Jim Cochran
James J. Cochran is the Bank of Ruston Endowed Research Professor of Quantitative Analysis and Computational Modeling and Senior Scientist/Analytic Group Director in the Center of Excellence in Integrated Smart Cyber-Centric Sensor Surveillance Systems at Louisiana Tech University. He holds a B.S., an M.S., an M.B.A. (all from Wright State University), and a Ph.D. (from the University of Cincinnati). He has previously been on the faculty at Wright State University, Drexel University, Miami University, and the University of Cincinnati. He has also held the position of Visiting Scholar with the Stanford University Department of Statistics, the University of South Africa Department of Decision Sciences, and the Universidad de Talca Department of Industrial Engineering.
Professor Cochran has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in statistical methods, regression analysis, experimental design, multivariate statistics, linear models, categorical data analysis, statistical consulting, mathematical statistics, operations research methods, and mathematical programming. His research interests include sample based and Bayesian optimization, statistical methods (particularly general linear models), statistical learning, and information assurance. Journals in which his research has been published include Management Science, American Statistician, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Statistics Education, INFORMS’ Transactions on Education, Journal of Sports Economics, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Journal of Arthroplasty, and International Journal of the Computer, the Internet, and Management. He also co-edited the Anthology of Statistics in Sports. Companies and organizations for whom Dr. Cochran has served as a consultant include Procter & Gamble, Ralston-Purina, Jergens, J. Walter Thompson, Heinz, General Foods, Quaker, Gibson Greetings, Texas Instruments, Friendly’s Restaurants, Whittle Communications, Kenner Toys, Marriott, Nabisco, and Teach For America.
Professor Cochran was General Chair of the 2005 INFORMS Conference. He was President of INFORM-ED 2002-2005 and also served as the forum's Vice President - Projects and Vice President - Meetings. He is the founding chair of INFORMS Section on OR in SpORts and he has been a member of INFORMS’ Publication, Education, Student Affairs, Strategic Marketing, President's Initiatives, and Diversity Committees. He established and has organized INFORMS’ Teaching Effectiveness Colloquium series and annual Case Competition as well as the annual INFORMS/ IFORS/EURO International Education Workshop series. He is the General Chair of the upcoming ORPA IV Conference on Using Operations Research to Address Urban Transport and Water Resource Management Issues in Africa. Professor Cochran has served on the Advisory Board for INFORMS Summer Workshop on Teaching Management Science as well as the Editorial Boards for Interfaces, INFORMS Transactions on Education, ORiON, Journal of the Chilean Institute of Operations Research, INFORMS Case and Teaching Materials Collection, Decision Sciences, Operations Management Education Review, International Journal of Sports Science and Engineering, and Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports. He also maintains extensive websites for classes he teaches.
