Sheldon Jacobson Honored with 2011 IIE Annual Award for Teaching Excellence in Operations Research

3/31/2011

CS prof receives one of the top achievements an IE educator can receive

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University of Illinois computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson has been honored with the 2011 Annual Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Operations Research by the IIE Operations Research Division.  The award is one of the top achievements an IE educator can receive.

Illinois computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson
Illinois computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson
Illinois computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson

 

Prof. Jacobson regularly teaches the "Stochastic Models and Their Applications" as well as the "Computer Simulation" courses at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  In a statement, the award committee stated that it was “impressed with Dr. Jacobson’s ability to inspire his students to continue to learn and apply their knowledge outside the classroom.

Professor Jacobson works in the field of Operations Research, a discipline that embodies the application of analytical tools to analyze and understand complex and complicated systems. His methodological research addresses problems related to sequential stochastic assignment when there is uncertainty in the model inputs, and the design of novel exact algorithms for hard discrete optimization problems based on the cross fertilization of traditional search methods like branch and bound with memory. His areas of application include aviation security system design and analysis (optimal allocation and use of security assets, and understanding the impact of new technologies on security system performance), problems within the general area of public health (pediatric vaccine formulary design and pricing, pediatric vaccine stockpiling, the relationship between obesity and transportation, and the impact of cell phone use on automobile accident rates), and NCAA basketball “March Madness” Bracketology (understanding the impact of seeds on how the tournament evolves).

IIE is the global association of productivity and efficiency professionals specializing in industrial engineering, healthcare, ergonomics and other related professions. IIE’s mission is to advance the profession through networking, training and knowledge sharing. The Operations Research Division members apply mathematics and sophisticated computer programs to solve engineering problems.


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This story was published March 31, 2011.