N. Yorke-Smith

N. Yorke-Smith is a Professor in the Algorithmics department at Delft University of Technology's Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. He leads the STAR Lab, which focuses on integrating machine intelligence with human decision-making processes in complex socio-technical systems. His research spans data-driven optimization, agent-based simulation for urban policy analysis, and uncertainty-aware AI algorithms.

Key areas of research include:

• Combinatorial optimization with real-world applications in logistics and energy systems
• Agent-based models for urban housing markets and policy evaluation
• Epistemic uncertainty frameworks for reliable AI decision-making
• Machine learning integration with constraint satisfaction problems

Recent work highlights include developing epistemic Bellman operators for reinforcement learning, evaluating circular economy policies in Amsterdam, and advancing online learning techniques for optimization heuristics. His research has been supported through major grants from AiNed, NWO, and EU Horizon programs.

Advising focuses on complex scheduling problems, AI for urban systems, and optimization under uncertainty. Notable projects include the EU-funded TULIPS initiative for sustainable transport and the Epistemic AI framework development. STAR Lab collaborates with municipalities, industries, and international partners to translate theoretical advances into practical societal impact.