for clean mobility and energy for cities., Henao, A., 06/01/25, ASCE
- Ground transportation at airports: Ride-hailing uptake and travel shifts to test mode choice modeling assumptions., Henao, A., 01/01/20, TRB 99th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC
- How is ride-hailing affecting mobility and energy use?, Henao, A., 01/01/19, TRB 98th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC
- Impacts of ride-hailing on VMT, parking, and travel behavior., Henao, A., 10/01/18, 3Revolutions Research Workshop, Davis, CA
- Futuro de la movilidad., Henao, A., 06/01/18, Webinar to the United Nations & Move Latin America, Spanish
- The demand for the curb and optimal allocation: Data, technology, research, and experimentation., Henao, A., 06/01/22, SETT Conference, TRB, Irvine, CA
- Turning curb data into curb policy via a bid-rent framework., Henao, A., 01/01/22, TRB 101st Annual Meeting, Washington, DC
Websites
Selected Media Coverage
- What’s the right number of taxis (or Uber or Lyft cars) in a city?, The New York Times, The Upshot, 08/01/18, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/upshot/uber-lyft-taxi-ideal-number-per-city.html
- How cities are reducing auto dependence by investing in sustainable transportation infrastructure., London School of Economics (LSE) United States Politics and Policy (USAPP), 06/01/15, http://bit.ly/1FqHphA
Selected Publications
- Powell B, Acharya S, Zakaria R, Grahn R, Henao A, Young S., Mobility Energy Productivity Evaluation of On-Demand Transit: A Case Study in Arlington, Texas., Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2024, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03611981241234901, 10.1177/03611981241234901
- Butrina, P, Le Vine, S., Henao, A., Sperling, J., & Young S., Municipal Adaptation to Changing Curbside Demands: Exploratory Findings from Semi-Structured Interviews with Ten U.S. Cities., Transportation Policy, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2020.03.005
- Henao, A., & Marshall, W. E., The impact of ride-hailing on vehicle miles traveled., Transportation, 46, 2173–2194, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-018-9923-2
Awards And Service Engagements
- TRB Executive Committee. William W. Millar Award for the best paper in the area of public transportation, 2025
- Board Member, Mobility for All non-profit organization, Bainbridge Island, WA, 2019 - Present
- President and Founder, Good Play America Foundation, USA - Colombia, 2022 - Present
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Graduate Fellowship, USDOT, 2014 - 2017
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Accomplishments
TRB Executive Committee. William W. Millar Award for the best paper in the area of public transportation (2025)
Affiliations
Board Member, Mobility for All non-profit organization, Bainbridge Island, WA (2019 – Present).
Timeline
Research Scientist
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
01.2018 - Current
Deputy Director
Mobility Choice
01.2018 - 01.2019
Postdoctoral Researcher
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
01.2017 - 01.2018
Independent Driver / Research Practitioner
Uber & Lyft
01.2014 - 01.2016
Research Assistant & Adjunct Lecturer
University of Colorado Denver
01.2013 - 01.2017
Bridge Engineer
Contech Construction Products
01.2007 - 01.2010
Ph.D. - Civil Engineering
University of Colorado Denver
M.S. - Civil Engineering
University of Colorado Denver
B.S. - Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
University of Colorado Boulder