Andrea Cynthia Santos | Operational research | Research Excellence Distinction Award

Published on by Popular Scientist

Prof. Dr. Andrea Cynthia Santos | Operational research | Research Excellence Distinction Award

Le Havre Normandie University, Engineering Institute of Logistics (ISEL) | France

Prof. Dr. Andréa Cynthia Santos is a leading scholar in Computer Science whose research lies at the intersection of Operations Research, urban systems, and large-scale disaster management. Her work focuses on developing advanced optimization models, algorithms, and decision-support approaches that address complex sociotechnical challenges in industrial, natural, and health-related crisis scenarios. She is widely recognized for contributions to integrated routing, scheduling, robust optimization, network design, drone-based search strategies, and humanitarian logistics in post-disaster environments. Her research is characterized by strong interdisciplinary engagement, combining computational optimization, artificial intelligence, and systems engineering to improve resilience and sustainability in modern cities. She has produced a substantial body of scientific work, including numerous international journal articles, book chapters, and conference contributions, and has played a key role in organizing international scientific events. Beyond her research activity, she has demonstrated significant leadership in academic administration and scientific strategy, including directing major institutional programs, steering research initiatives, and contributing to national and international committees. She has led multiple research projects across national, regional, industrial, and international collaborations, supported by multidisciplinary teams. Her supervision of PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and master’s students reflects her strong commitment to academic mentorship and capacity building. She has also served as an evaluator for global research organizations and participated in expert panels spanning science, technology, and innovation. Her professional experience includes roles in academic governance, digital transformation, international relations, curriculum development, and research program management, positioning her as an influential figure in the fields of operations research, logistics innovation, and sustainable urban systems.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Barbalho, T. J., Jiménez Laredo, J. L., & Santos, A. C. (2025). The resource-constrained project scheduling problem for risk reduction after industrial disasters involving dangerous substances. OR Spectrum. Advance online publication.

Coco, A. A., Duhamel, C., Santos, A. C., & Haddad, M. N. (2024). Solving the probabilistic drone routing problem: Searching for victims in the aftermath of disasters. Networks, (July 2024).

Duhamel, C., & Santos, A. C. (2024). The strong network orientation problem. International Transactions in Operational Research.

Haddad, M. N., Santos, A. C., Duhamel, C., & Coco, A. A. (2023). Intelligent drone swarms to search for victims in post-disaster areas. Sensors, 23(23), 9540.

De Freitas, C. C., Aloise, D. J., Fontes, F. F. C., Santos, A. C., & Menezes, M. S. (2023). A biased random-key genetic algorithm for the two-level hub location routing problem with directed tours. OR Spectrum, 45, 1–26.

Saroj Koul | Business | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Popular Scientist

Prof. Saroj Koul | Business | Best Researcher Award

Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University, India

Dr. Saroj Koul is a seasoned academic and industry expert with over 18 years of experience managing large-scale projects and more than 17 years of teaching in India and Canada. She currently serves as a Professor at Jindal Global Business School, OP Jindal Global University, and has previously taught at Carleton University and Acadia University. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. in Corporate Policy Analysis from IIT Delhi, a Master’s in Systems Engineering & Operations Research from IIT Roorkee, and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from NIT Srinagar.

Profile:

Educational Background:

Dr. Koul holds a Ph.D. in Corporate Policy Analysis from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. She also earned a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering & Operations Research from IIT Roorkee and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from NIT Srinagar, under Kashmir University.

Academic and Industry Experience:

With academic tenures at Carleton University (Canada), Acadia University (Canada), and Jindal Global Business School (India), Dr. Koul has taught a wide range of business and management courses to undergraduate and postgraduate students, covering over 12,000 student contact hours. She has also served as a faculty committee member in curriculum development, ethics, placements, and research evaluation. Prior to her academic career, she held senior managerial positions at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) where she was actively involved in corporate planning, communication, IT, and public policy support initiatives.

Research and Publications:

Dr. Koul has published 35 research articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals and academic texts. Her research has received substantial funding, including a recent grant from the Gates Foundation for work on digital credit and data privacy practices. She has supervised graduate student theses, served on editorial boards, and has spoken at over 25 national and international academic events.

Awards and Honors:

Dr. Koul has received multiple recognitions for her excellence in teaching and research. These include the Distinguished Woman Researcher in Operations & Supply Chain Management (2023), Woman Achiever in Logistics Sector (2021), and the 100 Most Dedicated Professors Award (2019). She is also a recipient of the Dewang Mehta National Education Award and several Best Paper Awards at international conferences.

Professional Skills and Contributions:

Known for her leadership, problem-solving ability, and organizational skills, Dr. Koul has led ERP implementations for over 11,000 users, and contributed to national policy papers on corporate governance and public systems. She is fluent in English, Hindi, and has basic knowledge of French. Her combined experience in academia, research, and industry positions her as a dynamic contributor to both institutional and societal progress.

Google Scholar Citation Metrics:

  • Total Citations: 488

  • Citations Since 2020: 312

  • h-index: 12

  • h-index Since 2020: 11

  • i10-index: 16

  • i10-index Since 2020: 12

Publication Top Notes:

1. Dynamic vendor selection based on fuzzy AHP
2011
Citations: 80

2. Analyzing the interaction of factors for Flexibility in Supply Chains
2017
Citations: 42

3. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure: positioning in India
2022
Citations: 34

4. Dynamic vendor selection: A fuzzy AHP approach
2012
Citations: 31

5. System dynamics, uncertainty and hydrocarbon resources modelling: A systematic review
2016
Citations: 26