Optimality Gap Clemson University INFORMS Student Chapter

Dr. David Morton is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences at Northwestern University and an INFORMS fellow. He holds a B.S. degree in mathematics and physics from Stetson University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University. Prior to joining Northwestern, he was on the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin and worked as a Fulbright Research Scholar at Charles University in Prague and as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow in the OR Department at the Naval Postgraduate School. Dr. Morton has received several honors and awards, including the George E. Nicholson Paper Prize, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and the INFORMS Graduate Teaching Award. 

In this podcast episode, Dr. Morton explores his research in stochastic and large-scale optimization, applied to areas such as public health, security, and energy systems. He expresses enthusiasm for effectively communicating risk and uncertainty in public health, bridging the gap between operations research and computer science communities, and improving decision-making within broader communities. Dr. Morton advises graduate students to prioritize communication and connections, fostering collaborations with peers to address real-world optimization problems.

To learn more about Dr. Morton, make sure to visit his personal website and his Google Scholar page. 

Dr. Dan Li is an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Clemson University. She received her PhD in industrial engineering and Master’s in statistics from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2021 and 2020, respectively. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, in 2015. She has recently been awarded many research grants, for instance, the most recent National Science Foundation grant for her collaborative project on Human-Centered Cybersecurity in Robotic Surgery.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Li discusses her research interests, encompassing applied statistics for cyber-physical security and resilience, online anomaly detection, complex system modeling for Internet of Things-enabled manufacturing and energy systems, as well as the application of machine learning in quality, reliability, and control. Additionally, she provides valuable advice for graduate students on proactively managing their careers, emphasizing the importance of seeking out opportunities and prioritizing self-care. For new PhD students, Dr. Li recommends gaining hands-on research experience to explore their interest in their potential adviser's research area.

To learn more about Dr. Li, make sure to visit her personal website and her Google Scholar page. You can also follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) @LiDan_IE.

Dr. Ozlem Ergun is the College of Engineering Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern University. She began her educational journey with her bachelor’s degree in operations research and industrial engineering from Cornell University and earned her PhD in operations research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Ergun was recently elected as an INFORMS fellow and honored with the Franz Edelman Prize from INFORMS.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Ergun shares valuable insights from her research, which revolves around the design and management of large-scale and decentralized networks. Her work aims to enhance the resilience of critical systems and optimize supply chains, including those in transportation, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

She also discusses her experiences working with organizations to develop data-driven solutions, highlighting the importance of building relationships and trust over time. Emphasizing the significance of passion and teamwork in research, Dr. Ergun suggests that pursuing a topic one is passionate about and collaborating with individuals with complementary skills can lead to more effective and enjoyable research experiences and much more.

To learn more about Dr. Ergun, make sure to visit her ⁠personal website⁠ and her ⁠Google Scholar⁠ page. 

Starting graduate school is like embarking on an exciting adventure, and it can be a bit overwhelming. But no need to be scared.

Welcome to "Optimality Gap" Season 2, our podcast that makes Operations Research and Management Science easy to understand. Whether you're a student looking for inspiration or practical advice, we are here for you.

Join us, the Clemson University INFORMS Student Chapter. With our hosts, engage in conversations with experts from Clemson University and other top institutions. You'll explore cutting-edge research, gain valuable insights, and uncover the keys to conducting research in your graduate school journey.

No matter where you are in your academic pursuits,  we are here to help you find your way to success. 

Dr. Boshi Yang is an Assistant Professor in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at Clemson University. Dr. Yang has a BS in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics which he received from Zhejiang University in 2010, and he received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences from the University of Iowa in 2015.

Dr. Yang’s research focuses on Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programming, Conic Optimization, and Mixed Integer Quadratic Programming. He has several scientific papers and he is the winner of the Faculty Teaching Award in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in 2020. He was also the winner of the Outstanding Service to Graduate Students award offered by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in 2019.

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Yang talks about his journey into Operations research. He also talks about different aspects of his research; one of the most important things to keep in mind when approaching in maths problem; and what advice he would give to graduate students to navigate the research process.

To learn more about Dr. Yang, make sure to visit his personal website and his google scholar page. You can also follow him on Twitter @BoshiYang.

Dr. Scott Mason is a Professor & Fluor Endowed Chair in Supply Chain Optimization & Logistics in the Industrial Engineering at Clemson University. Dr. Mason has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin with Honors, an MS in Operations Research from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering Arizona State University.

Dr. Mason’s research areas are Modeling and analysis of large-scale supply chain and manufacturing systems, Applied operations research with an emphasis in mathematical and heuristic optimization, and Domain expertise in capital projects, transportation logistics, semiconductor manufacturing, and service industries. Dr. Mason has recently joined Amazon in a full-time position to tackle some of the industry’s biggest supply chain challenges in the industry.

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Mason gives several insights into: (i) his research; (ii) being in the industry; (iii) working for Amazon; (iv) work-life balance, and much more.

To learn more about Dr. Mason, make sure to visit his personal website and his Google Scholar page. You can also follow him on Twitter @scottmasonphd.