The Health Applications Society (HAS) of INFORMS invites applications from qualified doctoral candidates for the Bonder Scholarship for Applied Operations Research in Health Services. Doctoral candidates, particularly those with two to three years remaining in their programs, with an interest in the application of process modeling and OR analyses to issues in health care design, delivery, or operations are encouraged to apply.
The purpose of the Bonder Scholarship for Applied Operations Research in Health Services is to promote the development and application of process modeling and operations research analyses to health care design, delivery and operations. The scholarship provides funding of $5,000 ($US) to support the development of highly qualified individuals and promote the interchange of health services research knowledge in conjunction with INFORMS.
The scholarship offers a research fund of $4,000 and the opportunity to apply for an additional support of $1,000 to cover expenses that will be incurred during the winner’s travel to the 2024 INFORMS Annual Conference. Starting with the year after the award is won, the winner also becomes eligible to apply for further research funds that are offered annually by the Seth Bonder Research Foundation exclusively to former Bonder Scholars. Bonder Scholars also find the privilege to speak and disseminate their research in designated “Bonder Scholars” sessions at INFORMS Annual Meetings.
The scholarship will be granted on the basis of excellence, innovation, candidate’s preparation to undertake the proposed program of research, and likelihood of success in his/her projected plan.
Doctoral students building creative work with strong academic rigor and/or practical relevance at the crossroads of operations research/operations management and health care are all encouraged to apply. Applications are due by June 30, 2024. A complete application must consist of the following documents as PDF files:
1) A detailed curriculum vitae of the applicant, which must include the applicant’s complete educational history with dates of enrollment in graduate studies (in months and years; e.g., September 2021).
2) Two letters of support: One letter is expected to be from the applicant’s main academic advisor (or dissertation committee chair) and this letter must include a statement that the applicant has completed at least one academic year but no more than three academic years in any doctoral program. Letter writers should separately send their nominations/support letters to the email address provided below. Each applicant is responsible for ensuring that letters are sent by the application deadline: June 30, 2024.
3) A one-page career goals statement describing why the candidate is interested in applying operations research/operations management to health care issues and problems.
4) A three-page summary of applicant’s proposed program of research including all graphics and technical supplements (the three-page limit does not include the references to be cited therein). Applicants should pay particular attention to delineating the completed and projected contributions of their doctoral studies within this three-page document.
All application materials including support letters should be submitted via the INFORMS Online Award Submission Platform:
https://informs-awards.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/215/home
All further questions about the award should be addressed to the committee co-chairs Pooyan Kazemian (pxk409@case.edu) and Jennifer Lobo (jem4yb@virginia.edu).
Notification
Applicants will be notified with the results of the competition before September 2024.
Dr. Seth Bonder was the founder and CEO of Vector Research, Incorporated (VRI) for 31 years. VRI is recognized for its quality and innovations in applying OR/MS to public and private sector enterprises. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Bonder has been a leader in applying operations research to national defense planning and policy issues, and subsequently to health care delivery reengineering and disease management practices. He established this scholarship to encourage the application of scientific operations research approaches to health care delivery systems, processes, and enterprises. Dr. Bonder has made major contributions to the operations research profession. He has served as president of the Operations Research Society of America and the Military Operations Research Society, and as vice president of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Patriotic Service Award from the US Secretary of the Army, the George E. Kimball Medal, and the INFORMS President's Award He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.