Vittorio Solina is a Researcher at the Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering (DIMEG) of the University of Calabria, specializing in industrial systems simulation and digital twin technologies. His work spans Industry 4.0/5.0 applications, supply chain optimization, and human-robot collaboration. Affiliation: University of Calabria Academic Role: Researcher (Legge 240/10) Research Focus: Digital twins, simulation modeling, sustainable manufacturing His research emphasizes advanced simulation tools for decision support, including applications in Industry 4.0 , Smart Manufacturing , and Agri-Food Supply Chains . Recent work explores adaptive simulation optimization for Industry 5.0 and 5G-enabled robotics. Key publication trends include: (1) Digital twin integration for supply chain resilience (2024-2025), (2) Simulation automation methodologies (2025), and (3) Human-robot collaboration frameworks (2024).
Dr. Balaraman Ravindran is a Professor and Head of the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) at IIT Madras. He also leads the Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI) and the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI). His research focuses on reinforcement learning, geometric deep learning, and ethical AI deployment. Education includes a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2004) and MSc from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1996). He holds prestigious fellowships from AAAI and INAE, and is an ACM Distinguished Member. Key contributions include work on class imbalance learning (e.g., TODUS algorithm) and applications in healthcare, transportation, and social networks. He has advised over 20 students and secured grants from Google, TCS Research, and others. Labs/Teams: Heads RBCDSAI and CeRAI, collaborates with TCS Research and Google.
Ronald C. Lasky is a Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth College's Thayer School of Engineering and a Senior Technologist at the Indium Corporation. His academic roles include teaching courses such as ENGM 187: Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship and ENGS 155: Intermediate Thermodynamics . Dr. Lasky holds a BS in Engineering Physics from Cornell University (1970), an MS in Applied Mathematics from Binghamton University (1974), and a PhD in Materials Science from Cornell University (1986). His research focuses on process optimization, electronic assembly, materials science, and environmental compliance. Notable contributions include work on lead-free solder assembly and Lean Six Sigma methodologies. He received the Member of Technical Distinction Award from the SMTA in 2021. Dr. Lasky actively engages with industry, exemplified by his collaboration with Galanz in China, exploring modern manufacturing practices and infrastructure. His insights on global supply chains and technological advancements highlight his dual academic and professional expertise.
Cheryl Gaimon holds the Esther and Edward J. Brown Chair and serves as a Regents' Professor at the Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology. She is Faculty Director of the Management of Technology (MoT) Certificate Program, which she helped establish, and teaches across all academic levels including executive education. Professor Gaimon initiated the Operations Management Program and served as its first Area Coordinator for seven years. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon University M.S. in Industrial Administration (Operations Management) from Carnegie Mellon University B.S. in Mathematics and Economics (Magna Cum Laude) from Brooklyn College, City University of New York Professor Gaimon's research centers on managing knowledge-based resources in technology-driven environments. Her work spans Innovation and Management of Technology , Knowledge Management and Outsourcing , New Product/Process Development , Alliances for Innovation , and Sustainability Research . She examines how firms navigate technological change through strategic resource allocation, knowledge transfer, and sustainable operations, with increasing emphasis on environmental strategies in recent years. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on operations management within technological evolution—from foundational work on technology acquisition and capacity planning to contemporary studies on environmental strategies and multidisciplinary technology management. Key journals featuring her research include Management Science , Operations Research , and Production and Operations Management . Major recognitions include: Regents' Professor designation (2005) by the Georgia Board of Regents The 1999 Georgia Tech Research Award for doctoral student development Brady Family Award for Faculty Research Excellence (2014) Best Department Editor Award for POM (2024) POMS Fellow status and Distinguished Service Award (2009/2014) As an educator, she has mentored doctoral students and shaped curriculum through the MoT program. Her professional leadership includes serving as POMS President (2008-2009), founding co-President of the POMS College on Product Innovation and Technology Management, and editorial roles at top journals including Management Science and Production and Operations Management . Professor Gaimon directs the interdisciplinary Management of Technology Certificate Program, fostering cross-departmental collaboration for technology management research and education while advancing sustainability integration in operations.
David B. Shmoys is the Laibe/Acheson Professor of Business Management & Leadership Studies at Cornell University's School of Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE) and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Computer Science. He is a leading researcher in approximation algorithms, stochastic optimization, and computational sustainability. His work emphasizes data-driven decision-making in enterprise and society, with applications ranging from healthcare logistics to environmental conservation. Shmoys has advised 27 Ph.D. students and served as an editorial board member for top journals like Operations Research and Mathematics of Operations Research. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley (1984). Postdoctoral positions at MSRI and Harvard University, followed by faculty roles at MIT before joining Cornell. Research Interests: Design and analysis of approximation algorithms for NP-hard problems, stochastic optimization, scheduling, facility location, and inventory management. Applications include computational sustainability, epidemiological modeling, and political districting optimization. Articles Trends: Focus on optimization under uncertainty, computational sustainability, and real-world applications like air ambulance routing, bike-sharing systems, and gerrymandering analysis. Notable works include the 2018 Wagner Prize-winning paper on bike-sharing analytics and the 2013 Lanchester Prize-winning textbook on approximation algorithms. Awards: Lanchester Prize (2013), Daniel H. Wagner Prize (2018), Fellowships from ACM, INFORMS, and SIAM, NSF Presidential Young Investigator (1987). Advising & Grants: Over 27 advised Ph.D. students, with former students at MIT, Waterloo, Brown, and D-Wave. Active in grants related to data science and sustainability. Labs/Teams: Involved in the Institute of Computational Sustainability at Cornell, focusing on applying algorithms to environmental challenges. Collaborates with organizations like Motivate (bike-sharing) and Ornge (air ambulance services).
Dr. Hassan Qudrat-Ullah is a Professor at the School of Administrative Studies, York University, and Coordinator of the Certificate in Logistics Management. He holds a PhD in Decision Sciences from NUS Business School and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on dynamic decision making, system dynamics modeling, energy planning, and interactive learning environments. He teaches courses on quantitative methods, logistics, and decision analysis, informed by global industry experience across 20+ countries. Research interests include sustainability, climate change, systems thinking, and educational applications of decision sciences. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Complexity in Applied Science and Technology and is a member of IEEE, DSI, and the International System Dynamics Society. His work has been published in Energy , Decision Support Systems , and others. Key projects include studies on 'structured-debriefing in dynamic decision making' and renewable energy policies in Africa. His recent articles (2023–2025) address AI integration in energy governance, system dynamics for supply chain resilience, and education for sustainability. Hassan advocates for systems thinking in K-12 education and enjoys traveling (visited 129 countries) and bird-watching.
Dr. Amin Keramati is an Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at Widener University’s School of Business Administration. He holds a PhD in Transportation & Logistics from North Dakota State University and previously served as a graduate research assistant at the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. His work includes federally funded projects like the Mountain-Plains Consortium’s MPC-550 project, focusing on highway-rail grade crossing safety. Dr. Keramati teaches courses in enterprise resource planning, decision analytics, database management, transportation/logistics, project management, and data analytics. Education: PhD in Transportation & Logistics, North Dakota State University Graduate Research Assistant at Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute Research Focus: Dr. Keramati develops mathematical, statistical, and machine learning approaches to solve complex problems in transportation, supply chain, and logistics. Key areas include data mining, big data decision support, transportation network analytics, project scheduling, smart manufacturing, and accident analysis. His interdisciplinary work bridges supply chain optimization with emerging technologies like blockchain for healthcare and clinical trials. Awards & Recognition: Student Paper Award, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (2017) Grants & Projects: Lead researcher on the Mountain-Plains Consortium’s MPC-550 project, which expanded his dissertation work on safety systems for highway-rail crossings. Collaborates on federally funded transportation safety initiatives and supply chain optimization for bioethanol and pharmaceutical industries. Labs/Teams: Active in Widener’s School of Business research groups focusing on supply chain innovation and interdisciplinary projects combining logistics with emerging technologies.
Moustapha Diaby is an Associate Professor of Production and Operations Management at the University of Connecticut. He received his PhD in Management Science/Operations Research, MS in Industrial Engineering, and BS in Chemical Engineering from the University at Buffalo – The State University of New York. Education: PhD, MS, BS from University at Buffalo (SUNY) Expertise: Mathematical Programming, Manufacturing Systems Modeling, Operations/Supply Chain Management, International Development Projects His research focuses on mathematical programming and optimization applications in manufacturing and global operations management. He has published in leading journals such as European Journal of Operational Research , Management Science , and Operations Research , and serves as reviewer/editorial team member for multiple journals and government agencies.
Sarah Billington is the UPS Foundation Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. Her research program focuses on sustainable building design, human wellbeing, and ethical supply chain practices. Education: PhD, University of Texas at Austin, Structural Engineering (1997) MSE, University of Texas at Austin, Structural Engineering (1994) BSE, Princeton University, Civil Engineering & Operations Research (1990) Her lab employs interdisciplinary methods to study how built environments impact human physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Current projects include developing tools to quantify nature exposure in buildings, exploring affordable housing's role in wellbeing, and using AI to assess forced labor risks in material supply chains. While no longer active in this area, her group previously pioneered research on sustainable construction materials like bio-based composites and ductile cement-based composites. Her recent publications address topics such as nature integration in architecture, workplace design optimization, and health impacts of building materials. The Billington Lab at Stanford fosters collaborative team science, welcoming partnerships to advance occupant-centric engineering solutions.
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignUnited States
Hadi Meidani is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine , specifically within the Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . He teaches courses in Civil and Environmental Engineering, including topics like Systems Engineering & Economics , Machine Learning in CEE , and Uncertainty Quantification . Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Southern California (2012) M.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (2012) M.S., Structural Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (2005) B.S., Civil Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology (2002) Dr. Meidani's research focuses on uncertainty quantification , scientific machine learning , and optimization under uncertainty for engineering systems. His work spans stochastic multiscale analysis , physics-informed machine learning , and model reduction techniques. His recent publications emphasize machine learning for infrastructure systems , graph neural networks , physics-informed models , and traffic assignment . Key trends include deep learning , multi-fidelity modeling , and neural operator transformers applied to metamaterial design , seismic reliability , and autonomous freight delivery .
David M. Dodson is a Lecturer in Management at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business (GSB), where he teaches courses on managing growing enterprises and entrepreneurial acquisition. His career spans over 30 years in business management, including founding three search funds and serving as CEO of a technology manufacturer and Executive Chairman of a telecommunications firm. He co-founded Sanku (formerly Project Healthy Children), a nonprofit addressing micronutrient deficiencies in Africa through fortified grains, recognized for its life-saving impact. Dodson holds an MBA from Stanford GSB (1987) and a BA in Economics from Stanford University (1983). His research focuses on entrepreneurial acquisition strategies and managing small-to-medium enterprises. Notable awards include the MSx Teaching Excellence Award (2023, 2021) and recognition as a top lecturer by Stanford GSB students. Beyond academia, he invests in over 40 businesses and serves on 21 corporate boards. In 2020, he founded StudentVotes.org to empower student voting during the pandemic. His media contributions include columns for The Boston Globe and frequent TV commentary on CNBC and Fox Business.
Kazuhiro Saitou is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the College of Engineering. His research focuses on computational design synthesis, topology optimization, and manufacturing process integration. He leads the Algorithmic Synthesis Laboratory (ASL), advancing algorithms for automated design and optimization of mechanical systems. Education: Ph.D. (1996), MIT; M.S. (1992), MIT; B.Eng. (1990), University of Tokyo. He has held tenured positions since 1997, including roles as Founding CEO of Comnext, Inc. (2007–2012) and visiting professorships at École Centrale Paris and Donghua University. Research interests include multi-material topology optimization (M^3 TO), AI-driven design, and sustainable manufacturing. Key projects address additive manufacturing, composite structures, and energy-efficient production systems. He has pioneered methods for manufacturability-driven design and assembly optimization. Notable awards include IEEE Fellow (2018), ASME Kos-Ishii Award (2015), and NSF CAREER Award (1999). He serves as Editor-in-Chief for IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering and holds leadership roles in ASME and IEEE societies. Teaching includes courses on design optimization, CAD, and global product development. His lab has advised over 30 students, with alumni in academia and industry. Current research explores biomechanical modeling, traffic flow optimization, and medical image registration algorithms.
Teo Chung Piaw is the Stephen Riady Professor and Executive Director of the Institute of Operations Research and Analytics (IORA) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He holds a PhD in Operations Research from MIT (1996) and has held academic positions including Head of Department and Acting Deputy Dean at NUS Business School. His research focuses on optimization under uncertainty, supply chain management, and combinatorial optimization. He serves as a department editor for Management Science and has led strategic initiatives in Singapore's Smart Nation Program. Teo's educational journey includes a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Mathematics from NUS (1990). His corporate experience spans roles at Unilever, Hewlett Packard, and PSA International. He has received prestigious awards including the NUS Faculty Outstanding Researcher Award (2003, 2006) and has been a Fellow of the Singapore-MIT Alliance Program. His research addresses operational challenges in smart cities, healthcare scheduling, and supply chain resilience. Notable contributions include work on appointment scheduling under patient no-show behavior, disruption risk mitigation in supply chains, and flexible production network design. He has authored over 100 publications and serves on editorial boards of leading journals like Operations Research and Management Science .
Stefanos Zenios is Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business with dual appointments in Entrepreneurship and Operations, Information & Technology . He directs Stanford GSB’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and co-directs the Doerr School of Sustainability ’s Program in Ecopreneurship. His Startup Garage course has launched companies like DoorDash while alumni have raised over $3B in venture capital. He co-authored the foundational Biodesign textbook and previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Operations Research . PhD, MIT Operations Research (1996) MA, University of Cambridge (1996) BA, University of Cambridge (1992) Research Focus Dr. Zenios’ work bridges operations research and innovation management , with significant contributions to: Healthcare operations : Administrative cost reduction, organ allocation optimization, and clinical workflow improvements Entrepreneurship : Venture creation frameworks and experiential education Ecopreneurship : Sustainable business model innovation His Precedents Thinking framework (HBR 2025) has gained global recognition for solving systemic inefficiencies. Current research includes the biennial Search Fund Study with Peter Kelly. Scientific Recognition INFORMS Fellow Multiple Best Paper Awards, INFORMS CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (2000) Dhirubhai Ambani Faculty Fellow (2017–2020) George E. Nicholson Award (1997) He has received extensive media coverage in Fast Company , Time Magazine , and Stanford Business . His research has been featured in over 150 press mentions including JAMA , Harvard Business Review , and Health Affairs .
Joel Goh is Associate Professor at the Department of Analytics and Operations, NUS Business School, National University of Singapore. He serves as Director of the J.Y. Pillay Comparative Asia Research Centre (under NUS Global Asia Institute) and PhD Program Director at the Institute of Operations Research and Analytics (IORA). Previously, he was Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School (2014-2017) and Visiting Scholar (2017-2022). BSc, MSc, PhD in Operations, Information, and Technology from Stanford University His research focuses on healthcare analytics (preventing health conditions, hospital operations, frailty assessment), supply chain analytics (digital business models, platform leakage), and service platform operations (hospital-at-home programs, incentive design). He co-created the Robust Optimization Made Easy (ROME) software. Recent publications analyze workplace psychological safety (2024), hospital-at-home models (2024), and platform leakage dynamics (2023). His work spans 18+ journals with 740+ citations for burnout cost studies (2022) and 606+ citations for physician well-being research (2017). Teaching Honors : 2023: Best MBA Teaching & Skinner Innovation Award 2021: NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Award 2020: Early Career Research Excellence Award & 40 Under 40 Best MBA Professors Advising & Grants : Served as PhD Program Director. Received NUS Start-Up Grant R-314-000-110-133 (2021) and Humanities & Social Sciences Fellowship (2021). Editorial roles include Associate Editor at Management Science , Manufacturing & Service Operations Management , and Senior Editor at Production and Operations Management .
