Jacob TsaoView profile
Professor
- Design of Statistical Experiment
- Statistical Quality Control and Reliability Theory
- Operations Research
- +2 more
Jacob Tsao is a Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at San Jose State University's Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering, where he has served since 2001. He currently holds the position of Professor and Graduate Advisor, and previously served as Associate Dean for Extended Studies (2018-2020) and Acting Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department (2022). He also maintains an adjunct professorship at SP Jain Institute of Management and Research in Mumbai, India since 2009. Dr. Tsao earned his Ph.D. in Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Texas, Dallas, and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from National Chiao-Tung University in Taiwan. His educational background established the foundation for his distinguished career spanning academic research, industry applications, and leadership positions. Tsao's research spans several interconnected domains with primary focus on experimental design methodologies, statistical quality control, and transportation systems engineering. His work in factorial experiment design has produced innovative approaches to minimizing test conditions while maintaining statistical validity. In transportation, he has made significant contributions to intelligent transportation systems, particularly in bus rapid transit optimization, automated highway systems, and large vehicle operations. His research bridges theoretical statistical methods with practical engineering applications, often addressing real-world transportation challenges through mathematical modeling and optimization techniques. His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output with recent work focusing on political districting models, advanced experimental design patterns, and efficient transit system configurations. The research shows a clear trajectory from foundational work in entropy optimization and mathematical programming toward increasingly applied transportation and supply chain problems, while maintaining strong methodological rigor in statistical and operations research approaches. The Newnan Brothers Award for Faculty Excellence (2017) Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship (2016) Teacher-Scholar designation (2011-2012) The Applied Materials Award for Excellence in Teaching (2011) Donald Newnan Teaching Excellence Award (2010) The McCoy Family Faculty Award for Excellence in Service (2005) Dr. Tsao has secured over $1.9 million in externally funded research as PI or co-PI, including significant grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the California Department of Transportation. His major projects include the Silicon Valley Innovation and Entrepreneurship Scholarships program ($599,642), NASA's Integrated Approaches for Surface Traffic Optimization ($1M), and multiple Caltrans-funded research initiatives on bus rapid transit systems. He has served as Area Editor for Statistics, Quality and Reliability for Computers and Industrial Engineering journal (2010-2015) and held leadership roles in professional conferences including Program Co-Chair for the International Conference on Computer and Industrial Engineering.










