Consulting & Collaboration

Overview

I am interested in industry-facing collaborations at the intersection of optimization, machine learning, and data-driven decision-making. My goal is to help organizations translate complex operational challenges into structured models and practical decision-support tools.

My academic work focuses on rigorous and scalable methods for optimization, AI, and networked systems. In applied settings, I am especially interested in projects where mathematical modeling and computation can improve operational decisions, reduce manual effort, and support more systematic planning.

Areas of Interest

Staffing and scheduling optimization
Spreadsheet-to-decision workflows
Forecasting to operations
Resource allocation and operational planning
Networked and graph-based decision problems
Prototype development for optimization-based decision support

Example Collaboration Style

A typical engagement may begin with an existing spreadsheet-based or manual planning workflow. I can help formulate the underlying decision problem, build a mathematical model, and develop a prototype that produces recommendations under real operational constraints.

Examples of possible prototype directions include assigning staff across shifts subject to availability and coverage requirements, allocating resources across locations under demand and capacity constraints, converting forecasts into operational decisions, and building scenario-analysis tools for planning under uncertainty.

What I Offer

Exploratory conversations about operational decision problems
Proof-of-concept prototype development
Short-term applied modeling and coding projects
University-industry collaboration opportunities
Grant-supported applied research partnerships

Background

My background is in applied mathematics, optimization, machine learning, and engineering. I hold PhDs in both mathematics and electrical engineering, and my work spans theory, algorithms, software, and real-world applications in operations research, power systems, and engineering analytics.

In addition to my academic research, I am interested in focused applied collaborations where advanced modeling and computation can support practical decision-making in industry.

Contact

If your team is exploring an operational planning or decision-support problem and would like to discuss a possible collaboration, please feel free to reach out.

Email: mkarim3@ilstu.edu

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mehdi-karimi-91324b115

GitHub: github.com/mehdi-karimi-math