Prof. Dr. Theodore Trafalis | Industrial and Systems Engineering | Best Researcher Award 

Professor | Industrial and Systems Engineering at The university of Oklahoma | United States

Prof. Dr. Theodore B. Trafalis is a globally recognized expert in industrial engineering and artificial intelligence, known for his pioneering work in machine learning, optimization, and data analytics. As a long-standing faculty member at the University of Oklahoma, he has made significant contributions to academic research, innovation, and applied science. His expertise spans across weather prediction, financial forecasting, manufacturing systems, and intelligent decision-making, with a strong focus on integrating theory with practical impact.

Professional Profile

Scopus | Orcid | Google scholar |

🎓 Education

Dr. Trafalis holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering (1989), an MSIE (1987), and an M.S. in Mathematics (1984) from Purdue University, USA. His academic journey began with a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Athens, Greece (1982). This strong educational foundation set the stage for his distinguished interdisciplinary research career.

💼 Experience

With over three decades of academic and research experience, Dr. Trafalis currently serves as Professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and Adjunct Professor in the School of Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. He began his academic career as an instructor at Purdue and has since held numerous international visiting research positions in countries such as Greece, Japan, France, the Netherlands, and Turkey. These roles have strengthened his global academic perspective and collaborative reach.

🔬 Research Interests

His research is centered on machine learning, robust optimization, support vector machines, and data-driven decision-making systems. He has applied these methods to areas like weather forecasting, including tornado prediction, financial modeling, and intelligent systems in manufacturing. His cross-disciplinary approach has enabled impactful advancements in both engineering and environmental sciences, supported by multiple grants from the NSF and NOAA.

🏆 Honors

Dr. Trafalis has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Regents Award for Superior Accomplishment in Research and Creative Activity (University of Oklahoma), and multiple Best Paper Awards at international conferences such as the International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks in Engineering. He has also held fellowships and lectureships including the David Ross Fellowship from Purdue and the Obermann Faculty Fellowship at the University of Iowa.

📚 Top Noted Publications

Linear Discriminant Analysis
Published In: Robust Data Mining, Pages 27–33
Citations: 653
Year of Publication: 2012

Support Vector Machine for Regression and Applications to Financial Forecasting
Published In: Proceedings of the IEEE-INNS-ENNS International Joint Conference on Neural Networks
Citations: 498
Year of Publication: 2000

Robust Data Mining
Published By: Springer Science & Business Media
Citations: 215
Year of Publication: 2012

A Hybrid Model for Exchange Rate Prediction
Published In: Decision Support Systems, Volume 42, Issue 2, Pages 1054–1062
Citations: 209
Year of Publication: 2006

Robust Weighted Kernel Logistic Regression in Imbalanced and Rare Events Data
Published In: Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Volume 55, Issue 1, Pages 168–183
Citations: 173
Year of Publication: 2011

Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Theodore B. Trafalis exemplifies the qualities of a transformative academic leader whose work bridges disciplines and borders. Through his teaching, research, and international collaborations, he continues to push the boundaries of intelligent systems and optimization science. His dedication to impactful research and educational excellence makes him a standout figure in global academia.