Seminar in hybrid format at GERAD room 4488 or Zoom.

Operations Research is the discipline of applying advanced analytical methods to solve complex problems and improve decision-making. However, developing sophisticated models that solve intricate problems without empowering decision-makers to use these solutions is a wasted effort. Tailored decision support tools that leverage analytics and enable what-if analysis, including human-in-the-loop analytics, are crucial for simulating risks and outcomes, leading to rapid and informed decision-making.

In this talk, I will share my journey of bridging theoretical and practical solutions leveraging Operations Research, demonstrating how incorporating human-in-the-loop analytics has been essential for transitioning analytical models into effective real-world applications. I will discuss concrete examples of projects, outlining the challenges faced, the solutions developed, and the impact achieved.

Bio: Selene Silvestri is a Research Scientist at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, where she is part of the Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab. Her current research focuses on supply chain network design and optimization. Her work is conducted in collaboration with global organizations and aims to enhance their decision-making in supply chain management.

Dr. Silvestri received her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Salerno, in Italy. During her Ph.D. she was a Visiting Student at the Interuniversity Research Center on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation (CIRRELT) in Montréal, Canada. Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Silvestri was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) in Montréal, Canada, affiliated with the Institute for Data Valorisation (IVADO) and the Interuniversity Research Center on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation (CIRRELT). Her research interests have included humanitarian logistics, network design, and combinatorial optimization. Her work has led to publications in peer-reviewed journals, including Computers & Operations Research, Production and Operations Management (POMS), and Networks. The research she conducted during her postdoctoral fellowship has led to two award-winning papers.