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Thomas Sloan serves as an Associate Professor in the Operations and Information Systems Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell's Manning School of Business. He coordinates the M.S. Business Analytics program and teaches courses including Global Supply Chain Management and Introduction to Business Analytics. His research bridges operations management with sustainability challenges across multiple industries. Education: Ph.D. in Management Science, University of California Berkeley M.S. in Operations Research, University of California Berkeley B.B.A. in Operations Management, University of Texas at Austin Sloan's research integrates environmental considerations into traditional operations frameworks, with significant contributions to sustainable supply chains, medical device reprocessing, and green equipment maintenance. His work demonstrates consistent focus on balancing economic, environmental, and safety factors across diverse operational contexts. Recent publications examine pandemic-era supply chain disruptions and multi-criteria decision approaches for industrial solvent selection. Scientific Recognition: Teaching Excellence Award (2013) from UMass Lowell Operations and Information Systems Department Exceeding Excellence Teaching Award (2009) from UMass Lowell Student Government Association Sloan actively contributes to educational innovation through technology implementation projects including the UML Echo360 Lecture Program and ForClass Application pilot studies. His professional service spans university committees (NEASC Reaccreditation, Climate Action Plan), department leadership roles, and professional societies including INFORMS, POMS, DSI, and APICS where he serves as faculty advisor for the OIS Club. His research grants focus on enhancing student engagement in supply chain management education through digital tools.

• Operations Management
• Sustainable Operations
• Supply Chain Sustainability
• +5 more

T. Kyle Petersen is Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at DePaul University's College of Science and Health, where he serves as a full-time faculty member specializing in combinatorics research and education. Education history: AB, Washington University in St. Louis PhD, Brandeis University (2006), supervised by Ira Gessel Research focuses on core and specialized areas of combinatorics: Enumerative Combinatorics : Counting methods and sequence analysis Algebraic Combinatorics : Algebraic structures in discrete mathematics Topological Combinatorics : Geometric and topological approaches Recent publications (2019-2021) demonstrate broad engagement with combinatorial theory and applications—including permutation studies (Sós Permutations), probabilistic card shuffling models, geometric puzzle theory, Coxeter group analysis, and inquiry-based learning frameworks. This work consistently bridges theoretical foundations with educational innovation. Beyond research, Dr. Petersen actively contributes to pedagogical advancement through the Academy of Inquiry-Based Learning, promoting student-centered mathematics education.

• Combinatorics
• Enumerative Combinatorics
• Algebraic Combinatorics
• +1 more

Dr. Alberto Marquez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Lamar University, where he has served since 2007 (promoted to Associate Professor in 2013). A licensed Professional Engineer in Texas, he previously held leadership roles including Department Chair at Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico City (2003-2006). His academic journey spans industry-relevant research, innovative teaching, and significant service contributions to engineering education. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering from Arizona State University (1999) M.S. in Management Sciences from Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Estado de Mexico (1990) B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Estado de Mexico (1986) Dr. Marquez's research bridges theoretical operations research with practical industrial applications. He develops advanced simulation and optimization models for port infrastructure management, disaster response logistics, and supply chain resilience. His work increasingly integrates machine learning techniques, as evidenced by recent publications on brand loyalty forecasting using hidden Markov models and Industry 4.0 simulation frameworks. This focus on real-world problem-solving is reflected in his consistent success securing industry-partnered grants. His publication record demonstrates evolving expertise from foundational optimization algorithms (2003-2010) toward contemporary applications in port management and disaster response (2017-2020). Recent work shows particular strength in translating complex analytics into decision-support tools for transportation infrastructure, with multiple studies funded by port authorities. His scientific recognition includes: Educational Transcendence Award from Tecnologico de Monterrey (2018) Lamar University Merit Award (2013) Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars membership Professional Engineer license by Texas Board of Professional Engineers Dr. Marquez actively mentors graduate students, having chaired four doctoral theses and two master's theses with research directly tied to his grant-funded projects. His $191,505 NSF grant for the 'Engineering Economics Jeopardy!' mobile app exemplifies his commitment to educational innovation. Current research focuses on port infrastructure optimization, supported by recent grants totaling $53,842 from Lamar University for Port of Beaumont projects. His Fulbright-CONACYT scholarship (2004-2009) facilitates ongoing international collaboration, particularly with Mexican institutions. He leads research initiatives through direct industry partnerships with port authorities, developing practical decision-support tools for asset management and operational optimization. His work with the Port of Beaumont and Port of Port Arthur demonstrates strong community engagement, translating academic research into tangible infrastructure improvements.

• Operations Research
• Supply Chain Management
• Port and Terminal Management
• +6 more

Dr. Maryam Eghbalizarch serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Kennesaw State University's Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Her institutional affiliations include: Current: Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University Previous: Data Scientist, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Previous: Postdoctoral Fellow, Wayne State University (2022-2024) Previous: Assistant Professor, Alzahra University (2021-2022) Visiting Researcher, University of Pittsburgh (2016-2017) Member, Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) Member, Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM) Member, INFORMS and IISE Her educational background features a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tehran (2018), with M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees from K.N. Toosi University of Technology. As director of the Health Systems Optimization Lab, she leads research at the intersection of advanced modeling techniques and healthcare applications. Dr. Eghbalizarch's work integrates Markov decision processes , multi-objective optimization , and machine learning to solve critical problems in cancer care (ovarian/lung cancer modeling) and diabetes management . Her methodology-driven approach focuses on sequential decision-making under uncertainty to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes through cost-effective interventions. Her recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate strong momentum in oncology modeling and healthcare optimization, with multiple papers in high-impact journals including American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Lung Cancer. These works reveal consistent themes in histology-specific cancer modeling, natural history validation, and diabetes treatment optimization using advanced analytics. Key recognitions include: Institute for Data Science in Oncology Fellowship at MDACC Consecutive Postdoctoral Trainee Research Awards (Wayne State, 2023-2024) National Elites Foundation Award (Iran) International Affairs Department Research Grant Dr. Eghbalizarch maintains active grant funding through CISNET and currently recruits fully funded graduate students for Fall 2026. Her mentorship approach emphasizes hands-on research experience in healthcare analytics, with students contributing to high-impact projects in cancer screening optimization and diabetes management systems. The HSOpt Lab provides a collaborative environment focused on translating engineering methodologies into practical healthcare solutions, with strong connections to cancer research networks and clinical partners. Current projects emphasize data-driven decision support systems for medical practitioners and health policy makers.

• Health Systems Optimization
• Medical Decision Making
• Cancer Care
• +6 more

Dr. Robert S. Keyser is a Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering Technology at Kennesaw State University's College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. With expertise spanning industrial engineering, lean manufacturing, and human factors, Dr. Keyser applies engineering principles to diverse fields including healthcare systems, manufacturing, and higher education. His interdisciplinary approach bridges traditional engineering with practical applications in real-world settings. Dr. Keyser's educational background includes: PhD in Industrial Engineering (Manufacturing Systems concentration) from the University of Tennessee (2008) MS in Statistics from the University of Tennessee (2005) MBA in Management from East Tennessee State University (1992) BS in Statistics from the University of Tennessee (1988) His research interests focus on applying industrial engineering tools such as Lean manufacturing, work measurement, human factors, and reliability analysis across multiple sectors. Dr. Keyser has developed particular expertise in healthcare systems engineering, where he applies process improvement methodologies to address challenges in blood donation, fluoride varnish application, and pandemic response in educational settings. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues from health sciences, statistics, and computer science. Dr. Keyser's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on healthcare applications, blood donation systems, and pandemic response in higher education. His research shows a consistent pattern of applying industrial engineering principles to solve complex problems in diverse settings, with increasing emphasis on technology integration and data-driven decision making. The breadth of his work spans traditional manufacturing contexts to innovative applications in healthcare and education. Dr. Keyser has received significant research funding including: NIH R15 grant ($426,490) for removing barriers to fluoride varnish application in primary care Virtual Reality Blood Donor Experience grant ($5,000) ALG Textbook Transformation grant ($16,200) for creating no-cost work measurement textbooks Georgia Affordable Learning Grant ($11,800) for developing no-cost learning materials As an educator, Dr. Keyser teaches a wide range of courses including Work Measurement and Ergonomics, Operations Research, Systems Simulation, and Human Factors Engineering. He has developed several OER (Open Educational Resource) textbooks to reduce costs for students. His teaching philosophy emphasizes practical application of engineering principles to real-world problems, often incorporating case studies from his research projects. Dr. Keyser is an active member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and collaborates extensively with colleagues both within Kennesaw State University and at other institutions, particularly on healthcare-related engineering projects.

• Industrial Engineering
• Lean Manufacturing
• Work Measurement
• +5 more