Events Calendar

Epstein ISE Research Seminar

Speaker: Dr. Sanjay Mehrotra, Professor, Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University

Talk Title: "Multi-Objective Multi-Expert Optimization Using Weight Robustness and Stochastic Dominance"

Abstract: Multivariate multi-objective decision problems arise in a large number of decision situations in areas such as healthcare, security, energy, logistics, sustainability, finance, and manufacturing. The decisions involve input from multiple experts weighing in on the decision objectives. The parameters of the functions modeling objectives and constraints are uncertain, and decisions are often made in reference to a random benchmark that is to be exceeded.

This presentation will cover mathematical optimization techniques for formulating and solving such problems based on my current research. In particular, the presentation will (i) introduce the concept of Robust Pareto optimality using a multi-criteria robust optimization with weights modeling framework (McRow); (ii) present some properties of the McRow models; (iii) introduce various concepts to model problems with multiple random benchmarks using stochastic dominance (McSwd); (iv) present analytical properties and optimization algorithms for the McSwd models; (v) discuss a stylized budget allocation application in healthcare, and one in homeland security to illustrate potential uses and computational properties of McRow and McSwd models.

Biography: Professor Mehrotra received his Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Roorkee), his MS in Industrial Engineering and Ph.D. in Operations Research from Columbia University. He has made significant research contributions to major subareas, such as linear, convex, mixed integer, and stochastic programming, within the field of mathematical optimization. He is widely known for his predictor-corrector method. Professor Mehrotra has published in journals such as Mathematical Programming, SIAM Journal on Optimization, Mathematics of Operations Research, Operations Research, Optimization Methods and Software, IIE-Transactions, INFORMS Journal on Computing, Journal of Global Optimization, SIAM Journal on Computing, SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis, Analyst, Bioinformatics, and BMC BioInformatics. He is a department editor for Optimization for the Institute of Industrial Engineers society journal IIE Transactions. He is on the editorial board of Operations Research, Asia Pacific Journal of Operations Research, and the International Journal of Information Systems in the Service Sector. He has also served on the editorial boards of Mathematical Programming, and the International Journal on Modelling. He has been a vice-chair of the INFORMS optimization section on computational optimization and software, and a co-director of the Optimization Technology Center between Northwestern University and Argonne National Research Lab. He has also served as a vice-president of chapter/fora and a member of Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences Board of Directors.

Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - Room 248

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Georgia Lum