Jean-Philippe Richard

Jean-Philippe (JP) Richard is Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and concurrently serves as Director of Faculty and Academic Affairs for the department. From 2018 onward he has held these roles, having previously been Professor (and PhD coordinator) at the University of Florida (2008-2018) and Assistant/Associate Professor at Purdue University (2002-2008).

Education

• Ph.D. in Algorithms, Combinatorics, and Optimization, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2002
• Bachelor of Engineering in Applied Mathematics, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1998

Research Interests

Dr. Richard works at the intersection of theory and computation for mixed-integer linear and nonlinear optimization. His methodological focus spans convexification techniques, polyhedral approaches, lifting and cutting-plane methods, and global optimization algorithms. He translates these advances into impactful applications in data analytics, healthcare (radiation therapy & surgery scheduling), railroad logistics, and infrastructure protection.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• University of Florida Term Professorship (2017–2019)
• IIE Transactions Best Application Paper Award (2008)
• NSF CAREER Award (2004)
• Sigma Xi Best Ph.D. Thesis Award, Georgia Tech (2003)
• Russell J. Penrose ISyE Excellence in Teaching Award (2023)

Grants & Funding Leadership

Richard has been PI or co-PI on more than ten NSF awards totaling over $2 million, including recent grants on network interdiction, complementarity constraints, and opioid-policy analytics. Industry partnerships with Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation have funded applied projects exceeding $150,000.

Student Mentorship & Lab Culture

He has (co-)advised 19 PhD dissertations and numerous Master’s and undergraduate researchers. Current advisees include Bouchra Er-Rabbany and Chengwenjian Wang; recent graduates hold positions at Google, ExxonMobil, Bayer, and leading universities worldwide. His group emphasizes rigorous theory coupled with real-world impact.