We encourage you to register for our informational webinars to learn more about our Ph.D. program. Multiple sessions will occur over the course of the fall semester, starting in August. Registration for these events is required. Please register at our events page:

https://engineering.lehigh.edu/ise/events

The annual deadline for applications is December 15.

The Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Ph.D. program is comprehensive in scope for students interested in pursuing research at the cutting edge of the discipline.

The research directions of the program include mathematical optimization, data science and machine learning, energy and service systems, and high-performance computing. Methodological research thrusts focus on optimization, machine learning, stochastics, and quantum computing. On the applied side, the expertise of our faculty revolves around the operations and analytics of energy, finance, healthcare, mobility & transportation, and supply chain management.

The Lehigh ISE Ph.D. program offers a vibrant perspective on the next generation of data science, providing students with the knowledge base and research skills that are necessary to mine and analyze high-volume data using state-of-the-art optimization and stochastic modeling techniques.

Students in our program have the opportunity to take a variety of courses covering the spectrum of descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, in topics such as:

  • Convex Analysis & Mathematical Optimization

  • Stochastic Models & Statistical Learning

  • Continuous & Discrete Optimization

  • Optimization Methods in Machine Learning

  • Machine Learning & Data Mining

  • Reinforcement Learning & Dynamic Programming

Admitted students are guaranteed financial support for the entire duration of the program (subject to successful performance).

Alumni of the program have high profile careers in academia, research, and industry. Students enrolled in our Ph.D. Program are offered the opportunity to enroll in the Lehigh ISE FACET (Future Academic Career Experiential Training) Program, which is designed to motivate and help students pursue careers in academia.

Click here for a Ph.D. Program Guide for Students.

Click here for the Ph.D. Program Requirements.

How long will it take to complete a Ph.D. degree in the ISE Department?
  • The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 48 credit hours if entering with a master’s degree.

  • If entering with a bachelor’s degree, a student must complete at least 72 credit hours. 

  • The usual length of time is about four to six years.  A dissertation is required for the Ph.D. program.

Could I apply directly to the Ph.D. program without having a master’s degree first?

Yes; you will need to complete 72 credits of course work. 

 

Sponsors of Research Projects:

Research in the ISE department is sponsored by NSF, Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Labor, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, PITA, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, SAS, Lucent Technologies, and more.

Lehigh's Research Groups / Institutes:

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Graduate Funding

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CONTACT
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Lehigh University
200 West Packer Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18015-1582
Phone: (610) 758-4050

E-mail: Joyce Gabay
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