Systems Optimization Lab

Michael Kokkolaras Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) - Rice University Dipl.-Ing.-Univ. (Aerospace Engineering) - Technische Universität München Dr. Kokkolaras is Professor, and the founding director of the Systems Optimization Laboratory, at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He is currently serving as the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the Faculty of Engineering. Dr. Kokkolaras joined McGill from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (UM), where he held research faculty appointments at the Department of Mechanical Engineering (primary) and the UM Transportation Research Institute (joint/courtesy). Dr. Kokkolaras is a full member of the FRQNT-funded multi-university Group for Research in Decision Analysis (GERAD) and Visiting Professor at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science (Division of Product Development) of Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. He has also been a Visiting Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering (LGI) of CentraleSupélec / Université Paris-Saclay in France. His research interests include multidisciplinary optimization, simulation-based engineering design, uncertainty quantification, modeling and validation, systems of systems, product families and optimization applications in transportation, energy, and healthcare engineering systems. Dr. Kokkolaras is an ASME Fellow, an Associate Fellow of the AIAA (serving on its Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Technical Committee), and elected member of the Advisory Board of the Design Society. He has served as Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (Springer), Optimization and Engineering (Springer), and the Transactions of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering; he is currently serving as Publications Chair of the ASME Design Engineering Division and as Associate Editor of Aerospace (MDPI). Finally, Dr. Kokkolaras has previously served as Chair of the Design Automation Executive Committee of the ASME Design Engineering Division, Program and Conference Chair of the ASME Design Automation Conference, and Program Co-Chair of the International Conference on Engineering Design.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Your name would appear here Your blurb would be here if you were an active postdoc in our lab.

PhD students

	Melad Fahed Melad has a Bachelor and a Master's in Mechanical Engineering from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). He has industry experience in finite element analysis, parametric optimization, and additive manufacturing. His PhD research focuses on multidisciplinary design optimization.
	Ali Tfaily Ali received his MEng (thesis) degree as a member of our lab and is now pursuing a PhD. He has a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from Concordia University and has significant experience in the aerospace industry. His PhD research focuses on AI applications in aeronautical enginnering, specifically in aircraft design.
	Shourav Ahmed (main supervisor: Prof. V. Thomson) Shourav's PhD research considers the aircraft design process from a project management and supply chain persepective. It aims at minimizing non-value adding tasks as well as optimizing review and certification procedures.

MSc (former MEng-thesis) students

	Reem Mahmoud Reem has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from The American University in Cairo. During her studies, she was involved in research and the topic of her undergraduate thesis was optimizing the energy supply of UAVs used in agricultural precision.
	Josh Chang Josh completed his BEng in Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University. During his undergraduate research, he worked on trajectory optimization of solar and dynamic soaring remotely piloted aircraft systems.
	Ali Tarabay Ali has a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University. He has experience working with aircraft design and certification focusing on flight simulation and performance.

MEng students

	Aravind Kumar Parthasarathy Aravind completed his BEng in Mechanical Engineering at Anna University in India. His MEng project focuses on Parameter Free Optimization in Aerodynamic Design.
	Vraj Patel Vraj is a student in the Department of Chemical Engineering; his MEng project focuses on the application of artificial intelligence in engineering design optimization.

BEng students

Mathieu Salz Mathieu is completing his BEng in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Applied Artificial Intelligence. He has previous research experience in the SURE program exploring the use of physics-informed neural networks to solve partial differential equations.

Postdoctoral fellows

	Khalil Alhandawi 2021-2022 Khalil obtained his PhD in our lab in December 2020. He also has a Bachelor and a Master in Mechanical Engineering from the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). His postdoctoral research focuses on using optimization and machine learning for health engineering.
	Emmanuel Bigeon (co-supervised with Prof. Varro) 2020-2021 Emmanuel completed his PhD at ETS in December 2019. He also has a Diploma in Informatics and Applied Mathematics from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Electrotechnique, d’Electronique, d’Informatique, d’Hydraulique et de Télécommunications (ENSEEIHT) in France. His postdoctoral research focused on developing advanced computational platforms for multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO).
	Ahmed Bayoumy 2020 Ahmed completed his PhD studies in our lab in December 2019 and stayed as a postdoc for 4 more months before joining Siemens Digital Industries Software where he will be contributing his optimization experience to the development of the HEEDS software.
	Bastien Talgorn 2014-2016 Bastien has a PhD in Mechanics and a Master in Applied Mathematics from Université Paul Sabatier and a Master in Engineering from INSA Toulouse. His research focused on linking and coordinating the levels of a multi-level MDO framework, and developing surrogate-assisted techniques for derivative-free blackbox optimization using direct search algorithms. Bastien is now working at Intel.

PhD students

	Lydia Lawand 2017-2021 Lydia has a Bachelor and a Master in Mechanical Engineering from the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). Her doctoral research topic considered lifecycle cost modeling for analysis and design optimization of additively remanufactured aerospace engine components.
	Khalil Alhandawi 2017-2020 Khalil developed set-based optimization methods for integrating remanufacturing decisions in the design process with emphasis on aeroengine applications. He is now a postdoctoral fellow in our lab.
	Ahmed Bayoumy 2015-2019 In his PhD research work, Ahmed developed multi-fidelity model management methods for single- and multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) as well as time-dependent MDO problems. He was a postdoctoral fellow in our lab for a few months before joining Siemens DIS.
	Ibrahim Chamseddine 2014-2018 Ibrahim's thesis title was "Utilizing Computational Design Optimization in Cancer Nanotherapy and Biology System Principles in Air Transportation: A Successful Demonstration of Interdisciplinary Research," which won the 2018 GERAD Best PhD thesis award. He is now a Research Fellow at Harvard University / Massachussetts General Hospital after a postdoctoral research stay at Moffit Cancer Research Center.
	Cássio Gonçalves 2014-2018 Cássio's thesis title was "Value-driven Methods for Product-Service Systems Design with Focus on the Aviation Industry." He is now Managing Director at Digex, the largest aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) company in Brazil.

MSc (former MEng-thesis) students

	Yuxiao Liu Yuxiao completed his MSc in August 2023 and now works at CAE. He has a BEng (Honors) in Mechanical Engineering at McGill. Before his graduate studies, he was also an undergraduate research assistant in our lab.
	Can Unlusoy 2021-2023 Can completed his MSc in May 2023 on the topic of generative design of turbine blades and is now working at Siemens Energy. He also holds a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the Lassonde School of Engineering in York University.
	Lucas Crea 2020-2021 Lucas completed his MSc on the topic of MDO for racing cars in December 2021 and is currently working at General Motors. His BEng is also from McGill, where he played a leadership role in the Racing (Formula) Team.
	Tomas Diaz Jimenez 2018-2020 Tomas completed his MEng (thesis) degree in our lab in December 2020. He also holds a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from McGill and was also an undergraduate research assistant in our lab.
	Ali Tfaily 2016-2018 Ali's MEng thesis title was "Integrating Air Systems in Aircraft Multidisciplinary Design Optimization." He is now a PhD student in our lab.
	Ashutosh Bhujbal 2015-2017 Ashutosh graduated with a degree in in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pune and has significant experience in the automotive industry. His thesis title was "Optimization of Composites Stacking Sequence Using Mesh Adaptive Direct Search."
	Purnendu Prithipaul (co-supervised with Prof. Pasini) 2013-2015 Purnendu's thesis title was "Analysis and Multi-objective Optimization of Vascular Stents Modelled as Lattices." Prior to his Masters, Purnendu completed his Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering at McGill.
	Gautam Marwaha 2013-2014 Gautam completed his McGill graduate degree in 2014, after obtaining a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from Panjab University. His thesis title was "System-of-systems Approach to Air Transportation Design."

BEng students

	Yuxiao Liu Undergraduate research assistant, 2020-2021 Yuxiao completed a BEng (Honors) in Mechanical Engineering at McGill. He worked on several programming assignments for numerical optimization.
	Jing "J" Han Undergraduate research assistant, Summer 2019 Jay has a Bachelor in Architecture and completed a BEng in Mechanical Engineering with a minor on Management. He contributed to developing MDO methods and tools for aeroderivative gas turbines.
	Joseph Carr SURE Awardee, 2015 Joe's research considered the implementation of MDO architectures in NASA's OpenMDAO framework. His SURE poster presentation won an award.
	Benjamin Thomsen Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering (SURE) Awardee, 2014 Undergraduate research assistant, Fall 2014 - Fall 2015 Benjamin supported the lab's research in the PSS area and was also the designer of the lab's website. Ben spent the summer of 2015 as an intern (and SOL representative) at GKN Aerospace Engine Systems in Sweden.
	Spencer Boone SURE Awardee, 2013 Spencer's research for the SURE program involved a system-of-systems optimization approach to air transportation design.
	Karuna Kadam Undergraduate research assistant, 2013 Karuna's research interests included systems and system-of-systems optimization for renewable energy applications, and her work considered modeling a house as a system-of-systems to optimize energy efficiency and promote the marketability of integrated renewable energy systems.

Visiting Faculty

François Cluzel April - October 2017 Assistant Professor, Laboratoire Genie Industriel (Department of Industrial Engineering), CentraleSupélec / Université Paris-Saclay, France Dr. Cluzel's research interests include eco-design, innovation engineering, eco-innovation, industrial ecology, life-cycle assessment, and more generally design automation (modelling, simulation and optimization). He is a member of the Design Society, the International Society for Industrial Ecology, and the French network of eco-design researchers EcoSD. During his visit at McGill, Dr. Cluzel investigated the application of optimization models to innovation engineering.

Nikos Lagaros Fall 2013 Associate Professor and Dean, Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece Prof. Lagaros spent part of his 2013 sabbatical leave in our lab. His research interest include structural optimization, earthquake engineering, computational mechanics and soft computing.

Visiting postdoctoral scholars

Maria Matheou (main supervisor: Prof. M.C. Phocas) April - August 2018 Maria holds a B.Sc. in Architecture, a Diploma of Architect–Engineer, and a Ph.D. in Architecture, all from the University of Cyprus. Her postdoctoral research at the Department of Architecture of the University of Cyprus focuses on motion planning, simulation and experimental study of a kinetic hybrid structure. Her research interests are in the areas of structural and architectural design, kinetic architecture, automation systems, design methods and digital tools.

Visiting graduate students

	Tatiana Pogarskaia (main supervisor: Prof. S. Lupuleac) October - December 2017 Tatiana was a PhD student in Applied Mathematics at Peter The Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia. Her doctoral research was in the broad area of derivative-free optimization for aircraft assembly.
	Alexandre Bekhradi (main supervisor: Prof. B. Yannou) April - October 2017 Alexandre was a PhD student in Industrial Engineering at CentraleSupélec (Paris, France) in partnership with the Economic Development Department of the City of Paris. His research area was innovation engineering, aiming at providing optimal technological and marketing roadmaps to innovative firms by rigorously planning their R&D and experimentations activities.
	Mariia Stefanova (main supervisor: Prof. S. Lupuleac) July - September 2015 Mariia was a Master's student in Applied Mathematics at Peter The Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia. Her research during her visit considered the improvement of an interior point algorithm for optimizing the assembly of wings on fuselages.
	Robin Tournemenne (main supervisor: Prof. J.F. Petiot) May - July 2015 Robin was a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at École Centrale de Nantes. The research objective of Robin's visit was to apply rigorous surrogate-assisted derivative-free optimization strategies for optimizing the design of musical instruments, which requires expensive simulations and physical experiments.