IMSE Seminar on October 14, 2019

IMSE Students attending the INFORMS Annual Conference will practice their presentations at the IMSE seminar Monday, October 14, 2019 at 12:00pm in Nedderman Hall, Room 106. Please note that this seminar begins at an earlier time than our usual seminars. The presentation times, titles, authors, and abstracts are below.

Time: 12:00pm – 12:20pm
Title: Assessing Solution Quality For Stochastic Unit Commitment With Economic Dispatch Models
Presenting Author: Nahal Sakhavand
Abstract: In this paper, we present a stochastic optimization and simulation based framework to apply sampling-based techniques to assess the solution quality of power systems. We present a unit commitment with economic dispatch model under renewable energy uncertainty as our case study. We use this assessment to narrow the gap between the upper bound and the lower bounds as we increase the number of scenarios for the renewable parameters using Sample Average Approximation (SAA) methods.

Time: 12:25pm – 12:45pm
Title: Bounds For Optimal Control of a Real-time Multi-agent Demand Response System
Presenting Author: Alireza Fallahi
Abstract: In stochastic programming (SP), a wait-and-see solution is at least as good as an optimal policy. On the other hand, a policy that uses the expected value problem is never as good as an optimal policy. This is well established in SP when there is a single agent. A question arises whether bounds exist when we have two agents. The present study develops a research methodology to answer this question. Our experiments show that if we have two separate agents, and both agents get perfect information, this can be worse compared to both agents doing the mean value problem. Nevertheless, we have found that there are bounds when the first stage follows the same set of actions. A two-agent demand response problem has been used as a case study to show this claim.

Time: 12:50pm – 1:10pm
Title: Optimizing Water Supply Through Reservoir Conversion and Storage of Return Flow- A Case Study At Joe Pool Lake
Presenting Author: Srividya Sekar
Abstract: Maintaining adequate water supply is one of the key challenges faced by the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. In this study, UTA collaborated with Trinity River Authority (TRA), in conducting an exploratory study of the possibility of converting flood storage in Joe Pool Lake (JPL) to improve reliability of water supply and cost efficiency. It employs a linear programming (LP) approach that factors in the costs, revenues, demand/supply scenarios over the Trinity River Basin and the waste water treatment facilities of TRA. Given the inputs, the LP yields an optimal expansion of JPL and associated storage-diversion strategy on an annual basis.

Time: 1:15pm – 1:35pm
Title: Crowd Logistics For Regional Food Systems
Presenting Author: Narjes Sadeghiamirshahidi
Abstract: Regional food systems have the potential to improve food supply chain sustainability. However, small-scale farmers struggle with cost-effective transportation and distribution. Direct sales via farmers’ markets are inefficient and do not scale well, and distributors are too expensive and inflexible. One potential alternative is the use of crowd logistics, in which a decentralized network of potential transportation providers (the “crowd”) is connected to customers seeking logistics services via a software platform. This research describes an agent-based model that was designed to study the potential of crowd logistics to improve transportation in regional food systems.

Time: 1:40pm – 2:00pm
Title: Systems Dynamics and its Role in Industrial & Engineering Management Research: A look at Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis & Technology Diffusion Curves
Presenting Author: Azam Boskabadi
Abstract: Making decision about which water pipe should be rehabilitated, with considering limited budget, to achieve the highest network’s post-disaster serviceability, is one of the most challenging decisions in utility management. This paper proposes two-stage stochastic programming model for water pipe rehabilitation problem with a recourse flow function to maximize the output flow right after earthquake. The formulated mixed integer nonlinear problem (MINLP) substitute by the equivalent mixed integer linear problem (MILP) by manipulating the nonlinear constraints, and using a piecewise linear approximation method. Then it’s been solved over several random scenarios to get an optimal policy. A comparison of the objective function conclude from optimizing MILP, with sub problem feeding by the optimal policy generated from the MILP, shows the 98.98% accuracy.

Time: 2:05pm- 2:20pm
Title: Outcome-adaptive Iterative Elastic Net: A Tool For Causal Inference In The Observational Setting
Presenting Author: Ashkan Farahani
Abstract: We focus on the adaptive treatment regime in the observational setting where the dynamic nature of the problem causes a bias called endogeneity or time-varying confounding. While previous studies handled one treatment case, we are focusing on the “multiple correlated treatment” case where the aim of the study is to “uncover the true underlying outcome model” at each stage. We propose the “Outcome-Adaptive Iterative Elastic Net” that augments (1) the consistent selection of true outcome-predictors, true confounders and causal “treatments”. (2) adjusting for time varying-confounding by IPTW method for “multiple treatments”.

2019 UTA Engineering Summer Camps and Impact Reports

This summer, UTA Engineering was contacted by Lockheed Martin to host 3 different intensive workshops/mini-camps for coders! The entry group of campers were matched accordingly with a subgroup, which would then last 2-days. These camps included the TexPrep Summer Program, Entry to Engineering Summer Camp, and the Girlgineering Summer Camp!

TexPrep Summer Program

TexPrep is a Prefreshman Engineering Program that is under the under The UTSA Institute for P-20 Initiatives at UTSA. In this summer program, there were over 200 students from the span of 15 different ISDs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. TexPrep aims to be the premier pre-college program for identifying and supporting secondary students in their pursuit of STEM education. One of TexPrep’s priorities is to improve the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in these fields.

This summer program lasted 6 weeks, which is undoubtedly one of the longer summer programs in comparison to the other camps. Since this camp was longer than the others, it allowed for a larger variety of activities. Some of these activities included speakers (e.g. Alumni Mr. & Mrs. Sutton speaking on Air Traffic Control), hands-on activities (e.g. bridge building then testing), and evacuation drills – a new impending UTA requirement.

To view the 2019 Impact Report on TexPrep at UTA, which includes demographics and feedback, click here.

Entry to Engineering Summer Program

The Entry to Engineering program is a week-long program that gives elementary-/middle school students of all genders an opportunities to explore STEM as career path. This summer program had 30+ students attend from the span of 10 different ISDs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Those who attended this program were given the opportunity to express their creativity with new interactive engineering team projects (e.g. edible IE processes), lectures, presentations, and tours. By the end of the program, there was an accumulation of over 8 hours of team projects.

To view the 2019 Impact Report on Entry to Engineering, which includes demographics and feedback, click here.

Girlgineering Summer Program

The Girlgineering Summer Program is a girls-only week-long program that provides girls the opportunity to explore STEM education as a career path. With the program being for girls only, circumstances such as competing with boy for resources, asserting themselves among boys, and being distracted by boys is eliminated. This summer program had 20+ students attend from the span of 10 ISDs from 2 states, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Oklahoma in both Norman and Tulsa.

The curious and industrious girls were given many avenues to help absorb and explore STEM. Of these includes new interactive team projects (e.g. The use of drones for disaster recovery), lectures, tours, and other hands-on STEM/STEAM activities.

To view the 2019 Impact Report on Girlgineering, which includes demographics and feedback, click here.

Congratulations to the Winners of the Maverick Entrepreneurship Competition!

Congratulations to Latasha Starr and David Heber James, two of UTA’s Industrial Engineering students, for winning the final pitch competition for the 2019 Maverick Entrepreneurship Program and Award! In return for winning this competition, monetary prizes from the Maverick Entrepreneur Program and Award Fund were given in order to provide financial support for their future efforts in the entrepreneurial world.

Latasha Starr, a doctoral student in UTA’s Industrial Engineering, won $25,000 to fund her company ESTe²M Builders. This company aims to further education through the C3 model. More information concerning the ESTe²M Builders can be reached on their website!

David Heber James, a senior in UTA’s Industrial Engineering, won $15,000 for his company Green Coati Envent System, which focuses on an optimized HVAC system.

To read more on the 2019 Maverick Entrepreneurship Program, ESTe²M Builders, and the Green Coati Envent System, visit this link.

Congratulations to the 4 UTA PhD in Industrial Engineering Graduate Students!

A huge congratulations to the 4 University of Texas at Arlington PhD students, Alireza Fallahi, Ashkan Aliabadi Farahani, Xinglong Ju, and Joyita Mostafa for graduating with the Department of Industrial Engineering this Summer semester!

Dissertations are considered the final assignments for a PhD in Industrial Engineering. This project allows the opportunity for the student to showcase their findings from their independent and original research that will contribute new theories and knowledge to the Industrial Engineering field. As it is the final project, dissertations serve as an accurate portrayal of the culmination of the student’s academic efforts. Once complete, the student will give an oral defense before the committee.

Attached below are the dissertations from the 4 UTA PhD in Industrial Engineering graduates:

Alireza Fallahi:

Click Dissertation

Ashkan Aliabadi Farahani: 

Click Dissertation

Xinglong Ju:

Click Dissertation

Joyita Mostafa: 

Click Dissertation

Michelle Wampler and Carmen VanStone to Present Seminar

UTA’s Administrative Assistant Carmen VanStone and UTA’s Accountant II Michelle Wampler from the Department of Industrial Engineering will be presenting a seminar on UTA travel procedures for PhD students on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 1:15 pm in Nedderman Hall, Room 106.

 

Title: Step by Step Travel Procedures for PhD Students of UTA in the Department of Industrial Engineering

 

 

Author: Michelle Wampler and Carmen Vanstone

Location: Nedderman Hall Room 106

Date: Monday, September 16, 2019

Time: 1:15pm

Abstract:

Become aware of the policies for traveling as a PhD student at UTA by attending this seminar and tackling any confusion such as travel authorization and proper receipts! This seminar will cover all details pertaining to the step by step travel procedures for PhD students of UTA in the Department of Industrial Engineering. Through this presentation, topics such as needed paperwork, deadlines, and ways to achieve an overall smooth travel or reimbursement as needed will be discussed. Those who attend this seminar will also be receiving a copy of the presentation along with any travel forms for future reference.

Biographical Sketch: 

Carmen Van Stone is the Administrative Assistant for the department of Industrial Engineering and has been with UTA for one year.
Her responsibilities include:
· HR for undergraduate and graduate students, and Adjuncts
· Travel
· Reimbursements
· Timesheets
Carmen’s goal is to facilitate the aforementioned processes to IE students and faculty.
You may reach her at carmen.vanstone@uta.edu or 817.272.3169

Michelle Wampler started her career at UTA in the Accounts Payable Department as a Travel and Expense approver. Wampler was there for 5 years and has been in the IE department now for 2 years as the Accountant II. You may reach her at mwampler@uta.edu

Dr. Boardman Receives UTA Cares Grant

Dr. Boardman was one of six recipients of the UTA Cares Grant from the UT Arlington Library. This grant encourages faculty to replace course materials for open educational resources. You can read more about this grant and Dr. Boardman’s work on the UTA Library News Page.

Congratulations to Spring Graduates

We’re a little on this, but…Congratulations to all the Spring 2019 graduates! Below is the list of students who graduated Spring semester:

Undergraduates
Ahmed, Rashdan
Awolowo, Oluwakayode
Boston, Horace
Bui, James
Elkins, Taylor
Gerges, George
Gomez, Martin
Head, Bridget
Jaekel, Courtney
Kolbeck, Jana
Loah, Vanessa
Miles, Dalton
Potchana, Shane
Saad, Aakib Ahmed
Saavedra Ceron, Maria
Schoen, Andrew
Shaw, Viviana
Shin, Micky
Sligar, Hannah
Townsend, Tina
Velazco Chavez, Valeria

Master’s
Muddaluri, Reshma Varma
Muley, Ameya Sanjay
Naim, Burhan Shoeb
Nanakwani, Haresh Babubhai
Narasimhan, Bhargav
Navabhaktula, Amukta
Palrecha, Achin Satish
Pan, Arnav Asimkumar
Panchal, Sandesh
Parab, Sonali Sande
Patel, Akash Himanshu
Patel, Harshit Lalitkumar
Pathak, Ayush Kamalkumar
Patil, Abhishek
Pawar, Abhijit Vivek
Pawar, Nikhil Sarjerao
Piplodwala, Mohammed
Pophale, Snehal
Pote, Tejal
Poudel, Indra
Raja, Harish
Rajendiran, Hemanth Kumar
Ramaswamy, Venkat Narasimhan
Rane, Shubhangi Vijay
Raut, Ajinkya Rajesh
Rowe, William
Sahu, Swati
Salvi, Ranveer
Sankar, Anand
Shah, Himir Kamleshkumar
Sharma, Tushar
Shingan, Aishwarya Dattatray
Shrinivas Naik, Akruthi
Singh, Gopal
Singh, Jashandeep
Solanki, Ravirajsinh Maheshkumar
Soni, Vatsal Yogeshkumar
Soundara Rajan, Murugan
Sutar, Tejas
Tamaskar, Chaitanya Nitin
Thangavel, Deepan
Toney, Jasmine
Vaghule, Anurag
Vasudevan, Sairam
Vazhappilly, Jeel Jose
Venkata Subramaniam, Achuth Chandrasekh

Below is the hooding of Dr. Khan Haque who graduated in Fall 2018.

Click here to view video of the commencement ceremony.

Video photos of ceremony here.

 

Dr. Yuan Zhou to Present Seminar

Our own Dr. Yuan Zhou will present at the IMSE seminar on Monday, April 29, 2019 at 1:00pm in Nedderman Hall, Room 105. Please note that this seminar is in the usual room, but we are moving the time up 15 minutes to accommodate faculty schedules. Dr. Zhou’s presentation title, abstract, and biographical sketch are below. 

 

Title: Modeling Complex Adaptive Systems: Agent-Based Simulation and Its Applications
Author: Yuan Zhou
Location: Nedderman Hall Room 105
Date: Monday, April 29, 2019
Time: 1:00pm 

Abstract: Modeling the behavior of complex adaptive systems, such as infectious disease transmissions and policing systems, plays an important role in management decision-making towards improving systems’ performance. However, it is often challenged by inherent complexities of the underlying systems: nonlinear interactions in between systems’ entities (e.g., contacts between humans), entities’ adaptive behaviors (e.g., criminals’ response to policing actions and other environmental factors), and dependent happenings of certain events (e.g., parent-offspring disease transmissions). Traditionally, equation-based models, such as differential equations and Markov models, have been used to represent the average system behavior, but they usually fail to capture those complexities appropriately. In recent years, agent-based simulation (ABS) has received growing attentions because it enables realistic representations of systems’ complexities at a micro-level. ABS is a class of computational models that is built upon the unique behaviors of individual entities, or agents, who are interacting with each other, autonomously making decisions, and collectively driving the macro-level behavior of the system. In this talk, we will discuss several projects involving ABS modeling in healthcare systems, policing systems, and traffic systems. Our goal is to address some critical issues in design and implementation of ABS models, including model granularity, data needs, and model validation, and provide some strategies to overcome these issues. 

Bio: Yuan Zhou is an Assistant Professor of Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington. She received a B.S. degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China and a Ph.D. degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. Dr. Zhou’s primary research interests include healthcare delivery systems engineering, agent-based simulation, infectious disease modeling and policy development, health data analytics, and dynamic policing decision analytics. Currently, she is also working with local healthcare and law enforcement partners to develop analytical tools to support their management decision making and improve operations performance.

Dr. Beruvides to Present Seminar

AT&T Professor Mario Beruvides from the Whitacre College of Engineering’s Industrial, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering Department at Texas Tech University will present at the IMSE seminar on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 1:15pm in Nedderman Hall, Room 106.

Title: Systems Dynamics and its Role in Industrial & Engineering Management Research: A look at Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis & Technology Diffusion Curves
Author: Mario Beruvides
Location: Nedderman Hall Room 106
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Time: 1:15pm

Abstract: The role of the industrial engineer has always been deeply entrenched in the analysis of industrial and social technical systems.  Systems theory and its off-shoot, systems dynamics, is a critical development encompassing a revolutionary theory of how we look at complex systems as well as how to model, analyze and ultimately practice industrial engineering knowledge.  In this talk, comprised of two parts – a look at Minsky’s Instability Hypothesis and Technology Diffusion curves, the speaker will provide some insights into the changing role of industrial engineering when addressing complex technical system.  With respect to the analysis of the Minsky Instability Hypothesis, the research analyzed eleven financial debt ratios related to the level of debt associated to the U.S. households, nonfinancial and financial businesses. The validation process utilized nonparametric statistical analysis of Page and binomial tests to provide statistical evidences that supported the validity of FIH. This confirmatory research found evidence to suggest FIH concepts were indeed applicable to the 1945-1980s era and remains relevant to the 1990-2017 periods.  In analyzing technology diffusion curves, the research looks at the potential of classifying and developing an economic procedure to optimize entrance and exit strategies for organizations with respect to their technology portfolios.

Bio: Mario Beruvides, Ph.D., P.E., is an AT&T Professor at Texas Tech University in the Whitacre College of Engineering’s Industrial, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering Department.  His current research interests include: Management of Technology, Engineering Management, Knowledge work Performance, Measurement, Production and Quality Systems Engineering, and Advanced Economic Analysis.  Dr. Beruvides has a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami.

Dr. Leili Shahriyari to Present Seminar

Assistant Professor Leili Shahriyari from the Department of Mathematics will present at the IMSE seminar on today, April 15, 2019 at 1:15pm in Nedderman Hall, Room 105. Dr. Shahriyari’s presentation title, abstract, and biographical sketch are below.

Title: Data-Driven Models for Discovery of Effective Personalized Cancer Treatments

Author: Leili Shahriyari
Location: Nedderman Hall Room 105
Date: Monday, April 15, 2019
Time: 1:15pm

Abstract: Carcinogenesis is a complex stochastic evolutionary process. One of the key components of this process is evolving tumors, which interact with and manipulate their surrounding microenvironment in a dynamic spatio-temporal manner. Recently, several computational models have been developed to investigate such a complex phenomenon and to find potential therapeutic targets. In this talk, we present novel computational models to gain some insight about the evolutionary dynamics of cancer. Furthermore, we propose an innovative framework to systematically employ a combination of mathematical methods and bioinformatics techniques to arrive at unique personalized targeted therapies for cancer patients.

Bio: Leili has a Ph.D. degree in Mathematics and an M.S.E. degree in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University (JHU). She studied Computer Science with a specific focus machine learning (ML) and data science, and Mathematics with focus on differential geometry. She conducted her first postdoctoral training in computational biology at the University of California Irvine (UCI). At UCI, she developed stochastic models to improve our understanding of cell dynamics during tumorigenesis and improved an artificial neural network model for obtaining gene regulatory networks. During her second postdoctoral training, as an NSF/MBI funded postdoc fellow at the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI), she pursued an independent research program and established collaboration with biologists, physicians, and mathematicians. She is currently an assistant professor of Data Science at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she has been awarded STARs grant. Her lab, currently with three PhD, one Master, and four Undergraduate students, develops innovative frameworks to systematically employ a combination of machine learning and statistical methods as well as mathematical techniques to arrive at unique personalized therapies.