Smith, Alice E. (Auburn University)
Alice E. Smith
3301 Shelby Center
Auburn, AL 36849
Phone: 334-844-1460
Fax: 334-844-1381
Email: smithae@auburn.edu
Website: www.eng.auburn.edu/users/smithae/
Topics:
Optimization Using Techniques Inspired by Nature
Mother Nature is a great optimizer. Learn about computational techniques inspired by the optimization of natural systems. These include genetic algorithms, swarms and ant colonies, and simulated annealing. All are quite flexible and can be applied to a broad range of problems.
(Intermediate)
Engaging with International Academic Collaborations
The world is getting smaller. There are many benefits to engaging international colleagues and students. This talk will discuss initiation of contacts, avenues for collaboration, funding and sponsorship possibilities, cultural issues, and sustaining collaborations.(Intermediate)
Location of Semi-Obnoxious Facilities
Semi-obnoxious facilities are those which are beneficial but cause undesirable side effects to those who live or work in close proximity. Examples include airports, hospitals, and recycling and waste facilities. Optimal location of such facilities taking into account servicing of the area population along with minimizing side effects to the nearby populace is accomplished through a particle swarm optimizer.
(Advanced)
Background:
- BSCE Rice University
- MBA Saint Louis University
- PhD Missouri University of Science and Technology
Alice E. Smith served as Professor and Chair of the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department at Auburn University from 1999-2011, where she is currently a professor. Previous to this position, she was on the faculty of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, which she joined after industrial experience with Southwestern Bell Corporation. Dr. Smith has degrees in engineering and business from Rice University, Saint Louis University and Missouri University of Science and Technology.
During her tenure as Chair, the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department at Auburn University witnessed unprecedented growth in student enrollments (+200%), research funding (+500%) and private donations (+400%). Facilities expanded significantly and the department became a leader of three federally funded research centers. Interdisciplinary educational programs were developed and diversity of student body and faculty flourished.
Dr. Smith holds one U.S. patent and several international patents and has authored more than 200 publications which have garnered over 1,300 citations (ISI Web of Science). She won the E. L. Grant Best Paper Awards in 1999 and in 2006, and the William A. J. Golomski Best Paper Award in 2002. Several of her papers are among the most highly cited in their respective journals including the second most cited paper of IEEE Transactions on Reliability. Dr. Smith currently holds editorial positions on INFORMS Journal on Computing, Computers & Operations Research, International Journal of General Systems and IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation.
Dr. Smith has served as a principal investigator on over $5 million of sponsored research. Her research in analysis, modeling and optimization of complex systems has been funded by NASA, U.S. Department of Defense, NIST, U.S. Department of Transportation, Lockheed Martin, Adtranz (now Bombardier Transportation), the Ben Franklin Technology Center of Western Pennsylvania and U.S. National Science Foundation, from which she has been awarded fourteen grants including a CAREER grant in 1995 and an ADVANCE Leadership grant in 2001. Her industrial partners on sponsored research projects have included DaimlerChrysler Electronics, Eljer Plumbingware, Extrude Hone, Ford Motor and Crucible Compaction Metals. International research collaborations have been sponsored by the federal governments of Japan, Turkey, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Egypt, South Korea, Iraq, China and the U.S., and by the Institute of International Education.
She was awarded the INFORMS WORMS Award for the Advancement of Women in OR/MS in 2009. Dr. Smith was named an Auburn University Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Distinguished Professor in 2001, received the Senior Research Award of the College of Engineering at Auburn University in 2001 and the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering Board of Visitors Faculty Award for Research and Scholarly Activity in 1996. She currently serves as Past Chair of the Council of Industrial Engineering Academic Department Heads (CIEADH) and has served as the President of the INFORMS Association of Chairs of Operations Research Departments (ACORD).
Five of her doctoral students are in tenured positions at U.S. universities and two of these are NSF CAREER awardees. A further three doctoral students are tenured or tenure track faculty at foreign institutions. Dr. Smith is a fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and of the Society of Women Engineers, a member of Tau Beta Pi, the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science and the American Society for Engineering Education, and a Registered Professional Engineer in Alabama and Pennsylvania.