Joel Sokol

Joel Sokol is the Harold E. Smalley Professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech. He serves as Director of the interdisciplinary Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree, offered both on-campus and online. His academic journey began with a Ph.D. in Operations Research from MIT (1999), followed by bachelor's degrees in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Applied Sciences in Engineering from Rutgers University (1994).

• Education
  • Ph.D. in Operations Research (MIT, 1999)
  • B.S./B.A. in Mathematics, Computer Science, Applied Sciences in Engineering (Rutgers, 1994)

Dr. Sokol's research focuses on Sports Analytics, Health Informatics, and Supply Chain Optimization. He pioneered the LRMC (Logistic Regression/Markov Chain) method for NCAA basketball tournament predictions, which has become an industry standard. His work extends to organ transplantation logistics, maritime shipping networks, and semiconductor manufacturing optimization, blending machine learning with traditional operations research techniques.

The articles reflect his interdisciplinary expertise: 2025 introduced a Smart Stadium Testbed for real-time sports analytics, while 2024 addressed Language Model Safety. Earlier publications (2023–2018) focused on transplant survival modeling, vaccine scheduling, and maritime logistics, showcasing his ability to apply analytics to diverse domains.

• Scientific Awards
  • EURO Management Science Strategic Innovation Prize (2008)
  • Cozzarelli Prize finalist (non-sports research)
  • Georgia Tech's highest teaching awards (multiple years)
  • INFORMS and IISE recognitions for curriculum development

As a leader in analytics education, Sokol co-founded the INFORMS Sports Operations Research section and served as INFORMS Vice President of Education. His work has practical applications in professional sports, healthcare, and industry, with methodologies adopted by teams, medical institutions, and global logistics networks.