January 29, 2026
By Mackenzie Rosenau
English ’26
Abdul Musaddiq Syed’s Trine University degree and the skills it provided propelled
him to an extremely successful career.
Syed graduated with his master’s degree in engineering management in 2023 after studying at the university’s Detroit Education Center.
He currently works as a project engineer on lead service line replacement projects at Pan-Oceanic Engineering Co. in Chicago. His responsibilities include coordinating multiple crews, assisting the site superintendent, managing detailed project documentation, ensuring city and safety compliance and delivering projects on time.
His typical day at work involves visiting project sites, coordinating multiple teams, attending progress meetings, reviewing designs and as-built sketches and solving complex on-site challenges.
“I constantly ensure that projects meet both technical and safety standards while running efficiently,” he said.
Syed secured his current position at Pan-Oceanic Engineering Co. by leveraging his Trine education and professional networking, and through having specialized skills in engineering project management.
“My experience and knowledge helped me stand out for complex projects in Chicago,” Syed said.
He truly enjoys the work he does because it allows him to have an impact on the community in a tangible way through improving infrastructure and public safety.
Syed said, “I like solving challenging problems, optimizing workflows and seeing teams successfully execute complex engineering tasks.”
Syed said the real-life, hands-on examples he learned through his classes helped him to become a good leader and manager when it comes to complex projects.
He said, “I’m deeply grateful for my time at Trine University. The program gave me both the knowledge and confidence to lead high-impact projects and make meaningful contributions in the engineering field. The skills I gained continue to distinguish me as a specialized professional in my industry.”
In the future, Syed hopes to continue advancing as a leader in project and construction management, along with taking on more complex projects, and contributing to innovative infrastructure solutions. He also hopes to further his education through pursuing a Ph.D. in Project Management.
Trine University has received a grant from the Indiana Space Grant Consortium (INSGC) to support students conducting advanced aerospace composite research.
Avelyn McCall came to Trine University expecting to be a Pre-PA student who just took a few ecology and biology general education courses. That carefully curated plan went out the window when she got invested in environmental science.
Jennifer Jeffra wanted to expand her horizons after serving in law enforcement for more than 20 years.