Two Fully Funded PhD Positions in Resilient Systems
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering | University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2026 Ph.D. Positions in Industrial and Systems Engineering
Position Description
The Hydrology, Agriculture, and Optimization (HAO) Lab in the Department of Industrial and
Systems Engineering (ISE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) seeks two fully funded
Ph.D. students for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Directed by Dr. Yuefeng Hao, our group focuses
on a “Data-to-Decision” framework for coupled natural and human systems. We integrate earth
system analytics and operations research to design resilient agriculture and critical infrastructure
under environmental uncertainty. Current research focus:
1. Earth-Human Systems Modeling. Focuses on multi-scale predictive analytics and risk
quantification. Integrates the Global Change Analysis Model, Earth System Models, and
Remote Sensing to evaluate system resilience. (e.g., Quantifying how natural disasters and
policy changes impact agricultural and forest supply chains.)
2. Systems Optimization & Decision-Making. Employs stochastic and robust optimization
solvers to enhance the resilience of coupled human and natural systems, spanning critical
infrastructure, agricultural and industrial operations, resource allocation, and
interconnected supply chains. (e.g., Optimizing supply chains to withstand natural and
human-induced disturbances.)
About the PI
Dr. Hao will join the ISE at UTK as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in August 2026, recruited
as a key member of UTK’s Resilient Agriculture and Forest Systems cluster hire. Currently serving
as a Research Assistant Professor at the UTK’s Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment,
Dr. Hao’s research sits at the critical intersection of hydrology, agriculture, and optimization. His
work leverages artificial intelligence and operations research to develop data-to-decision
frameworks, focusing on water resource management and the resilience of agricultural networks
within coupled natural and human systems.
About the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
UTK is Tennessee’s flagship, land-grant university and a top-tier R1 research institution. Home to
the dynamic Tickle College of Engineering, UTK provides a highly collaborative environment for
premier graduate education. Our students benefit from unique interdisciplinary research
opportunities and deep, strategic partnerships with the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the
Department of Energy’s largest science and energy lab. This proximity offers unparalleled access to
world-class facilities, high-performance computing, and joint research initiatives.
How to Apply
If interested, please send an email to yhao12@utk.edu with the subject line “PhD Application –
[Your Name] – [Start Time]”. Please attach the CV and Transcripts.
HAO Lab 