Berkeley Industrial Engineering & Operations Research

Who is coming to UC Berkeley IEOR, and why? Welcome back to our series introducing the newest members of the UC Berkeley IEOR graduate community. Filiana Kostopoulou will join us this fall as an IEOR PhD student, bringing a strong passion for mathematics, optimization, and the rigorous study of algorithms. During her undergraduate studies, she explored the theoretical foundations of major operations research methods—an experience that revealed both the intellectual depth of the field and its potential for meaningful real-world impact. At Berkeley, Filiana looks forward to deepening her understanding of optimization techniques and algorithms while investigating their applications across disciplines. #UCBerkeleyIEOR #Classof2027 #UCBerkeley #BerkeleyEngineering

At our spring alumni mixer, Berkeley IEOR PhD alumnus Georgios Patsakis (PhD ’20) had the chance to reconnect with his doctoral advisor, Professor Shmuel Oren, and we’re so glad we captured this exchange. We’re grateful to faculty like Professor Oren, who create supportive environments where students can thrive, grow and become confident professionals and leaders in industry. #UCBerkeley #BerkeleyIEOR #CalAlumni #Mentorship #BerkeleyEngineering

In today's alumni spotlight, we featuring Mark Cheng, UC Berkeley IEOR Class of 1982. Over nearly three decades at Strategic Decisions Group, Mark helped organizations address complex challenges and make stronger strategic choices through advanced analytics. His work included long-term engagements in 16 countries, as well as four years in London serving clients throughout Europe. Alongside his colleagues, Mark also authored several published articles examining the innovative analytical methods applied in their consulting work. Mark credits much of his professional success to the problem-solving discipline and analytical foundation he developed through Berkeley IEOR and Claremont Graduate University’s Mathematics Clinic. In 2013, he retired as a Principal Consultant after 28 years of collaboration with an accomplished team of decision and risk analysis professionals. Today, Mark leads backpacking and backcountry ski trips for the Sierra Club. #BerkeleyIEOR #CalAlumni #GoBears #UCBerkeley

Who is coming to UC Berkeley IEOR, and why? Welcome to our new series introducing you to the newest members of the UC Berkeley IEOR graduate community. First, meet Sahand Ahmadi, an incoming Master of Science student. Sahand is particularly excited to explore the intersection of stochastic modeling, optimization, simulation, and machine learning, with a focus on applications in energy systems and electricity markets. His interests reflect the power of IEOR to address some of today’s most complex challenges. #UCBerkeleyIEOR #UCBerkeley #BerkeleyEngineering #GradSchool

Earlier this spring, we had the chance to reconnect with members of our alumni community at one of our alumni mixers. Hear from Vincent Karpf (MAnalytics ’25) as he reflects on his journey after graduation and shares how he landed his dream role as an AI researcher. #BerkeleyIEOR #UCBerkeley #BerkeleyEngineering #AlumniSpotlight #ArtificialIntelligence #CalAlum #GoBears #AlumniNetwork #AIResearch

After graduating from UC Berkeley IEOR in 1988, Chisoo Lyons began her career at FICO, where she introduced and led transformative solutions in the global credit risk industry. Her UC Berkeley IEOR foundation remained central to her path, from coursework in Bayesian decision analysis and linear programming to working alongside Berkeley alumni and faculty leaders. Today, she serves as Executive Director and CEO of Women in Data Science, a global nonprofit inspiring women and underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in data science and AI. #BerkeleyIEOR #AlumniSpotlight #UCBerkeley #CalAlumni

“IEOR has had a lasting impact on my career. The program taught me to approach complex challenges through a combination of analytical thinking, a systems perspective, and practical problem-solving. These skills have been invaluable throughout my professional journey—whether in consulting, teaching Operations Management, or building a mission-driven company that donates 100% of its profits to nonprofit organizations.” —Pedro Traverso, M.S. ’03 IEOR From Berkeley, California, to Santiago, Chile, Pedro’s journey demonstrates the enduring impact and global reach of an IEOR education. Today, he applies his Berkeley IEOR foundation as an educator, consultant, and founder committed to creating meaningful social impact. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Pedro! #AlumniSpotlight #UCBerkeley #BerkeleyIEOR #GoBears

🔍 PhD Intern Spotlight: Grace He You may recognize Grace as one of our incredible student ambassadors! This summer, she’s balancing her ambassador role with her work as a graduate student researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), where she's focusing on network security and anomaly detection. #BerkeleyIEOR #BerkeleyEngineering #MachineLearning #PhDLife #Internship

Words of wisdom for new and returning students from our recent IEOR graduates! 🎓 #AlumniAdvice #BerkeleyIEOR #UCBerkeley

This summer, fourth-year UC Berkeley IEOR PhD student Hanyang Li is applying his research and technical expertise as a machine learning engineer on Nubank’s AI Core Team. At Latin America’s largest fintech bank, Hanyang is developing and testing machine learning systems, with a focus on memory-efficient optimizers. #BerkeleyIEOR #BerkeleyEngineering #MachineLearning #Internship