Senior Institutional Research Specialist

Spelman College (Old); Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 67,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Spelman College is seeking an Operations Research Scientist to develop AI-driven decision-support systems that enhance operational performance, network efficiency, service reliability, and cost optimization.

This role combines AI, ML, reinforcement learning, and mathematical optimization to create scalable models for real-time and strategic decision-making. You will partner with business and technology teams to deploy analytics into production, driving measurable value.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field.
• 3+ years of AI, ML, optimization, or decision-support experience.
• Experience with predictive analytics, ML, RL and optimization modeling.
• Experience with SQL and large-scale datasets.
• Experience deploying analytical models into production environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop ML, RL, and optimization models for operational challenges.
• Design predictive and prescriptive analytics to improve efficiency and performance.
• Build decision-support systems for scheduling, routing, resource allocation, and recovery.
• Apply LP, MIP, and nonlinear optimization techniques.
• Analyze large datasets to identify improvements and cost-saving opportunities.
• Collaborate with business and tech teams to deploy AI solutions into production.
• Maintain and enhance existing AI/optimization applications.
• Communicate findings to business leaders and stakeholders.

Skills

Python

SQL

Optimization

Predictive Analytics

Prescriptive Analytics

Model Deployment

Education

Master's or PhD in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or related field

Tools

Gurobi/CPLEX

Job description

We are seeking an Operations Research Scientist to develop AI-driven decision-support systems that improve operational performance, network efficiency, service reliability, and cost optimization.

This role combines Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, and Mathematical Optimization to solve complex transportation and logistics challenges. The ideal candidate will build scalable models and intelligent systems that support real-time and strategic decision-making.

$66,600.00–$83,400.00 yearly

Full-time

Key Responsibilities

• Develop machine learning, reinforcement learning, and optimization models to solve complex operational challenges.
• Design predictive and prescriptive analytics solutions that improve efficiency, resiliency, and business performance.
• Build decision-support systems for scheduling, routing, resource allocation, and network recovery.
• Apply optimization techniques including LP, MIP, and nonlinear optimization.
• Analyze large datasets to identify operational improvements and cost-saving opportunities.
• Partner with business and technology teams to deploy AI and analytical solutions into production environments.
• Support and enhance existing AI, optimization, and decision-support applications.
• Communicate analytical findings and recommendations to business leaders and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• 3+ years of experience developing AI, machine learning, optimization, or decision-support solutions.
• Experience with predictive analytics, machine learning, reinforcement learning and optimization modeling.
• Experience with SQL and large-scale datasets.
• Experience deploying analytical models into production environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Gurobi, CPLEX, or other optimization solvers.
• Transportation, logistics, supply chain or network optimization experience.
• Experience with scheduling, routing, capacity planning, or operational recovery.
• Experience building real-time analytics and intelligent decision-support systems.

Technical Skills

• Python
• SQL
• Optimization (LP, MIP, NLP)
• Predictive & Prescriptive Analytics
• Gurobi / CPLEX
• Java or C++ (preferred)

Impact

This role will help drive AI-powered decision-making, improve network performance, increase operational resiliency, reduce costs, and deliver measurable business value through advanced analytics and intelligent automation.