Our Research

What we do…

We are interested in harnessing the power of operations research, predictive analytics, and prescriptive analytics methodologies, to develop decision support tools for applied problems.

Currently, our research has focused on two main methodological areas:

  • Combinatorial algorithms
  • Stochastic optimization and Uncertainty modeling

We work in combining both areas, focused on applications, to make robust decision support systems. The applications we are looking into right now are energy management and astronomical observatory operations. They look far away from each other, but similar techniques can help significantly improve the processes if both settings. And both have large amounts of data that we can use to train, test, and validate our developments.

Look into our Projects section for more information on our current projects, and Contact us if you want to participate in some of them.

Research Team

Current researchers and students working in our research group.

Research Engineers

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Alfredo de Rodt

Research Engineer

Prescriptive Analytics, Models Deployment, Explainable AI

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Luis Arias

Research Engineer / B.S. in Engineering

Optimization, Operations Research

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Camila Marcuello

Research Engineer / M.S. in Data Science

Machine Learning, Scheduling, Optimization

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Constanza Lorca

Research Engineer

Machine Learning, Optimization, Observatory Operations

Ph.D. Students

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Andrés Catlán

Ph.D. Student, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

Machine learning, Optimization, Maintenance

Graduate Students

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Diego San Martín

M.S. Student, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

Optimization, Prescriptive Analytics

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Rodrigo Munizaga

M.S. Student, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

Machine learning, Prescriptive Analytics

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César Cerda

M.S. Student, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

Optimization

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Andrés Lagos

M.S. Student, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

Machine learning, Algorithms, Renewable energy sources

Undergraduate Students

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Matilde Valdés

B.S. in Engineering

Optimization, Operations Research

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Tomás Couso

B.S. in Engineering

Machine learning, Satellite Image Processing

Principal Investigator

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Rodrigo A. Carrasco

Associate Professor & the UC Data Science Initiative Director

Combining Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics, Combinatorial Algorithms, Algorithm Design & Analysis

Research Lines & Projects

Current research lines and grants

Our research is driven by the goal of bridging theory and practice, developing both predictive and prescriptive tools through mathematical optimization. These ongoing projects exemplify our approach, and research lines, where we leverage combinatorial optimization and stochastic modeling techniques to create decision support systems across diverse real-world applications.

You can find a list of our grants here, and a full list of current and past projects is available here.

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PLASMA: Analytical Platform for Maintenance Systems

Developing a cloud-based analytical platform to optimize predictive and prescriptive maintenance across industrial systems.

Development of Oncology Waiting List Prioritization Strategies

We are studying data-driven prioritization models that can help hospitals manage their oncology waiting lists with application in the South Eastern Metropolitan Health Service

Resource cost-aware scheduling problems under uncertainty

FONDECYT Regular project. Developing resource cost-aware scheduling solutions to optimize performance under uncertainty, with applications in astronomy and other industries.

Operations Research Tools Applied to Observatory Operations

Using operations research methodologies, we are developing new tools for observatory operations.

ClimateDL: Forecasting of extreme temperature events

Using deep learning spatial-temporal graph models for seasonal forecasting of extreme temperature events.

GEMS: variable-Generation Energy Management with Storage

We are combining machine learning and stochastic optimization tools to develop optimal energy management systems for fotovoltaic generation with storage.

Prescriptive Maintenance

Developing ML and decision support tools for predictive and prescriptive maintenance.

Publications

All of our group’s publications; easy to sort and cite.

Search for relevant content by filtering publications.
(2024). Uncertainty estimation through quantile forest for prescriptive scheduling of data processing at ALMA. Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems X.

PDF DOI

(2024). Is the change deforestation? Using time-series analysis of satellite data to disentangle deforestation from other forest degradation causes. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment.

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(2022). A RUL Estimation System from Clustered Run-to-Failure Degradation Signals. Sensors.

PDF Project DOI

(2022). Dealing with Uncertain Surgery Times in Operating Room Scheduling. European Journal of Operational Research.

PDF DOI

Recent Talks

Conferences and science communication

These are some of the recent talks and conferences in which we have participated. A full list is available here.

Oncology Waitlist: Strategies for Management in Health Services

José Peña and Rodrigo Carrasco present data-driven strategies for optimizing oncology waitlists and improving healthcare management

Beyond Efficiency: Operations as a Generator of Strategic Value

Transforming operations into a strategic driver through advanced analytics and innovation

Optimization and waiting lists

Rodrigo A. Carrasco and Jocelyn Dunstan discuss the versatile applications of mathematical optimization and data science, from radio telescopes to oncology waiting lists.

Algorithms in a hyperconnected world

In this interview we talk about operations research and its importance in a data-centered world.

It takes a village…

These are some of the great collaborators we’ve had the chance of working with in our research.

Collaborators

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José Peña

Physician at Servicio de Salud Metropolitano

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Alejandro Mac Cawley

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

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Anthony D. Cho Lo

Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

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Gonzalo Ruz

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Margarita Castro

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

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Jocelyn Dunstan

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

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Alfredo de Rodt

Research Engineer

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Jorge García

ALMA Observatory

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Luis Aburto

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Ignacio Fuentes

Universidad de Chile

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Javier Lopatin

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Mauricio Galleguillos

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Susana Eyheramendy

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Macarena Azar

M.S. in Engineering

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Susana Mondschein

Universidad de Chile

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Felipe Asenjo

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Hugo Caerols

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Eduardo Moreno

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Javiera Barrera

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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José Luis Ortiz

ALMA Observatory

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Felipe Contreras

B.S. in Industrial Engineering

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Gianluca Baselli

B.S. in Industrial Engineering

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Magdalena Marín

B.S. in Industrial Engineering

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Matías Lillo

B.S. in Industrial Engineering

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Carlos Silva

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Francisco Jara

Universidad de Santiago de Chile

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Jocelyn Olivari

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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Tito Homem de Mello

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

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David Rojas

Universidad de Chile / Instituto de Neurocirugía

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Gianpiero Canessa

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

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Ignacio Toledo

ALMA Observatory

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Sergio Martin

ALMA Observatory

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Cliff Stein

Columbia University

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Garud Iyengar

Columbia University

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José Verschae

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

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Kirk Pruhs

University of Pittsburgh

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Aldo Cipriano

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Contact

Interested in our work? Here is how to contact us.

  • +56 (2) 95504-4178
  • Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago, 7820436
  • Edificio Raúl Devés, Piso 3