I came late to 'official' OR; I majored in Math in college. Even then, however, I took an interest in operational problems. I had a job that required catching a circulating bus that ran from campus to the Forrestal Research Center, where they were building a giant cyclotron. Waiting for the bus, I speculated on the likelihood of being late for the next bus. (It turns out the mean wait time is half of the time between arrivals).
Years later after an industry career, mostly in computing at manufacturing organizations, I decided to get a PhD. I was interested in inventory problems, and also in the idea of cooperation in business as well as competition. My advisor, Moshe Dror (INFORMS member RIP), put me onto cooperative games in inventory, the question of sharing the benefit or cost of pooling inventory. It turned into a dissertation and several more papers over several years!
Later yet, I got a job at Cal State University Maritime, which trains businessmen, engineers, and licensed maritime sailors. I found maritime logistics and economics very interesting, and engaged in several research projects in these areas. I made quite a few friends and collaborators in that space. I still did a bit of game theory research, though.
So a path to research interests might not focus on an area or skill; look for interesting operational questions and think about solutions.
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Bruce Hartman
Professor
University of St. Francis
Tucson, AZ United States
bruce@ahartman.netwebsite:http://drbrucehartman.net/brucewebsite/
blog:http://supplychainandlogistics.org
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2024 19:12
From: Barry Nelson
Subject: Choosing Your Research Field: What Influenced Your Decision?
I had a BA in Math with a CS minor, which at little DePauw University usually meant you became an actuary or high school teacher. But a summer spent on an NSF project with Wayne Winston at Indiana University introduced me to OR (specifically Dynamic Programming), so I ended up going to graduate school in IE at Purdue. During my M.S. I had a simulation modeling course from Alan Pritsker, which was fun. Then later I was fortunate to take an advanced simulation methodology class from Bruce Schmeiser, which I found really compelling (Bruce was an inspirational teacher). At the same time, I was not excited about the jobs I was being offered with an M.S., so when Bruce asked me to stay I did. I had taken a lot of statistics but found its application in simulation experiments more interesting than to physical data, and still do :-)
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Barry Nelson
Walter P. Murphy Professor
Northwestern University
Evanston IL
Original Message:
Sent: 09-13-2024 13:11
From: Armağan Özbilge
Subject: Choosing Your Research Field: What Influenced Your Decision?
Thank you for sharing your insights, Professors Milne and Willoughby.
It always fascinates me how childhood experiences and games influence our lives. Decision-making is a constant process for everyone, even though we don't always solve every problem on our own. What I find compelling about OR is its ability to quantify and clarify this process. Sometimes, the problems we face are complex, but the solutions are simple, and at other times, it's the reverse. I particularly enjoyed Dr. Milne's analogy of car failure-the issue with the car may be complicated, but for me too, the decision-making process is as straightforward as calling a mechanic.
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Armağan Özbilge
Assistant Professor
Dalhousie University
Halifax NS
Original Message:
Sent: 09-09-2024 15:02
From: Armağan Özbilge
Subject: Choosing Your Research Field: What Influenced Your Decision?
When selecting a research field, many factors come into play. Whether it's a personal passion, a gap in existing knowledge, or practical considerations, the process can be deeply personal and varied.
My journey began when I noticed that I was one of the few who genuinely enjoyed the OR classes in a business department during my undergrad years. After graduation, I made a sharp turn and joined a master's program in applied mathematics. When I returned to a business school for my doctoral studies, I initially focused on e-commerce and omnichannel retailing-an area where my supervisor excelled. While this was part of my research, I felt something was missing.
A pivotal moment came when I was reading some news on food waste and was stunned by the facts and statistics. This realization and my supervisor's suggested reads sparked a strong desire to shift my focus to this field. Over time, I have forged partnerships with food banks and other charitable organizations, making my work in this area even more fulfilling. Despite the profit-driven nature of most businesses, I believe in people's altruistic potential. The world produces enough food to feed everyone, yet a significant portion is lost due to conventional practices and consumption habits. I believe that OR can be a powerful tool in recovering and redistributing this surplus food.
I'd love to hear from others about their own experiences. What led you to your current research area? Was it a particular event, a mentor, or a specific problem that sparked your interest?
Cheers,
Armağan
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Armağan Özbilge
Assistant Professor
Dalhousie University
Halifax NS
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