Operations Research and Analytics

Advancing the design of complex systems to ensure safe, effective and reliable performance.

graphic illustration of data

Design, prototype, test, break, improve. That’s the tried-and-true engineering model — for things like cars and planes. But some systems are so big and complex — a series of interdependent hydroelectric dams or miles of highway full of fast-moving autonomous cars, for example — that prototypes are not practical or cost effective. Typical challenges our Operations Research and Analytics researchers take on involve systems within systems that must work together seamlessly. Our researchers use the latest tools in systems modeling and data analytics, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, optimization, stochastic processes, and discrete-event and agent-based simulation.

Our faculty are experts in developing tools that simulate real-world infrastructure or applications to understand how component parts integrate to perform as a whole, as well as how to analyze and continually improve performance in real time once a system is operational. Working with such partners as the Port of Virginia and the Department of Defense, our faculty discover innovative ways to improve the structures of society that profoundly affect our economic and social well-being, from the manufacture and distribution of goods and services to national security.

Operations Research and Analytics Faculty

Negin Alemazkoor

Assistant Professor
The overarching objective of my research is to develop sensing and computing methodologies for fast and reliable analysis of smart and interconnected infrastructure systems under uncertainty. My research is inherently multi-disciplinary and aims to advance reliability and resilience of…
Google Scholar ResearchGate
Email na7fp@virginia.edu

Reid Bailey

Professor of Systems Engineering UVA in Argentina and UVA in Sweden, Founding Director Rodman Scholars, Director

Reid Bailey is an engineering educator, designer, and scholar focused on engineering design education, systems thinking and analysis, & sustainability.
Portfolio Office Hours Google Scholar
Email rrb5b@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-6352

Laura Barnes

Professor Associate Director, Link Lab

Laura Barnes is a professor in the Department of Systems and Information Engineering. She is the Associate Director of Link Lab and directs the Sensing Systems for Health Lab which focuses on designing impactful, technology-enabled solutions for improving health and well-being.
UVA Engineering Link Lab
Email lb3dp@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-1723

Madhur Behl

Associate Professor, Computer Science Associate Professor, Systems and Information Engineering Team Principal, Cavalier Autonomous Racing Cyber-Physical Systems Link Lab

Dr. Madhur Behl is an associate professor in the departments of Computer Science, and Systems and Information Engineering.
He conducts research in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, and is the team principal of UVA's Cavalier Autonomous Racing team
Research Website Cavalier Autonomous Racing Learning In Robotics UVA F1/10 Autonomous Racing Principles of Modeling for Cyber-Physical Systems Google Scholar
Email madhur.behl@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-1021

Donald E. Brown

W.S. Calcott Professor Founding Director of the Data Science Institute Co-Director of the Translation Health Institute of Virginia

Dr. Brown is Founding Director of the Data Science Institute, the W.S. Calcott Professor in the Systems and Information Engineering Department and Co-Director of the Translational Health Institute of Virginia, University of Virginia.
Data Science Institute
Email deb@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 982-2074

Qing (Cindy) Chang

Professor
Qing Chang’s current research interests include math-based and data-enabled modeling and analysis of dynamic manufacturing systems, improving manufacturing efficiency and sustainability through adaptive control and machine learning-based methods, and driving innovation in human-robot collaborations…
Google Scholar ResearchGate Intelligent Systems Lab
Email qc9nq@virginia.edu

Seokhyun Chung

Assistant Professor
My research focuses on the Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled systems, where multiple entities/units (e.g., vehicles, wearable devices, etc.) collect data and collaborate to establish enhanced smart analytics based on their connectivity. I enjoy exploring data-driven methods such as federated learning…
Email schung@virginia.edu

Roman Krzysztofowicz

Professor of Systems Engineering Professor of Statistics in College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

Roman Krzysztofowicz develops theories and models for probabilistic forecasting and optimal decision making under uncertainty sing Bayesian Forecast-Decision Theory.
Email rk@virginia.edu

James H. Lambert

Chair, Faculty Senate of the University of Virginia (2024-25) Janet Scott Hamilton & John Downman Hamilton Professor Director, Center for Risk Management of Engineering Systems Site Director, NSF Center for Hardware and Embedded Systems Security & Trust Professor of Systems & Information Engineering Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Lambert received the 10th annual Aspen Institute Italia Award for scientific research and collaboration, in 2025. He received the 2024 Distinguished Educator Award of the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA). He is a General Co-Chair of the 11th IEEE International Conference on Control, Decision and…
Google Scholar ResearchGate UVA Engineering Link Lab CRMES NSFCHEST
Email lambert@virginia.edu

Henning S. Mortveit

Associate Professor

Henning Mortveit is an associate professor in the Biocomplexity Institute Initiative. He received his doctorate in mathematics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in 2000. Before joining ESE he held positions at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and at Virginia Tech.
Network Systems Science and Advanced Computing (NSSAC) Biocomplexity Institute & Initiative (BII)
Email hsm2v@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 243-5883

B. Brian Park

Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor, Systems and Information Engineering Director, Traffic Operations Laboratory

Brian Park is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Systems and Information Engineering at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on improving the efficiency of surface transportation systems via connected automated vehicle controls, traffic operations and management strategies.  
Google Scholar UVA Engineering Link Lab Center for Transportation Studies
Email bp6v@virginia.edu

Michael D. Porter

Associate Professor
Michael D. Porter is an Associate Professor of Systems Engineering with a joint appointment at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. Dr. Porter's research focuses on event prediction, pattern and anomaly detection, and data linkage. He has developed self-exciting point process…
Google Scholar ResearchGate
Email mdp2u@virginia.edu

Julianne Quinn

Assistant Professor

Quinn's research focuses on optimization and simulation methods used to inform the design and management of water resources systems with the goals of protecting people from nature (floods and droughts), and nature from people (pollution and consumption). She is interested in how advanced sensing and forecasting techniques inform this optimization.
Google Scholar Quinn Research Group
Email jdq6nn@virginia.edu

In Memoriam: William T. Scherer

Chair, Department of Systems and Information Engineering Editor-in-Chief Systems Director, Accelerated Masters Degree Program (AMP)

William T. Scherer is a super expert in systems engineering, stochastic control, and business analytics. Professor Scherer has served on the University of Virginia Systems Engineering Program faculty since 1986. He also consults with numerous organizations on the topics of systems thinking and business analytics applied to disparate organizations.
In Memoriam Google Scholar ResearchGate Accelerated Master's Program in Systems Engineering Systems Journal
Email wts@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 982-2069

Majid Shafiee-Jood

Research Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Director of Graduate Studies

Majid Shafiee-Jood is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Systems and Information Engineering at the University of Virginia.
Google Scholar Researchgate
Email ms2dm@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 243-8865