Inside Our Program

Program Events

Events

• May

  28

  The Role of Optimization in Operations Management Applications

  Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS)

  11:00 AM Krebs Classroom, Henry Crown Sports Pavilion

  EVENT DETAILS

  Georgia Perakis

  (joint work with Leann Thayaparan and Asterios Tsiourvas)

  Abstract: Data-driven decision-making has garnered a growing interest due to the increase in data availability in recent years. With that growth many opportunities as well as challenges arise. Optimization can play an important role to address these challenges in both predictive and prescriptive tasks in Operations Management applications. In this talk, we discuss some of our recent work that highlights how to integrate optimization in data-driven decision-making when optimization is handled in an offline manner using trained Machine Learning models. We focus on how we can optimize over already trained objective functions that arise either from tree ensemble predictive models or from neural network models in order to recommend better decisions.

  Bio: Georgia Perakis is the John C Head III Dean (Interim) of the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Professor of Operations Management, Operations Research & Statistics at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She is on leave from the roles of co-director of the Operations Research Center and Associate Dean for Social and Ethical Responsibility in Computing (SERC) in the Schwarzman College of Computing and MIT Sloan. Her widely published research has received many awards and focuses on analytics/AI, in particular, in the intersection of optimization and machine learning with applications in pricing, revenue management, supply chain, and healthcare among others. She received the PECASE Award from the Office of the President on Science and Technology. In 2016, she was elected as an INFORMS Fellow, and in 2021 as Distinguished MSOM Fellow. Perakis has passion for supervising PhD, masters, and undergraduate students, having graduated 30 PhD and 59 masters students. She has received numerous awards for teaching including the Graduate Student Council Teaching Award (2002), the Samuel M. Seegal Award (2012), the Jamieson Prize for excellence in teaching (2014), and the Teacher of the Year Award (2017) at MIT Sloan. Perakis is currently the Editor in Chief of the M&SOM journal and has served as editor at a number of other publications. She holds a BS in mathematics from the University of Athens as well as an MS in applied mathematics and a PhD in applied mathematics from Brown University.

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  TIME Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  LOCATION Krebs Classroom, Henry Crown Sports Pavilion    map it

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  CONTACT Kendall Minta    kendall.minta@gmail.com EMAIL

  CALENDAR Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences (IEMS)

• Nov

  14

  MLDS Fall Seminar 2025: Obstacles to Operationalizing Machine Learning & Strategies to Overcome Them

  Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)

  1:00 PM Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science, North Campus Parking Garage/Academic Building

  EVENT DETAILS

  Implementing and realizing value from machine learning solutions in business has long been challenging. There are many factors contributing to this challenge ranging from business readiness to model quality. Business leaders have been investing heavily in this capability for decades and have always expected a positive ROI. Unfortunately, many studies highlight failing AI/ML initiatives in business, and failure to get these solutions to the 'finish line' is ultimately the most significant reason. Join this presentation to gain valuable insights into what these challenges are and how to move past them.

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  TIME Friday, November 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

  LOCATION Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science, North Campus Parking Garage/Academic Building    map it

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  CONTACT Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science Program    mlds@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)

• Nov

  14

  MLDS AI Hackathon 2025: Kickoff

  Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)

  6:00 PM TCHM345, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Join the MLDS AI Hackathon at Northwestern University—an exciting event open to all NU students! Form a team of four (or get matched at the event) to tackle fun AI challenges and compete for top prizes. The hackathon kicks off on November 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM, with final presentations on November 17, 2025. Prizes include tech gadgets and more, with locations and additional details provided after registration. Register now and unleash your creativity—no prior experience required! For more information, check PlanIt Purple.

  *Attendance at the 11/14 Kickoff is required to participate in the 11/17 Final Presentations.

  Register Now

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  TIME Friday, November 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

  LOCATION TCHM345, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Daeun Ji    daeunji2025@u.northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)

• Nov

  17

  MLDS AI Hackathon 2025: Final Presentation

  Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)

  6:00 PM FSK217, Fisk Hall

  EVENT DETAILS

  Join the MLDS AI Hackathon at Northwestern University—an exciting event open to all NU students! Form a team of four (or get matched at the event) to tackle fun AI challenges and compete for top prizes. The hackathon kicks off on November 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM, with final presentations on November 17, 2025. Prizes include tech gadgets and more, with locations and additional details provided after registration. Register now and unleash your creativity—no prior experience required! For more information, check PlanIt Purple.

  *Attendance at the 11/14 Kickoff is required to participate in the 11/17 Final Presentations.

  Register Now

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  TIME Monday, November 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

  LOCATION FSK217, Fisk Hall    map it

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  CONTACT Daeun Ji    daeunji2025@u.northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)

• Nov

  20

  MLDS Online Information Session

  Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)

  10:00 AM

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  QUALIFY FOR INNOVATIVE AND TECHNICAL JOBS AT TOP COMPANIES

  With more companies using data, the demand for data scientists continues to soar. Register for our Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science online information session to learn how you can take the next step in your career as an effective, knowledgeable leader in a rapidly growing field.

  Learn more or register.

  Register Now

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  TIME Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

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  CONTACT Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science Program    mlds@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)

• Dec

  13

  Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Recognition Ceremony

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  4:00 PM Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

  EVENT DETAILS

  The ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 13 in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive.

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  TIME Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

  LOCATION Pick-Staiger Concert Hall    map it

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  CONTACT Andi Joppie    andi.joppie@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science