Michael C. Ferris

Michael C. Ferris is the John P. Morgridge Chair and Jacques-Louis Lions Professor of Computer Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with courtesy appointments in Mathematics and Industrial & Systems Engineering. He serves as Director of Hub Central, Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery.

• PhD in Mathematics from University of Cambridge (1989)
• Research focuses on optimization algorithms, mathematical programming, and applications spanning energy systems, transportation, environmental engineering, and biomedical domains

His scholarly work includes 15+ recent publications on topics such as:

• Stochastic optimization for energy markets
• Complementarity problems in ecological systems
• Power flow formulations with sparse matrices
• Decision support tools for Great Lakes restoration
• Game-theoretic models of hydro-thermal electricity systems
• On-chip network optimization

As a SIAM and INFORMS Fellow, he has received prestigious honors including the Beale-Orchard-Hays Prize, NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, and Guggenheim Fellowship. His methodological contributions include software tools like PATH, NLPEC, and EMP for large-scale optimization problems, with applications ranging from cancer treatment planning to smart grid development.