Dr. Ata Zare

Zare has published in leading journals such as Production and Operations Management, Operations Research Letters, Naval Research Logistics, and Probability in the Engineering and Informational Sciences. He combines academic research with practical applications, having collaborated on projects in transportation, supply chain optimization, e-commerce, and fintech. His work currently focuses on the intersection of agentic AI, operations management, and data science, where he applies optimization and machine learning to improve business performance and contribute to both practical applications and scientific knowledge.

Beyond academia, Zare brings extensive industry experience as a Senior Machine Learning/AI Consultant, where he has led the development of AI-driven solutions across sectors. He has designed and deployed several end-to-end AI applications powered by computer vision, natural language processing, and large language models, and has created innovative solutions in customer analytics, recommendation systems, and business intelligence. He is also active in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, advising startups on leveraging AI and machine learning to scale their businesses. This hands-on experience allows him to infuse real-world relevance into his teaching, foster strong industry partnerships, and prepare students to make an immediate impact in their careers.

A passionate educator, Zare has taught a range of courses including business and operations analytics, stochastic models, operations management, business intelligence and AI, big data analytics and simulation analysis. He views teaching and learning as inseparable aspects of intellectual growth and enjoys guiding students in applying analytical tools to solve real-world problems.