Faculty Directory

Raghavan, S. Raghu

Raghavan, S. Raghu

Professor of Management Science and Operations Management
Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Institute for Systems Research
4365 Van Munching Hall
Website(s):

Dr. Raghavan's research interests and activities cover a broad domain including--- auction design, data mining, economics, information systems, computational marketing, networks, optimization, and telecommunications. He has published on a wide variety of topics (including telecommunications, electronic markets, and data mining) and numerous academic outlets such as Management Science, Operations Research, Decision Support Systems, and the INFORMS Journal on Computing. He holds two patents, and has won numerous awards for his research work. He is most proud of his Ph.D. students (8 graduated and 2 current) who have done outstanding research, and won several major awards for their doctoral dissertation work.

The unifying feature to Dr. Raghavan's research is the network and combinatorial optimization techniques he applies to these problems. Raghavan's research is supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency. Recently, he has finished co-editing a book on Telecommunications Network Design and Management. He has received several patents and prestigious awards for his research, including the George B.Dantzig Dissertation Award from INFORMS. Prior to joining the University of Maryland he led the Optimization Group at US WEST Advanced Technologies.

Education. Doctor of Philosophy in Operations Research, February 1995, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. Thesis: Formulations and Algorithms for Network Design Problems with Connectivity Requirements, supervised by Professor T. L. Magnanti.

Master of Science in Operations Research and Statistics, December 1988, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 12180.

Bachelor of Technology in Aeronautical Engineering, July 1987, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras , India

Dr. Raghavan is passionate about using quantitative methods (in particular optimization models) for better decision making. His research interests and activities cover a broad domain including--- auction design, data mining, economics, information systems, computational marketing, networks, optimization, and telecommunications. He has published on a wide variety of topics (including telecommunications, electronic markets, and data mining) and numerous academic outlets such as Management Science, Operations Research, Decision Support Systems, and the INFORMS Journal on Computing. He holds two patents, and has won numerous awards for his work. These include (i) the Dantzig award for the best doctoral dissertation, (ii) the INFORMS Computing Society Prize (twice); once for innovative contributions to the field of data mining, and a second time for his contributions to public sector auction design, (iii) the Glover-Klingman Prize for the best paper in the journal Networks, (v) the Management Science Strategic Innovation Prize by the European Operations Research Society, (v) 2ndPrize in the INFORMS Junior Faculty Paper Competition, (vi) Finalist for the European Operations Research Society Excellence in Practice Award, and (vii) Finalist for the Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice. He has edited six books titled Telecommunications Network Design and Management (Kluwer Academic Press 2003), Telecommunications Planning: Innovations in Pricing, Network Design, and Management (Springer 2006), The Next Wave in Computing, Optimization, and Decision Technologies (Springer 2005), Telecommunications Modeling, Policy, and Technology (Springer 2008), The Vehicle Routing Problem: Latest Advances and New Challenges (Springer 2008), and Tutorials in Operations Research (INFORMS 2008). He enjoys teaching decision modeling oriented courses, and is a recipient of the Legg-Mason Teaching Innovation award at the Smith School. Prior to joining the Smith School he led the Optimization Group at U S WEST Advanced Technologies.

Network and combinatorial optimization, linear programming, integer and mixed-integer programming methods, heuristics, and large-scale optimization; with applications to auctions, energy, health care, social networks, logistics/supply chain, and telecommunications


Addressing liver transplant geographic inequities

ISR's S. Raghu Raghavan and colleagues suggest policymakers move away from the ‘one- size-fits-all’ approach of current policy and focus on a customized approach.

When does a package delivery company benefit from having two people in the truck?

ISR alum Rui Zhang and Professor S. Raghavan have worked out optimal ways for logistics network companies to handle last-mile deliveries.

S. Raghu Raghavan is a runner-up for INFORMS Computing Society Prize

The prize honors the best English language paper or group of related papers dealing with the operations research/computer science interface.

AID India humanitarian group living up to its name in COVID crisis

Founded by University of Maryland students, the non-profit was recently recommended for donations in the New York Times.

Raghavan interviewed about online learning in YouTube video

Jennifer Hoeritz of the Robert H. Smith School of Business talked to Professor Raghavan as part of the college’s “course tour” video series.

S. Raghu Raghavan is PI for NSF project on illicit drug trafficking networks

The researchers will analyze the dynamics of narcotic supply networks and how interdiction strategies disrupt them.

BBI Awards Seed Grants to Six Interdisciplinary Projects

Funded teams feature UMD faculty from 15 academic departments and six centers and institutes

New model for U.S. liver transplant allocation could reduce disparities, save lives

Raghavan, Akshat and Gentry have developed a nonlinear integer programming model that could save 340 lives on average over a period of 4 years.

Aneesh Raghavan wins Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship

Raghavan's research interests are in control and networked cyber-physical systems.

Aneesh Raghavan and Usman Fiaz named outstanding graduate assistants

Only 80 graduate assistants university-wide will receive the Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award on May 8.

Raghavan writes article on teaching for OR/MS Today magazine

“Industry experiences shape teaching philosophy” appears in the August 2017 issue of the INFORMS publication..

Raghavan wins INFORMS teaching prize

The Prize for the Teaching of the OR/MS Practice recognizes a faculty member outstanding in helping students learn to effectively practice operations research and management science.

Work by Raghavan, Chen, Ljubic wins Best Paper Award

"The Generalized Regenerator Location Problem" deals with a problem in optical networks.

Ph.D. student Rui Zhang is second place winner in WINFORMS competition

He presented his paper, “Mathematical Programming Approaches to Influence Maximization on Social Networks,” on April 19.

Raghavan finds mining social media can enhance product innovation

Marketers could get to know consumers' range of preferences and incorporate them in the design process for larger market share.

Raghavan, Spyropoulos, Daily, Copeland win ISR awards

Outstanding awards presented at special reception in September.

Clark School ENGAGED Faculty Announced

The first class of Clark School ENGAGED Faculty are announced.

Raghavan and Gamvros win EURO strategic innovation prize

Prize awarded for solution to strategic multi-period demand routing problem in satellite networks.

Mtech, Alumna-Run Companies Vie for State Awards

Five Clark School-affiliated companies named finalists for Incubator Company of the Year.

S. Raghavan promoted to full professor

Research focuses on network design, data mining and auctions.

Raghavan, Day win INFORMS Computing Society Prize

Winning paper developed methodologies for fair payments in combinatorial auctions.

S. Raghavan co-edits new book on the vehicle routing problem

Book examines technological advances and challenges in the past five to seven years.

S. Raghavan co-edits new operations research compendium

Book gathers research papers from 2008 INFORMS Telecommunications Conference.

Raghavan receives Glover-Klingman prize; Olian Award

ISR faculty member recognized for best paper published in Networks in 2005

ISR alum wins INFORMS dissertation award

Robert Day cited for best dissertation in operations research

S. Raghavan wins INFORMS computing society prize

ISR professor and colleagues honored for work in data mining

S. Raghavan and G. Anandalingam edit two new operations research books

Volumes cover computing, optimization, decision technologies, pricing, network design and management

S. Raghavan promoted to tenured position

ISR-affiliated S. Raghavan has been promoted to associate professor in the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

S. Raghavan wins second place in paper competition

Paper details research on “Long-Distance Access Network Design.”

Four ISR faculty to research electronic markets for time-sensitive goods

$2 million NSF award will analyze a variety of e-markets.