Shahrzad Valizadeh
RMIT University
I am a second-year PhD student in the School of Accounting, Information Systems, and Supply Chain at RMIT University. My research focuses on the “Optimization in Blood Ordering Systems.” I aim to optimize inventory management and the ordering system to satisfy uncertain patient demand while balancing the trade-off between shortages and outdated units.
1. Give me a quick overview of the type of mathematics you are studying, and/or the aims of your research and its potential applications/outcomes (how you would explain your work and studies to friends who don’t study maths?)
My research mainly focuses on optimization techniques in the field of the blood supply chain. The blood supply chain is an essential component of the healthcare system, responsible for collecting, testing, processing, and distributing safe and adequate supplies of blood units and their products. Considering the specific challenges associated with the blood supply chain, including the limited shelf life of blood units, reliance on donors, and uncertain patients’ demand, our focus is on finding a plausible inventory replenishment policy in response to changes in demand rate, while balancing the trade-off between associated costs and customer satisfaction.
2. How did you get into the mathematical sciences? Was there someone or something that inspired you to this field?
My educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in industrial engineering, logistics and supply chain. After studying “Operations Research” during my bachelor’s program and “Decision Making under Uncertainty” during my PhD, I developed a strong interest in optimization approaches and sequential decision-making.
The main motivation for taking this course stems from my PhD thesis, which primarily employs “Dynamic Programming” and “Markov Decision Processes” in the field of the blood supply chain.
3. Winter School is designed to give students a deeper understanding of their area of research and expose them to others working in different fields/industries. Tell me about your Winter School experience. What was the most valuable part of the program for you?
The most valuable outcome has been the opportunity to collaborate with academics and other students from different areas of research, sharing ideas and knowledge. Additionally, the provided talks and presentations, especially with business partners, offered a great platform to become more familiar with job opportunities, their challenges, and the strategies undertaken to solve them. Last but not least, making connections and finding new colleagues in the same area of research has been incredibly worthwhile.
4. What was your main take away/s from AMSI Winter School? Something you learned? A connection you made? Do you have new ideas for your work/research or see it in a new light?
I can highlight the diverse areas of research and their applications as valuable insights that broadened my understanding of decision-making across different fields and industries. Additionally, as I mentioned in the previous question, listening to presentations and collaborating with other students outside of sessions provided a great opportunity to learn from their experiences and skills.
5. You received a grant to attend AMSI Winter School. How important was this in terms of your ability to attend, fully participate in the program and meet others studying in similar fields?
This provided grant supported my participation in the Winter School, giving me the opportunity to become more familiar with other researchers and explore new research areas. Instead of worrying about arranging accommodation and travel, the grant allowed me to focus on learning new skills, understanding innovative projects, and making new connections with other researchers.
6. What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Winter School? How would you describe the conference to them?
In my opinion, these types of schools and grants are highly recommended for students interested in exploring new research areas and discovering various applications in a specific field. I strongly encourage not only PhD students but also master’s and undergraduate students to join all sessions, especially in-person talks, as they cannot predict how each of these connections might benefit them in the future.
7. Where do you want the mathematical sciences to take you? Where do you see yourself in five, or ten years time?
Personally, my goal is to build a strong foundation in optimization techniques and decision-making strategies and to implement this knowledge in future projects. I believe that the more I learn about new methods and research fields, the deeper my understanding will be of real-world projects.
8. Any other feedback/comments you would like to provide on the travel grant or AMSI Winter School?
Thank you for organizing such a program and providing me with this opportunity to be a part of the AMSI Winter School 2024.