INFORMS Open Forum

 

Position:

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is looking for a postdoctoral candidate to join the Operations and Industrial Engineering group at the Business School and to collaborate on multiple projects. These projects focus on establishing a transdisciplinary, diverse stakeholder ecosystem that sustains critical supernodes of communication and manufacturing capacity during crisis response. These projects aim to support companies pivoting during crises such as COVID-19 by supporting: i) expansion of domestic supply chains and global market competitiveness; ii) faster translation of innovative designs for manufacturing high demanded products; and iii) finally support future workforce education. To achieve these goals, we will work with industries and government agencies involved in PPE production during the COVID-19 crisis to get the data and then model a resilient ecosystem of partners in manufacturing supply chains to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and improve supplier cooperative and network building capabilities. We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in supply chain management, game theory, economy, microeconomic, and optimization.

 

Position Responsibilities:  

The successful candidate will be expected to take a leading role in the following areas:

• Perform research to advance the state of the art in analyzing resilient supply chain networks for PPE/high demanded product production considering the role of government, competitive market, and demand uncertainty by developing novel game-theoretic approaches and formulations.
• Explore the current competitive landscape to anticipate and prepare for changes in the marketplace in the future crisis.
• Performing 1:1 direct consultation to companies:
  • for continuous process improvement to identify operational improvement opportunities and analyze the overall processes performance metrics
  • for market analysis and supplier selection to identify go to market strategies for the product and the potential markets for the business
• Have regular interaction with governmental and public agencies partners to identify areas to apply WPI's expertise and demonstrate the ability to collaborate with subject matter experts across domains.
• Collaborate with different stakeholders across the manufacturing supply chain; some traveling within the United State is a possibility where operations take place to consult, guide, and support the manufacturers for pivoting.
• Support the development of research proposals and perform innovative research to successful outcomes.
• In addition to technical research, the role requires significant technical and scientific writing, presentation of research materials, and direct stakeholder engagement.

 

It is expected that the applicant will take the lead in writing of manuscripts and grant applications, make positive scholarly contributions that are of mutual interest with the principal investigator, Dr. Sara Saberi, and also productively interact with collaborators at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, MIT Lincoln Lab, MassTech Collaborative, and other partners.

 

 

Requirements:

• P.hD. in operations research, operations management, industrial engineering, supply chain management, or related fields.
• Research experience in modeling supply chain problems using a wide range of game theory models and formulations, probabilistic models, and empirical evaluation and theory building.
• Strong understanding of game-theoretic concepts such as competitive games, cooperative and non-cooperative games, limited and/or imperfect information games, mechanism and negotiation design, and dynamic games.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team.
• Demonstrate expertise in public speaking-such as research presentations, and business development.
• Demonstrate expertise in technical and scientific writing, as represented by relevant publication records.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Industrial experience is a plus.

 

 

To apply:

We are looking forward to your application! All applications or inquiries should be sent by email to Dr. Sara Saberi (ssaberi@wpi.edu). Your application should include a cover letter describing your experience in detail and research interests related to this position, a detailed CV including a publication list, and contact details of 3 references.

 

 

Salary and Conditions at WPI:

This postdoctoral position for 1 year (with a possibility for extension) is available immediately. WPI is a vibrant, active, and diverse community of extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, and state-of-the-art research facilities. At WPI, we have competitive and comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, long-term care, retirement, tuition assistance, flexible spending accounts, work-life balance, and much more.

 

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. We are seeking individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity and collaboration, inclusion, problem-solving, and change-making.

 

 

Diversity & Inclusion at WPI

WPI is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected; a place where every student, faculty and staff member can be themselves so that they can study, live, and work comfortably, to reach their full potential, and make meaningful contributions in order to meet departmental and institutional goals. WPI thrives on innovative practice and welcomes diverse perspectives, insight, and people from diverse lived experiences, to enhance the community environment and propel the institution to the next level in a competitive, global marketplace.

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Sara Saberi
Assistant Professor
Business School
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Worcester, MA
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Sara Saberi
Assistant Professor
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Worcester
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