Miguel F. Anjos, P.Eng., FHEA, SMIEEE, FEUROPT, FCAE
Chair of Operational Research, University of Edinburgh
Inria International Chair
Biographical Profile
Education
- PhD, Combinatorics & Optimization, University of Waterloo, 2001
- MS, Scientific Computing & Computational Mathematics, Stanford University, 1994
- BSc, Computer Science, McGill University, 1992
Professional Experience
- Professor, Polytechnique Montreal, Canada (2010-2019), Founding Academic Director, Trottier Energy Institute
- Professor, University of Waterloo, Canada (2004-2010)
- Lecturer, University of Southampton, U.K. (2002-2004)
- DO-NET Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Cologne, Germany (2001-2002)
INFORMS/ORSA/TIMS Activities
- President, Section on Energy, Natural Resources, and the Environment (ENRE), 2020-2022 (President-Elect, 2018-2020)
- Committee Chair, Inaugural ENRE Early Career Prize, 2013
- Vice Chair, LP & Complementarity, Optimization Society, 2009-2011
- Committee Member, Optimization Society Student Paper Prize, 2010
- Business Analytics & O.R. Conference, Advisory Council 2007-2011, Selects 2013-2017
- Cluster/session organizer at multiple conferences
Publications
- More than 100 refereed publications on mathematical optimization and applications
Professional Honors and Awards
- Humboldt Research Fellowship
- Schoeller Senior Fellow 2020
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
- NSERC Industrial Research Chair
- Canada Research Chair
Other Professional Activities
- Editor-in-Chief, Optimization and Engineering, 2013-2017
- Area Editor, J. Optimization Theory and Applications, 2021-present
- Editor for seven other international journals
Vision Statement
It is an honour to be nominated for the position of VP International. As an active INFORMS member for nearly 20 years working at several universities outside the U.S., I would bring to this role a distinct international perspective on INFORMS. While I am an academic researcher, I have always been involved on the practice side of OR/MS and have led research and consulting projects in different countries with companies both large and small. Within INFORMS, I co-chaired the INFORMS Young Researcher Prize for three years (2007-2009), and I served on the Advisory Council/Selects Committee of the Business Analytics (Practice) Conference for 10 years. I have consistently promoted inclusivity in participation within INFORMS to students and colleagues outside the U.S. The ENRE Section that I currently lead as president has approximately 1/3 of its membership based outside the U.S., and the ENRE Scientific Online Events launched in 2020 have helped keep this international community connected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The myriad challenges faced by every country during the pandemic dramatically highlight the need for interdisciplinary solutions to complex problems. Our field can provide leadership in developing resilient solutions by bringing together contributions from different disciplines. I have contributed to some initiatives in the U.K. in this spirit, such as a virtual working group of mathematical scientists to provide practical principles to operate workplaces while reducing viral transmission. This experience and others since then have truly convinced me that while online communication will never fully replace in-person interactions, there is much that can be achieved by groups that are geographically dispersed thanks to the use of online tools. This means that while the challenges we face may grow in complexity, we can now more easily and effectively bring together our worldwide community to face them.
If elected to this position, I would take a two-pronged approach to the role. First, I would promote an increase in the involvement of non-U.S.-based academics and practitioners within INFORMS to increase mutual awareness and understanding. This would include promoting the possibility of joining future INFORMS events online as a means to reduce barriers to participation. Moreover, to build successful long-term international links, reaching out to students is key. Our students represent the future of our field and it is imperative to be as inclusive as possible in supporting student contributions to INFORMS events, particularly the Annual Meeting. I would also explore ways to further support the activities of the INFORMS student chapters based outside the U.S., and promote the creation of new ones.
Second, I would work with INFORMS to promote OR/MS and increase its presence and impact worldwide. INFORMS already has an active international presence and as VP International, I would support these ongoing activities as well as seek ways to start new locally-led initiatives as appropriate. I would actively support initiatives that bring OR/MS to bear on the major challenges that each country must address. I see tremendous potential in this regard with the greater understanding arising from the pandemic of the need for interdisciplinary solutions to problems that often transcend national boundaries.
The full potential of our field will not be achieved unless and until our innovative models, algorithms and software are known and widely applied in practice throughout the world. I believe that my combination of academic, industrial, and administrative experience is a good match for the role of VP International and I would strive for this role to be a catalyst for expanding the impact of OR/MS and increasing partnerships between academia and industry to deliver real-world solutions.