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ACMD Seminar: Discrete Optimization Techniques for Network and Data Analysis

Illya Hicks
Computational and Applied Mathematics Department, Rice University

Tuesday, April 26, 3:00-4:00 EDT (1:00-2:00 MDT)

A video of this talk is available to NIST staff in the Math channel on NISTube, which is accessible from the NIST internal home page.

Abstract:  Data is everywhere and data analysis has garnered significant attention in diverse fields as an effective tool for studying complex, natural and engineered systems.  One way to model data is through graphs or networks.  Novel network models of data arising from internet analytics, systems biology, social networks, computational finance, and telecommunications have led to many interesting insights.  In this talk, we explore discrete optimization techniques for network and matroid based models.  In particular, we will focus on finding cohesive data within network-based models.  The goal is to detect cohesiveness in spite of missing information (linkages).  We will also focus on secure message passaging of data via the strong rainbow connection problem. Finally, we will also explore integer programming models (inspired by networks) for designing optimal binary decision trees.

Bio:  Illya V. Hicks is the professor and chair of the Computational and Applied Mathematics Department at Rice University.  He received a BS in mathematics (1995) from Texas State University and both a MA and PhD in Computational and Applied Mathematics (2000) from Rice University.  Illya was as faculty member in the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department at Texas A&M University (2000-2006) and has also served as the faculty advisor to the president of Rice University from 2016 to 2019. 

In terms of research, his interests are in combinatorial optimization, graph theory, and integer programming with applications in big data, imaging, social networks, political redistricting, energy, and logistics.  Illya is the recipient of the 2005 Optimization Prize for Young Researchers from the Optimization Society of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) and the 2010 Forum Moving Spirit Award from INFORMS.  Illya was also named an INFORMS Fellow in 2020.

Note: This talk will be recorded to provide access to NIST staff and associates who could not be present to the time of the seminar. The recording will be made available in the Math channel on NISTube, which is accessible only on the NIST internal network. This recording could be released to the public through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Do not discuss or visually present any sensitive (CUI/PII/BII) material. Ensure that no inappropriate material or any minors are contained within the background of any recording. (To facilitate this, we request that cameras of attendees are muted except when asking questions.)

Host: Tony Kearsley

Created March 28, 2022, Updated May 27, 2022