Advanced Topics in Operations for Societal Impact

Catalog description

Operations management and operations research offer tools and methodologies that can be leveraged to address pressing societal challenges. For instance, essential medical supplies must be allocated efficiently to healthcare facilities to meet demand, while in grocery stores, pricing and markdown optimization can be leveraged to reduce food waste. This PhD seminar class will focus on high-impact domains such as healthcare, sustainability, and social inequality. Through the study of research papers in these areas, students will explore a diverse range of methodologies, including optimization, machine learning, empirical methods, and modeling. The course will require students to present research papers, actively engage in class discussions, and complete a research project. By the end of the course, students will gain a deep understanding of existing research and methods for societal impact, as well as the key challenges that remain in these domains.