Researcher

Dr Ripon Kumar Chakrabortty

My Expertise

Smart Project Scheduling; Supply Chain Management; Production Planning; Optimisation; Project Planning; Decision Analytics

 

Fields of Research (FoR)

Planning and decision making, Artificial intelligence, Operations research, Evolutionary computation, Optimisation, Transportation, logistics and supply chains, Project management

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Biography

Dr Ripon Kumar Chakrabortty is experienced in applying Operations Research Tools and Techniques to optimise Project Scheduling and Supply Chain processes. His research interest covers a wide range of topics in decision analytics, evolutionary computation, operations research, and applied optimization in the "Project Management and Supply Chain Management" domain. He is only accepting potential PhD students who have good programming skills...view more

Dr Ripon Kumar Chakrabortty is experienced in applying Operations Research Tools and Techniques to optimise Project Scheduling and Supply Chain processes. His research interest covers a wide range of topics in decision analytics, evolutionary computation, operations research, and applied optimization in the "Project Management and Supply Chain Management" domain. He is only accepting potential PhD students who have good programming skills along with a prior understanding of optimization and algorithms. Students with an exceptional academic score (more than 80%) and good publication records with proficient programming skills are encouraged to contact via r.chakrabortty@adfa.edu.au. 

 

PhD scholarships ($35,000 per year) are available for high-achieving students (with H1/High Distinction in UG and/or Masters by Research) in engineering, mathematics or relevant sciences under my supervision.

 

 

Future PhD & Master by Research Students

Students who have good programming skills along with a prior understanding of optimization and algorithms are encouraged to apply. Students with excellent programming and communication skills will be highly appreciable. Several types of scholarships are available; however, admission and scholarship applications are highly competitive. A self-assessment tool is available to get a general feel for your competitiveness. You need to meet the English language requirements. If you are eligible and interested in working on the following (or closely related) topics or keywords, please send me your CV, academic transcripts, the result of the self-assessment, and a research proposal. Your research proposal should highlight:

  • Research Motivation,
  • Research problems,
  • Research Objectives and Questions
  • Brief Review of the most relevant Literature,
  • Proposed Methodology and
  • Expected Outcome.

 

For more information, please refer to the following links on how and when to apply for a research degree. NB: You can seek my advice/help during the construction of your Research Proposal.

 

Research Interests

  • Machine Learning with Optimization Algorithms and Applications
  • Operations Research and Operations Management Techniques (focus: Sustainable Smart Scheduling, Logistics & Supply Chain Management)

 

My Research Portfolio can be obtained by clicking here. 

 

Education

  • PhD in Computer Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Canberra, Australia. The year 2017. Thesis: Managing Uncertainties and Disruptions in Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling.
  • M.Sc. in Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh. The year 2013. Thesis: A Decision Support System for Aggregate Production Planning.
  • B.Sc. in Industrial and Production Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangladesh. The year 2009. Thesis: Selection of Potential Suppliers Through Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) Techniques.
  • Diploma of Logistics from Monarch Institute, Melbourne, Australia. The year 2018. Nationally accredited by the Australian Government under the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). Certified by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia (CILTA).
  • Certificate in ERP (SAP Supply Chain Management), provided by the Sydney Institute of ERP (SiERP). The year 2018

 

Teaching

  • Decision Making in Analytics
  • System Engineering & Management
  • Evidence-Based Decision Making
  • Project Schedule & Budget Control
  • Decision Making Analytics
  • Capability Option Analysis
  • System Analysis & Modelling
  • Software Project Management
  • Engineering Management
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Operations Research
  • Production Management
  • Quality Control and Management
  • Facility Management and Material Handling
  • Project Management
  • Maintenance and Reliability Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Operations Research

 

Professional Education Short Courses

 

My details 'myEducation Portfolio' can be obtained by clicking here. 

 

Professional Membership & Affiliations

  • IEEE
  • Australian Society for Operations Research (ASOR)
  • Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineering (IISE)

 

Future PhD Projects: 

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/seit/our-projects/combining-optimization-and-multi-criteria-decision-analysis-multi-method-framework-application-asset-planning

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/seit/our-projects/mitigating-uncertainties-dynamic-logistic-supply-chain-models-optimization-approach

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/seit/our-projects/developing-user-friendly-interface-predict-project-success-and-control-budget-considering-real-life-risks

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/seit/our-projects/solving-resource-portfolio-problem-mitigating-uncertainties-and-preparing-unexpected

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/seit/our-projects/internet-things-iot-enabled-practical-multi-project-scheduling-problems

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/seit/our-projects/big-data-and-cyber-physical-system-enabled-sustainable-project-scheduling-problems

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/seit/our-projects/synchronization-production-scheduling-and-delivery-multi-factory-supply-chain

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/seit/our-projects/machine-learning-technique-based-proactive-scheduling-and-real-time-reactive-scheduling-sudden-interruptions-managing-projects

 

 


My Grants

  1. Chakrabortty, Sallam, Moustafa, Ryan, “Pilot Optimisation models for security systems”,  Internal (Capability Systems Centre, UNSW Canberra)- 2019-20 >> $37,000
  2. Ryan, Elsawah, Chakrabortty, and Abbasi, "Development of Joint Requirements Framework and Acquisition Roadmap (RG192081)", External (Department Of Defence - Commonwealth Government Contract) - 2019-20 >> $541,400
  3. Ryan, Elsawah, and Chakrabortty, "Land Training Support System (LTSS) Operational Concept Development (RG193169)", External (Department Of Defence - Commonwealth Government Contract) - 2019-20 >> $94,000
  4. Chakrabortty, "Solving Resource Portfolio Problem: Mitigating Uncertainties and Preparing for the Unexpected", Internal (UNSW Canberra) - 2019-20 >> $50,000
  5. Ryan, Elsawah, Chakrabortty, and Turan, "Asset Maintenance Modelling (RG201160)", External (Department Of Defence - Commonwealth Government Contract) - 2020-21 >> $353,705
  6. Ryan, Elsawah, Chakrabortty, and Sidhu, "Sea1905 with multi-criteria decision-making modelling in support of gate 1 submission (RG194087)", External (Australian Defence Force Academy - Commonwealth Government Contract) - 2020-21 >> $415,000
  7. Ryan, Elsawah, and Chakrabortty, "Navy Guided Weapons (NGW) Planning Tool Update (RG202374)", External (Department Of Defence - Commonwealth Government Contract) - 2020-21 >> $330,000

 


My Research Activities

Following the growth and revolution of Industry 4.0 context in industries (particularly, on supply chain and project management domain), the emergence and inevitability of digitalised supply chain (aka, smart supply chain management (SCM)) and digitalised project management and scheduling (or, smart PM&S) became obvious to me. So, form 2017, banking on my IE skill and computer science knowledge, I have been working on different technology decision-making approaches by integrating methodologies related to artificial intelligence (e.g., machine learning, deep learning), evolutionary algorithms (e.g., swarm intelligence and nature-inspired meta-heuristic approaches) and information systems (e.g., influence maximisation). In this process, the range of my research spectrum and skill set (i.e., OR + IE + SE + PM&S + SCM + Artificial Intelligence + Evolutionary Algorithms) unveiled a unique and extremely rare dimension in the decision-making literature or technology-enabled decision-making literature.

Similarly, this unique skillset has enabled me (and my team) to apply digitalisation focused optimisation techniques to many important engineering and non-engineering domains. For example, in recent years, I have been applying my OR and optimisation skills in many problems related to computer science (e.g., resource allocation and management for pattern recognition, image processing, internet of things, cyber-physical systems), electrical and electronic engineering (e.g., identification of photovoltaic cells, augmenting inverters, applying optimisation to pulse width modulation and selective harmonic elimination), and system engineering (e.g., simulation-optimisation, multi-criteria decision making)

 

Considering the recent buzzword on ‘sustainability’, I have further extended my research span by adding different perspectives of sustainability in the industry context (e.g., carbon footprint, minimum transportation, minimisation of energy usage, and waste minimisation). Thence, my future directions would be to “design sustainable technology decision making approaches for cross-disciplinary optimisation problems in a capability context: digitalisation focused”. As well as applying digitalisation focused optimisation techniques to cross-disciplinary problems, my research contributions also include artificial intelligence (AI) approaches embedded with optimisation techniques or vice versa. Similarly, hybridising PM&S with SCM along with optimisation techniques, bringing PM&S along with AI and OR, combining SE with AI and OR to complement each other have been a few fantastic research avenues for me and my team in the last 2-3 years. 

 

My publication record is showing an increasing trajectory —3 in 2018, 14 in 2019, 41 in 2020 and 43 in 2021 (up to May). My research articles are now published in the top most journals in the field. For example, 4 papers in IEEE Internet of Things Journal (ranked 3rd in Computer Science), 1 paper in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics (ranked 2nd in Industrial Engineering), 1 paper in IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics (ranked 1st in Computer Science and Automation), 1 paper in IEEE Transactions on Systems Man Cybernetics-Systems (ranked 2nd in Computer Science and Automation), 3 papers in Expert Systems with Applications (ranked 2nd in Operations Research & Management), 4 papers in Journal of Cleaner Production (ranked 5th in General Environmental Sciene), and 2 papers in Knowledge-Based Systems (3rd in Management Informations Systems). 

One of my journal papers as a first author was awarded a ‘highly cited paper’ (i.e., enough citations to place in the top 3% of the academic field and publication year). One paper also got the ‘top downloaded/most read’ paper award within the window of 2018-19.

 

As per the BORIS report (on dated 5th of April 2021), I am at the top not only within Level B but also across the whole School and the whole Faculty based on the research outputs (considering the year range 2019-2021, since my appointment). My list of collaborative network as of 6 April 2020 is, 8 RAs within the CSC; 15 academics within UNSW, 6 academics in Australia, and more than 25 academics internationally.

My excellence in research has also helped us (I along with the CSC) in receiving many category 2 research grants in 2019-21. So far, we have secured more than $2.5 million research income from the Department of Defence, Australia. There, my main contribution has been to identify research gaps, identify problems associated with Defence activities, liaise with the industry fellows (CSC) and other relevant stakeholders, help to write the research grants in the role of the chief investigator (CI) with two other academics, and finally executing/implementing the research by leading the CSC’s RA team. The unique capability of dealing with technology decision making has put me and the Centre in a comfortable position to bring more research grants in the near future.

Please look at the "CROSS DISCIPLINARY OPTIMISATION UNDER CAPABILITY CONTEXT (133734)" webpage to find more about my research activities. 


My Research Supervision


Supervision keywords


Areas of supervision

Operations Research

Supply Chain Management

Project Scheduling and Solving Dynamic Problems

Network Influence Maximisation


Currently supervising

1. Md Asadujjaman (PhD in Systems Engineering) >> Integrated Project Scheduling with Supply Chain Considerations (Expected completion: September 2022)

2. Shahed Mahmud (PhD in Systems Engineering) >> Sustainable Supply Chain and Production Planning (Expected completion: September 2022)

3. Tarun Kumar Biswas (PhD in Systems Engineering) >> Integrating Optimisation in Influence Maximisation tools (Expected completion: December 2022)

4. Aaliya Sarfaraz (PhD in Computer Science) >> Deploying Blockchain Technology in the Sustainable Supply Chain (Expected completion: December 2022)

5. Supriyo Ahmed (PhD in Computer Science) >> Predicting Project Performance by Using Machine Learning Approaches (Expected completion: March 2023)

6. Md Sanowar Hossain (PhD in Systems Engineering) >> Production Planning under Dynamic Uncertainties (Expected completion: March 2023)

7. Dave Furtado (PhD in Systems Engineering-Part Time) >> Modular Product Architecture (Expected completion: March 2026)

8. Abu Hashan Md Mashud (PhD in Computer Science) >> Sustainable Supply Chain Design in Multi-echelon Framework (Expected completion: December 2024)

9. Sonia Farhana Nimmy (PhD in Business) >> An Automated eXplainable Artificial Intelligence framework for Operational Risk Management (AXAI-ORM) (Expected Completion: February 2024)  

 


My Engagement

A. Organisational Contribution

  • I have been the Program Coordinator of the Master of Decision Analytics (MDA) program at UNSW Canberra since February 2020. I am also working as the Program Coordinator of the Master of Engineering Science (M.Eng.Sci.) at UNSW Canberra since June 2019. 
  • I am also the Deputy Director (Acting) of the Capability Systems Centre (CSC) since January 2021. I have also engaged in multiple recruitment processes and interview boards for recruiting Level A academics (Research Associates) for the Centre.  

 

B. Community Engagement

  • I am actively engaging in promoting UNSW Canberra’s presence in local government and industry by participating in seminars and workshops arranged by the IEEE ACT Chapter and IEEE SMC Chapter.
  • My active collaborations with research teams from Aligarh Muslim University (India), RUET (Bangladesh) and Zigzag University (Egypt) have made significant contributions, not only for these universities but also for research students. For example, 4 team members have secured their PhD positions in well-respected universities based on our mutual research outcomes. My role has been mostly to educate them on optimisation procedures in addition to their subject expertise.
  • I’m also active in social media platforms (e.g., LinkedIn), where I have been promoting the university and the CSC by posting brochures, success stories, potentials, job recruitment etc. My engagement in the LinkedIn page and my research outcomes have enabled me to grow my collaboration network, while in most cases, the communication starts from this platform.    

 

C. Contribution to the Profession and/or Discipline

  • I am a member of IEEE, the Australian Society For Operations Research (ASOR), and the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineering (IISE), USA.
  • I have chaired multiple technical sessions during the IEEE Conference on Industrial Engineering & Engineering Management (IEEM) since 2018. I have been a program committee member for that conference since 2018.
  • I am a ‘Guest Editor’ of a special issue in a first quartile journal (Electronics-MDPI). There, my key role is to observe submitted papers, screen them based on the journal quality and scope (as per the special issue call), and then liaise with the Journal Executive to send papers for review. I have been a reviewer for many well-reputed and prestigious journals (Q1 tiers only) related to my discipline.
  • I have participated as an ‘Invited Speaker’ at one international IEEE conference in June 2021, while I’ll represent the UNSW Canberra and my independent research team.
  • One of my journal papers got wider attention in the “Medical Intelligence” practice recently. I have been requested to be an “invited speaker” at a Medical Intelligence Society’s virtual meeting (MIS Summit 2021). Medical Intelligence Society is a USA based company that offers a venue for clinicians interested in data science and artificial intelligence. I will be discussing the “Impact of Swarm Intelligence Optimization Techniques for the IoMT and IoHT: Future Research Perspective-Bird’s Eye View”. 
  • Become an Editorial Board Member (Computational and Applied Mathematics Section) in the Journal of Mathematics
  • Become the Chief Guest Editor for a Special Section in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics (IF: 9.112, 2nd on Industrial Engineering, 3rd on Automation & Control System, and 4th on Computer Science as per the WoS). This special issue covers the topic of "Developing Resilient Supply Chains in a Post-COVID Pandemic Era: Application of Artificial Intelligent Technologies for Emerging Industry 5.0".
  • Became one of the Editors for a Book on “Artificial Intelligence for Smart City Development: Management Systems & Technology Challenges“. This book will be published via the CRC Press (Taylor & Francis Group).
  • Became an Associate Editor for the “IEEE Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics- 2021 version”, which is the flagship conference of the IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society. 
  • I have been invited to host a seminar on “Merging Data Analytics and Decision Analytics towards Project Management Roadmap: Future Perspectives” in the Australian Society for Operations Research (ASOR) Seminar Series. 
  • I have worked as an Associate Editor & Track Session Chair for the IEEE International Conference on Automation, Control and Mechatronics for Industry 4.0: 2021 Version.

D. Knowledge Transfer and Policy Development

  • I have collaborated (in research articles) with more than 30 active external collaborators from 15 different countries. A few of them are within the top 1% of researchers in my domain. These active collaborations and my application of knowledge to improve different modular research teams have inarguably enhanced teaching or research programs as well as the overall reputation. 
  •  I’m going to deliver three professional courses in the upcoming months. Courses are: “Supply Chain Analytics”, “Business Analysis and Valuation” and “Project Management Analytics”. All these courses are being designed and developed to attract stakeholders from the Defence and Industries.

My Teaching

UG Courses: 

  1. ZEIT3506 (System Engineering & Management), Sem-2 [2019-2020]
  2. ZEIT3506 (Managing the Development of Engineered Systems), Sem-2 [2021+]
  3. System Analysis & Modelling (UC, Canberra)

PG Courses

  1. ZEIT8305 (Systems Thinking & Modelling), Sem-1
  2. ZEIT8310 (Project Schedule & Budget Control), Sem-1
  3. ZEIT8402 (Evidence-Based Decision Making), Sem-1 
  4. ZEIT8403 (Capability Options Analysis), Sem - 2
  5. ZEIT8404 (Decision Making Analytics), Sem- 1/2

 

PG Courses (UNSW Online)

  1. ZZCA6510 (Decision Making in Analytics), Hexamester 1 and 4

 

Professional Education Short Courses

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Location

UNSW Canberra
School of Engineering and IT, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Canberra,
Room 367, Building 21, Northcott Drive, Campbell, ACT
PO Box 7916, CANBERRA BC ACT 2610


Contact

+61 2 5114 5133

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ORCID as entered in ROS

orcid_icon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7373-0149

Research Activities

Decision Support & Analytics Research Group

Optimisation as its term implies often brings diversified contexts under one umbrella. Despite having opulence of existing optimisation approaches, integration of proper methods with real-life applications is still a challenging and onerous task. Here, we as a team, have been working on many such techniques to foot-print in diversified domains. We have been working on creating different Decision Support Systems (DSS) in Decision Analytics.  

Following the growth and revolution of Industry 4.0 context in industries (particularly, on supply chain and project management…

UNSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia Telephone +61 2 93851000
Authorised by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
UNSW CRICOS Provider Code: 00098G ABN: 57 195 873 179

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