Lehigh ISE Optimization Science (LIOS) Program. Optimization offers comprehensive and elegant methodologies for solving increasingly large and complex decision-making problems. It aims to determine the best values of decision variables to achieve specific objectives subject to a given set of constraints. The objectives and constraints may represent real-world phenomena and can be expressed algebraically or as outputs from computer simulations. Optimization problems often exhibit rich structures that can be leveraged in developing mathematical theories or specialized algorithms. Over its rapid expansion for nearly a century, optimization has proven to be an exceptionally powerful tool in industrial and systems engineering (ISE), supporting decision-making when goals such as cost, efficiency, profit, or risk must be optimized under limited resources or other constraints. It has been the driving force behind many recent breakthroughs in data science and machine learning, and we envision treating it holistically as a scientific discipline.
The new Lehigh ISE Optimization Science (LIOS) Program offers several pioneering initiatives, including the Future Optimization Graduate Student Workshop (GradOpt), the Optimization Junior Faculty Colloquium (ColOpt), and the Modeling and Optimization: Theory and Applications (MOPTA) Conference.
Future Optimization Graduate Student Workshop (GradOpt), Lehigh University, August 17, 2026. For students considering a PhD and curious about research in optimization, Lehigh ISE offers a Future Optimization Graduate Student Workshop (GradOpt), a one-day workshop designed for undergraduate and master’s students within 1–2 years of applying to a PhD program. This event will introduce the students to the exciting field of optimization and its impact across science, engineering, finance, and AI. GradOpt is open to students from a wide range of academic backgrounds including engineering, mathematics, computer science, statistics, physics, and related fields. Lehigh ISE will cover the travel and lodging expenses of a selected cohort of motivated students.
Participants will engage directly with Lehigh ISE faculty, staff, and current PhD students through presentations, panel discussions, and informal mixers. They will gain valuable insights into research opportunities, the PhD application process, funding options, and life as a graduate student. The workshop also highlights career pathways available to PhD optimization graduates both in academia and industry. Students will also have the opportunity to attend the MOPTA 2026 Conference, held August 18–20 on Lehigh's campus. GradOpt will shape the next generation of optimization scholars!
Optimization Junior Faculty Colloquium (ColOpt), Lehigh University, August 20, 2026. The Optimization Junior Faculty Colloquium (
ColOpt) brings together faculty and researchers in the early stages of their careers to discuss opportunities for collaborative research and professional development in the field of optimization. Although ColOpt will address topics typically covered at colloquia organized by societies and institutes, such as tenure, promotion, and time management, its focus is more specifically on the unique aspects of optimization as an academic field. This includes emerging topics, new connections to other disciplines, industry trends, impactful courses, and feature sessions with directors of optimization programs from funding agencies.
ColOpt will be hosted by the Lehigh ISE on August 20, 2026. Participants in ColOpt will have their travel and lodging expenses covered and will also have the opportunity to attend the MOPTA 2026 Conference. Together, we will foster an even more collaborative and intellectually vibrant optimization community!
Lehigh ISE has a world-renowned reputation of research excellence in optimization and is continually innovating in all educational, outreach, and industrial programs. We thrive as a welcoming and inclusive community and provide an inspiring environment to study and discover. Our extremely successful alumni form a supportive ecosystem for extensive professional networking opportunities. Our highly ranked programs include data analytics, healthcare systems, financial engineering, and operations research.
