Rate My Professor Ali Eshragh

Dr Ali Eshragh serves as Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer and Information Sciences within the College of Engineering, Science and Environment at the University of Newcastle. He holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics specializing in Stochastic Operations Research from the University of South Australia (2011), an MSc in Industrial Engineering (2004), and a BSc in Industrial Engineering (2001), both from Sharif University of Technology in Iran. Eshragh joined the University of Newcastle in 2014 as Lecturer in Statistics and Optimization in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, advanced to Senior Lecturer in Data Science in the School of Information and Physical Sciences from 2018 to 2022, and has held the honorary senior lecturer position since 2022. Prior roles include Lecturer in Stochastic Operations Research and Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Adelaide (2011-2014).

Eshragh's research focuses on statistical modelling integrated with machine learning for big data analysis, forecasting of large time series datasets, Markov Decision Processes, reinforcement learning, randomized numerical linear algebra, and supply chain optimization. He leads the ForBiD research group on Forecasting and Big Data, securing 15 grants totaling $3,619,951, including projects on demand forecasting for Australian food and beverage supply chains with partners like Coca Cola Amatil and Sanitarium, and collaborations with Yale University, University of California Berkeley, and others. Key publications include "A Tradeoff Model for Green Supply Chain Planning: A Leanness-Versus-Greenness Analysis" (Omega, 2015), "Tactical Supply Chain Planning under a Carbon Tax Policy Scheme: A Case Study" (International Journal of Production Economics, 2015), "Modeling the Dynamics of the COVID-19 Population in Australia: A Probabilistic Analysis" (PLoS ONE, 2020), and "LSAR: Efficient Leverage Score Sampling Algorithm for the Analysis of Big Time Series Data" (Journal of Machine Learning Research, 2022). Awards encompass the Australian Society for Operations Research Rising Star Award (2017), University of Newcastle Staff Excellence Award (2020), and Teaching Excellence Team Award runner-up (2016). He has served as Associate Editor for Environmental Modeling & Assessment, Deputy Head of School for Industry Engagement, on the Faculty of Science Board, and organized international workshops.