People

Faculty

Shima Mohebbi is an assistant professor in the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research, and affiliate faculty of Computer Science and Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering at George Mason University. Dr. Mohebbi is also a core faculty of C-RASC (Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities) at Mason. She received her PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering, and her second master’s degree in Statistics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Mohebbi has served as a board director in the Modeling and Simulation Division of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and is passionate about engineering education and outreach activities. She strives to create a teaching environment that promotes problem-solving, communication skills, self-reflection, and collaboration among students. In her spare time, Dr. Mohebbi enjoys playing the piano and is an outdoor enthusiast. Prior to joining Mason, Dr. Mohebbi was an assistant professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering / Data Science and Analytics Institute at the University of Oklahoma, and a visiting scholar in University of Exeter’s Center for Water Systems, UK.


PhD Students

Babak Aslani is a Ph.D. candidate in Systems Engineering and Operations Research at George Mason University. He received his BS degree in Industrial Engineering from the K.N. Toosi University of Technology and an MSc degree in Industrial Management-Operations Research from Shahid Beheshti University in Iran. His research interests include Optimization, Evolutionary Algorithms, Machine Learning, and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making. His Ph.D. research is focused on integrating machine learning and optimization algorithms for large-scale networks in the application area of the resilience of interdependent infrastructure systems. Babak enjoys playing and listening to music in his spare time and is a soccer player and a big fan of movies.

Pavithra Sripathanallur Murali is a PhD student in the Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research at George Mason University. She received her MS degree in Systems Engineering from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA. Her research interests include Bayesian Learning, Modeling and Simulation with applications in transportation and infrastructure systems. Pavithra worked as an Industrial Engineer Intern at Micron Technology, Inc in the Summer of 2022. At Micron, she utilized queuing theory and modeling to quantify the impacts of cycle time and batching parameters in the semiconductor manufacturing process. During her leisure time, Pavithra enjoys exploring new cities & small towns and is an avid movie aficionado.

Peng Ren is a PhD student in System Engineering and Operations Research at George Mason University. Prior to joining Mason, he completed two postgraduate programs: MS in Engineering Management and MS in Operations Research at Northeastern University, Boston. His research interests include game theory and reinforcement learning. During his free time, Peng likes to play basketball and e-sports where he enjoys the team effort.

Behnam Momeni is a Ph.D. student in System Engineering and Operation Research at George Mason University. He received his BS and MS degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Tehran in Iran. His research interests include game theory, optimization, modeling and analysis of uncertainties, and data analytics. During his leisure time, he prefers to watch movies, listen to music, and play soccer.


Master’s Students

Nischal Newar is a master’s student in Computer Science at George Mason University. He received his BTech degree in Computer Science from Northern India Engineering College. His research interests include machine learning, game theory, and developing learning games. During his leisure time, he watches anime and movies, plays games, and listens to music.

Graham Hulsey is a master’s student in Operations Research at George Mason University. He studied Political Science and Economics at Washington College (Chestertown, MD), and received a master’s degree in Security Policy Studies from The George Washington University (Washington, DC). His research interests broadly include simulation and probability modeling to understand and measure economic and community resilience. In his free time, he enjoys playing music with friends and baking bread.


Undergraduate Students

Shakira Mangrio is a junior in Systems Engineering at George Mason University. While working towards her degree, she earned a Data Analytics Certification. Her research interests include sustainability and data analytics. Outside of academics, she is involved with numerous nonprofits in her community, and in her free time enjoys playing the guitar and dancing.

Morgan Pauley is a senior in Government and International Politics at George Mason University. Her research interests include energy and environmental policy, international security and domestic extremism, and government procurement.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside, with her pets, or listening to music.


Former Master’s Students

Mark Herman Dsouza, M.Sc., Computer Science, George Mason University, 2022

  • Thesis: Designing Agent-based Simulation to Assess the Impact of Coordination Schemes on Infrastructure Networks Resilience [Read more]

Katherine Barnett, M.Sc., Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 2020

  • Thesis: Decentralized Resource Allocation for Interdependent Infrastructure Networks Restoration: A Game Theory Approach [Read more]
  • Recipient of the Best M.Sc. Thesis Award, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Hana Axthelm, M.Sc., Data Science and Analytics, University of Oklahoma, 2020

  • Practicum: Predicting Water Main Pipe Breakage Using Data Science [Read more]

Adrien Badre, M.Sc., Data Science and Analytics, University of Oklahoma, 2018

  • Thesis: Secure Decentralized Decisions in Consolidated Hospital Systems: Intelligent Agents and Blockchain [Read more]

Former Undergraduate Students (Selected)

Sunehera Hasib, Computational and Data Sciences, George Mason University, 2023

  • Research Project: Indigenous Environmental Mapping & Resilience Planning with Chickahominy Indian Nation

Christopher Bourgeois, B.Sc., Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 2020

  • Honors Thesis: Developing Holistic Indicators to Benchmark Readiness for Smart City Initiatives
  • Recipient of the Mentored Research Fellowship ($1,000), Office of Undergraduate Research

Andrew Calder, B.Sc., Computer Science, University of Oklahoma, 2019

  • Honors Thesis: Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: Traffic Mitigation on Highway Road Networks
  • Recipient of the Honors College Award for distinction in undergraduate research

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