Operations Research
Operations Research (OR) provides the mathematical and computational foundations for analyzing, designing, and optimizing complex systems. It combines modeling, analytics, and algorithmic approaches to support effective decision-making across business, industry, government, and emerging technologies.
At Illinois, OR research encompasses both theoretical and applied methodologies, including:
- Mathematical optimization and network modeling
- Simulation and stochastic systems
- Queuing theory and Markov decision processes
- Prescriptive analytics
- Machine learning and AI for operations
- Economic modeling
Researchers in this area investigate how to represent and manage uncertainty, balance competing objectives and allocate limited resources efficiently. Applications span supply chain and logistics systems, healthcare operations, energy and sustainability, transportation and mobility, telecommunications and defense. Grounded in quantitative rigor, Operations Research equips engineers with the tools to design data-driven, resilient systems that optimize performance, cost and risk in increasingly interconnected environments.