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Spotlight

AJ Friend

7th year PhD candidate, Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering
I am teaching the basics of mathematical optimization. Optimization is useful in the real world any time you are trying to figure out how to minimize or maximize a result, with applications in many fields like machine learning, logistics and structural design.

I will be applying these tools at Uber after I graduate. Uber has a ton of optimization problems including ride demand prediction, matching riders together for UberPool and setting prices. One example of what I might work on at Uber would be using mathematical optimization to more effectively maximize driver availability while minimizing rider wait time during peak demand.

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