Funded PhD at UoA: Problem Shaping for Mathematical Models of Scheduling Problems

Associate Professor Andrew Mason and Associate Professor Andrea Raith have a funded PhD project in Operations Research available. To apply, please get in touch with us as soon as possible by email.

Title: Problem Shaping for Mathematical Models of Scheduling Problems

Summary: Many organisations have complex scheduling problems that they model as generalised set partitioning models and then solve using integer programming optimisation techniques. These problems arise, for instance, in the airline operations, rostering of medical personnel, forestry management, or collection and processing of goods (such as milk) and many other contexts.

This doctoral research project will consider scheduling problems and other similarly complex problems. These problems have mathematical formulations with a special structure (generalised set partitioning models). Due to their prohibitively large size, the problems are commonly solved using decomposition algorithms. Decomposition approaches initially solve a simplified optimisation problem, and then repeatedly augment this problem with new schedules (e.g. sequences of work tasks) that improve the solution. Our recent observations hint at the impact of the augmentation approach itself, where, by carefully shaping the formulation, we can create favourable model properties that speed up the solution process. This allows us to obtain high quality solutions faster. We will systematically propose and analyse problem shaping approaches to develop a theoretical understanding of this new approach thereby addressing the following three research aims:

  1. Identify properties of different mathematical representations of generalised set partitioning problems and their connection to solution fractionality of the linear programming formulation.
  2. Propose novel problem shaping approaches and integrate them in decomposition algorithms for scheduling problems.
  3. Conduct a systematic analysis of our current and proposed problem shaping approaches to develop an understanding of their operation and maximise the impact they make when solving challenging scheduling problems.


Gurobi Optimization Community Event

Gurobi is hosting an Optimization Community Event in Auckland on Thursday the 23rd of November from 3-6pm at the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour.

You can register for the event at the link below. Please note that if you are attending the ORSNZ conference you need to register separately for this event. In addition you do not need to attend the ORSNZ conference to attend the Gurobi event.

https://www.gurobi.com/events/optimization-community-auckland-23112023/

SigmaOpt and ANZIAM Conference

Please see below for an invitation to (1) join SigmaOpt (an ANZIAM special interest group for optimisation, Operations Research, optimal control and related fields), (2) attend the ANZIAM conference and the (3) SigmaOpt workshop immediately after the ANZIAM conference.
Finally, (4) SigmaOpt / MoCaO are also calling for nominations for a student best paper prize.

(1) Invitation to join SigmaOpt (An ANZIAM Special Interest Group in Mathematical Optimisation)

You may be aware of ANZIAM (Australian and New Zealand Industrial and Applied Mathematics). ANZIAM has a Special Interest Group in Mathematical Optimisation (SigmaOpt). Andrea Raith is a member of the SigmaOpt executive committee on behalf of ORSNZ.

SigmaOpt is the special interest group of ANZIAM for optimisation, Operations Research, optimal control and related fields. The SigmaOpt webpage is: https://www.anziam.org.au/SIGMAOPT
You can request to join the SigmaOpt website here: https://groups.google.com/g/sigmaopt or contact Dr Hoa Bui at [email protected].

We welcome you to join the SigmaOpt mailing list as well as sharing this announcement with any interested colleagues.

ANZIAM also offers free student membership for interested students.

(2) ANZIAM 2024 conference – Golbon Zakeri, who many of you will know, is an invited speaker at the upcoming ANZIAM conference.

The Organising Committee warmly invites you to join us for the ANZIAM 2024 Conference, to be held in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

Dates: 11-15 February 2024
Venue: Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, Hahndorf SA
Website: https://www.mathematics.org.au/sys/public/home.php?conf_id=61

The scientific programme for the annual ANZIAM Conference will include 8 invited plenary lectures on a range of areas of applied mathematics. The conference will also feature a student social event, WIMSIG Lunch, LGBTQIA+ & Allies event, and formal conference dinner.
An ECR Workshop will be held on Saturday and Sunday (10–11 Feb) and the Mathematical Biology Special Interest Group (MBSIG) Workshop and SigmaOpt Workshop will both take place on Friday 16 February following the conference.

Confirmed Invited Speakers:
• David Abrahams (U. Cambridge)
• Luke Bennetts (U. Adelaide)
• Beth Fulton (CSIRO)
• Adrianne Jenner (Queensland U. Technology)
• Chris Lustri (U. Sydney)
• Neela Nataraj (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay)
• Tony J. Roberts (U. Adelaide)
• Golbon Zakeri (U. Massachusetts Amherst)

(3) SigmaOpt 2024 workshop and student paper prize – Golbon Zakeri, is also an invited speaker here.

SigmaOpt, the optimisation special interest group of ANZIAM, is holding a one-day workshop in Adelaide City on the day after the 2024 ANZIAM Conference (in Adelaide Hills). The workshop will feature talks from five invited speakers as well as the winner of the Student Best Paper Prize.

Important Information:

When: Friday February 16, 2024.
Where: Room RR5-09 at the City West Campus of UniSA.
Invited Speakers:

Kate Helmstedt (QUT)
Yalcin Kaya (UniSA)
Vicky Mak (Deakin)
Lindon Roberts (USyd)
Golbon Zakeri (UMas Amherst, USA)
The Winner of the Student Best Paper Prize (TBA) – see call below

Registration: $50 (includes catering) using the following link via the ANZIAM 2024 conference registration system: https://www.mathematics.org.au/sys/pages/plain.php?page_id=39&conf_id=61

(4) SigmaOpt/MoCaO Student Best Paper Prize: SigmaOpt and MoCaO call for nominations for the joint SigmaOpt/MoCaO Student Best Paper Prize for an exceptional paper in the field of mathematical optimisation, optimal control, operations research or related field published in the last 18 months. The winner of this prize will be awarded $300 and invited to present the paper at the one-day workshop. For information on submitting a nomination, visit: https://www.anziam.org.au/SIGMAOPT
Nominations for the prize are due by 4/12/2023.

For further information about the workshop, visit the ANZIAM conference webpage:
https://www.mathematics.org.au/sys/pages/plain.php?page_id=39&conf_id=61

ORSNZ 2023 Annual Conference – Abstract Deadline Extended

The deadline for you to submit an abstract for the ORSNZ 2023 Annual Conference (23-24 November 2023) has been extended until Friday 10 November 2023. For those eligible for the Young Practitioners’ Prize (YPP), you also need to submit a short paper (at most 12 pages) by Monday 13 November 2023.

You also need to register. Registrations are being managed via Eventbrite. Note that there is Student Financial Assistance available.

Please let Mike know if you have any issues: president AT THE orsnz.org.nz.

Ngā mihi nui, Tom & Mike (Conference Organisers)

ORSNZ 2023 Annual Conference – Registration Open!

Kia ora koutou,

We invite you to register for the ORSNZ 2023 Annual Conference. Registrations are being managed via Eventbrite. Note that there is Student Financial Assistance available.

You also need to submit an abstract if you would like to present, along with a paper if you would like to be considered for the Young Practitioner’s Prize (YPP).

Please let Mike know if you have any issues: president AT THE orsnz.org.nz.

Ngā mihi nui, Tom & Mike (Conference Organisers)

Call for Abstracts & YPP Papers – ORSNZ 2023 Annual Conference

Kia ora koutou,

We invite you to submit an abstract for the ORSNZ 2023 Annual Conference (23-24 November 2023) by Monday 6 November 2023. For those eligible for the Young Practitioners’ Prize (YPP), you also need to submit a short paper (at most 12 pages) by Monday 13 November 2023.

We hope to see you there! Noho ora mai, Tom & Mike (Conference Organisers)

APORS Young Researcher Best Paper Award

Kia ora koutou,

Please see the APORS announcement below. ORSNZ has the opportunity to nominate up to 3 papers for these awards. Please email me president AT THE orsnz.org.nz if you would like to put a paper forward for consideration.

Noho ora mai, Mike (ORSNZ President)

Call for Nominations

for

APORS Young Researcher Best Paper Award

The APORS Young Researcher Best Paper Award will be set up in 2023 and is presented to young scholar(s) “In recognition of the outstanding research in the Operations Research and related areas in either theories and/or applications”.

The Young Researcher Best Papers awarded by the APORS will definitely help the recognition and exchange among the member societies and facilitate the communication of young operations research researchers within the region. The award will offer an opportunity for young researchers in Asia and Pacific region to present their latest achievements and we hope, to foster collaborative exchanges and create new academic connections among the member societies of APORS.

The APORS Young Researcher Best Paper awards are categorized into three types: Theoretical Research Award, Applied Practice Award, and Collaborative Progress Award, to encourage academic researches among young researchers in the theoretical and applied aspects, and to encourage collaboration between different APORS member societies.

Now we call for nominations from our 12 APORS member societies for the 2023 APORS Young Researcher Best Paper Awards. Attached is the guidelines for the awards, eligibility, and nomination requirements.

Deadline of the nomination for the 2023 Awards is set to October 22, 2023.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Yu-Hong Dai

President of the APORS

Date: September 21, 2023