University of Louisville - Industrial & Systems Engineering

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗦𝗙 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 (𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦) 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱!

After two days of orientation activities at the University of Louisville, our 2026 cohort is now on its way to Hamburg, Germany, where they will spend six weeks conducting research on Digital Twin Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

During the orientation, students met with faculty mentors Dr. Monica Gentili (PI), Dr. Faisal Aqlan, and Dr. Lihui Bai, and discussed research expectations, learned about intellectual property and research publications, and visited several research facilities at UofL, including the Louisville Automation & Robotics Research Institute (LARRI) and the Additive Manufacturing Institute of Science & Technology (AMIST). They also had the opportunity to experience a piece of Louisville's culture through a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum.

In Hamburg, the students will work closely with Prof. Stefan Voß, Dr. Kai Brüssau, and Dr. Robert Stahlbock, at the Institute of Information Systems (IWI), University of Hamburg, on research projects focused on Digital Twin applications in logistics and supply chain systems.

Safe travels to our students, and many thanks to all the faculty, staff, and partners at both institutions who are making this experience possible!

For more information about this IRES project: https://www.iresuofl.site/

𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗾𝗹𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗿𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱!

This paper titled, “Exploring Team Dynamics in Virtual Reality Environments” provides data-driven insights into how we collaborate in immersive digital spaces. By integrating traditional performance metrics with sensor-based analysis, their work offers a roadmap for designing intuitive VR workspaces and effective remote training programs. This is a significant contribution to the future of work, and we are proud to celebrate their well-deserved recognition.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/guTGmkiS

Congratulations to the team: Dr. Faisal Aqlan, Dalton Sparks, Rumena Begum, Dr. Jason Saleem, Dr. Marci DeCaro

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. Lihui Bai 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 (𝗟𝗦𝗖) 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Dr. Bai's selection for this prestigious award from the LSC Division followed a competitive and thorough evaluation process. Her nomination letter focused on the following key contributions, with several students writing letters to support her nomination:
- Experiential learning (online games, case studies)
- Leadership at UofL (co-director of LoDI)
- Curriculum development (new on-campus and online logistics and supply chain courses)
- Contributions to LSC Division and IISE (case competition)
- President of Louisville’s IISE Professional Chapter

Her prior recognitions at UofL include Provost's Award for an Exemplary Director of Graduate Studies, Student Champion Award, and Faculty Favorite award.

We are proud of Dr. Bai's accomplishments as an educator and champion of the logistics/supply chain domain.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀!

These exceptional students stood out among a competitive field of nominees from our faculty. Their achievements were recognized yesterday at the Annual Honors and Awards Ceremony hosted by the University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and contributions to our department.

UG students: Lola Gerlach, Austin Do, Parker Routt, Lauren Blair, Kate Kolokowsky, Shane Arnold, Benjamin Langford, Lara Thomas, Jordan Barr, Alberto Di Arcangelo, Jessica Nguyen, jaideep injam

MS students: Bidusi Khadka, Theo Salmon, PE, Chris Kitchens

PhD students: Sudhanshu Srivastava, Hasini Balasuriya, Christian Zuniga-Navarrete, Khalid Bello, MD Mohiuddin, Navid Etemadieh, Edward Isoghie

Go cards!

We’re proud to celebrate our Industrial & Systems Engineering undergraduate students for successfully presenting their industry-sponsored capstone projects at last week’s Engineering Design and Innovation Showcase (EDIS)!

Congratulations to the winners of the ISE Capstone Competition:
1st Place: GE Appliances ADC Network Optimization
Sponsor: GE Appliances, a Haier company
Team Members: Benjamin Langford, Parker Routt, and Vince Arnold

2nd Place: Simulation-Based Inventory Management Model for Fold-Pak
Sponsor: Smurfit Westrock
Team Members: Ben Bizzell, Dennis Dubinchik, and Izaiah Robison

3rd Place: Parking Lot Optimization and Layout Design
Sponsor: Michelin
Team Members: Camila Leets, John Davis, Juan De Ycaza, and Xander Green

We extend our sincere appreciation to our industry sponsors for their continued partnership and support.

A big thank you to Dr. Faisal Aqlan for coordinating the capstone course, and to our judges: Mr. Robert Rankin Rankin, Dr. William Harrington, Dr. Dustin Weiler, PhD, CHFP, (Industry Advisory Board members), Dr. Li Yang and Dr. Pratik Parikh for lending their expertise.

Kudos as well to the planning team for organizing such an outstanding event!

𝗗𝗿. 𝗫𝗶𝗮𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗶 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗦𝗙 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱!

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Wang, Assistant Professor of ISE in our department, has been awarded the prestigious NSF CAREER Award. This ~$550,000, 5-year grant is titled, 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥: 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗔𝗜 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

This award will enable Dr. Wang’s team to support non-AI experts in living and working effectively with imperfect AI tools by studying the workarounds people generate when encountering imperfect AI, what affects their ability to adapt these AI tools to their needs, and what knowledge and skills should be prioritized when equipping non-AI experts to work with such tools. The insights gained can inform the design of human-AI interfaces and the development of training programs, enabling the general public to better utilize AI tools. The project will also identify essential competencies for AI literacy, helping equip the future workforce with the ability and confidence to explore, question, and critically assess new AI tools they encounter.

More details: https://lnkd.in/gQyCwRV3

Congratulations, Dr. Wang! We are extremely proud of you.

𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟯𝟭!

IISE Louisville Professional Chapter and UofL IISE Student Chapter jointly present an in-person panel titled “AI and ISE Career” on Tuesday, March 31 in Duthie 117.

This one of its kind panel, featuring faculty and ISE professionals with rich AI experience, will inform ISE students at all levels how to stay ahead of the curve by leveraging AI in their learning and professional pursuits.

Food and soda will be provided.

Dr. Lihui Bai, Lauren Blair, Brooklyn Morris, Dr. Campbell Rightmyer Bego, PhD, PE, Dr. Joshua Nielsen, PhD, Dr. Scott Hoover, PhD, Dr. R. Eric Berson, Alberto Di Arcangelo, Maria Victoria Marengo

Today, our ISE department was excited to participate in Say Yes to the Ville!, the largest UofL annual admitted student open house.

Led by Dr. Jacob Read and Dr. Faisal Aqlan, and supported by our amazing students Jaime Morales, Lara Thomas, Shane Arnold, Joshua Schmidt, Kate Kolokowsky, and Austin Do, our team created an engaging, hands-on experience for prospective students and their families.

Visitors explored virtual reality and augmented reality applications, interacted with 3D printing technologies, and participated in fun activities like logistics games and ISE Jeopardy.

It was a great opportunity to showcase how our program prepares students to design, analyze, and improve complex systems across industries.

Thank you to the vent organizers and to everyone who stopped by. We truly enjoyed the conversations and enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of engineers!

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, Alberto Di Arcangelo, 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟'𝗢𝗿𝗲́𝗮𝗹 𝘅 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

This competition was a 3-day virtual challenge in February 2026 where early talent from across the country were tasked with designing an original product, service, or experience for the Maison Margiela Paris luxury fragrance line, judged on luxury, innovation, brand storytelling, and personalization.

Alberto created Élegance XI, a reimagined Maison Margiela Replica experience that transforms fragrance into a tactical scent wardrobe for Gen Z, inspired by the quiet elegance of French football legend Zinedine Zidane and Margiela's iconic numbered label system. The concept delivers a limited trio of customizable Replica decants each anchored to a distinct memory and fragrance profile, paired with an AI-powered "Arme ton XI" digital configurator and NFC-enabled pop-up ateliers where customers can build their own personalized layering formation and have their labels stitched on the spot.

𝗜𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀: “Placing 2nd in this national competition is a meaningful validation that blending analytical thinking with creative, human-centered design (the core of Industrial & Systems Engineering) can produce ideas that resonate at the highest levels of the industry. This experience reinforced my passion for designing systems and experiences that are not just efficient, but truly personal and impactful, and I'm grateful to represent the UofL - Industrial & Systems Engineering department on this stage.”

We all are very proud of you, Alberto!

Go Cards!