Senay Solak

Senay Solak is the John F. Smith Memorial Professor and Department Chair of Operations & Information Management at the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst. She holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and prior degrees from the United States Naval Academy and Georgia Tech. Her research focuses on sustainable operations, nonprofit operations (including healthcare), and aviation operations, with notable contributions to information-sharing strategies, drone delivery systems, and air traffic optimization.

• Education:
• PhD Industrial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
• MS Industrial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
• BS Electrical Engineering, United States Naval Academy

Her work bridges theoretical operations research with practical applications in public policy, healthcare, and aviation. Recent research explores optimal policies for social welfare programs, cybersecurity investment portfolios, and surgical team management in robotic surgery.

• Awards:
• Best Publication Award in Environment & Sustainability (INFORMS, 2017)
• Outstanding Paper Award in Air Transportation (INFORMS, 2016)
• Research Excellence Award (Isenberg School, 2015)

Dr. Solak’s advisory and grant activities include collaborative projects on foreclosed housing acquisition strategies and climate change policy analysis. Her research emphasizes interdisciplinary solutions to societal challenges, leveraging stochastic models and optimization frameworks.