Biography
Dr. Ivan Contreras is a research scientist and professor who works in the fields of operations research, industrial engineering, and applied mathematics. He is an international leader in the fields of network and combinatorial optimization, with a focus on the design and operation of large-scale hub networks arising in express delivery systems, air freight and passenger transportation, liner shipping, trucking, and rapid transit systems. He leads an interdisciplinary research team of engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, statisticians, and business managers working on the development of innovative optimization models and solution algorithms for solving complex strategic, tactical and operational decision problems arising in transportation and logistics. The long-term vision of his research program focuses on closing the gap between theory, methodology and practice in major thrust areas in operations research and transportation and logistics.
He has over 15 years of experience in modeling and solving complex optimization problems and has written over 50 scientific articles and book chapters in prestigious scientific journals in operations research and transportation science. In 2015, he was appointed as Concordia Research Chair in Transportation and Logistics Network Optimization, and was awarded the INFORMS Chuck ReVelle Rising Star Award for his contributions to location science and network design.
He is a regular member of the world-class Interuniversity Research Centre on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation (CIRRELT) and the Next Generation Cities Institute (NGCI). Over the last 10 years, he has supervised to completion several students and research scientists including: four postdoctoral fellows, 10 PhD students, 15 MASc students, and six visiting PhD students. Some of them have won best PhD thesis awards and other prestigious awards from INFORMS. He has also supervised over 55 undergraduate students in Capstone projects in collaboration with several companies and healthcare institutions. He currently supervises one postdoc, six PhD students, three MASc students, and 12 undegraduate students.
Over the last 10 years, he has taught numerous introductory and advanced courses in operations research, supply chain engineering, and probability and statistics. His strong commitment to mentoring and teaching, as well as his ability to inspire passion in students, has been recognized at Concordia University with the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science Teaching Excellence Award. He serves as Graduate Program Director (GPD) of the PhD programs in the Mechanical, Industrial, and Aerospace Engineering Department at Concordia.