Barbara Thibadeau

Barbara is currently the Project Controls Manager for the Spallation Neutron Source in Oak Ridge. Born in New York City, she has lived in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Georgia, Alaska and California before moving to Tennessee. She is in the Naval Reserve, married and has three children. Working full time and attending school part time is a challenge but she is very grateful to have the chance to participate in this program. Barbara enjoys reading, exercising at the gym and spending time with he family. Resume>>

Chris Duckworth

Chris has a Bachelors of Science in Engineering Physics and a Masters of
Science in Biomedical Engineering, both from the University of Tennessee. He comes to the world of optimization and forecasting from optimal filter and imaging system design. Chris is a Tennessee native and is married with two dogs. His hobbies include woodworking, brewing, winemaking, and international cooking. Resume>>

Dennis Beal

Dennis Beal is a second year Ph.D. student in Management Science. He was graduated from Carson-Newman College with a B.A. in mathematics, Virginia Tech with a M.S. in applied mathematics and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a M.S. in statistics. He is married with two children, Jonathan who is 4 and Heather is 6 years old. He is employed full-time as a statistician and risk analyst for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in Oak Ridge and lives in West Knoxville. He has 14 years of experience as a statistician for projects supporting primarily the U.S. Department of Energy. His leisure interests include playing chess and spending time with his family. Resume>>

Maksym Bychkov

Maksym was born in Ukraine in 1973. He graduated with a honor diploma from Kharkov Physic-Mathematics School N27 in 1990, and earned a Master degree in Computerized Automated Systems (computer science, industrial engineering) from Kharkov State Polytechnic University in 1996. He worked in the Ukrainian Scientific Center form Environmental Protection for 5 years. His research interests are Mathematics (linear, non-linear optimization), Theory of Games (stochastic games and optimal gambling strategy), and Theory of Dynamic Systems (attraction trajectories for chaotic systems and methods of time series valuation). He enjoys swimming and the martial arts. Resume>>

Minhui Liu

Minhui came to the United States from China in the summer of 2001. He holds a BS degree on MIS from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China) in 1996 and a Master degree in Management Science from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2000. His research interests are data mining, optimization algorithms, supply chain modeling and information system application. In his spare time, Minhui enjoys basketball, swimming, chess, music and travel. Resume>> Website>>

Vuttichai Chatpattananan

Vuttichai is from Thailand. He earned a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. After graduation, he worked for a few years in the high-rise construction field in Thailand. In May 2001, he received a Master Degree in Management Science from the University of Tennessee. Now, he is pursuing his doctoral degree in Management Science. His major research interest is Supply Chain Management. He likes to play tennis and golf. Resume>>

Xiaofeng Zhao 

Xiaofeng, who received his MBA degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2002, is originally from China. He holds B.E. and M.A. degrees from Chinese universities. His professional experience includes one year of visiting scholar at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Xiaofeng is married and has a 7 year-old son. He likes to play badminton, pingpong, tennis and taichi. Resume>>

Xinjie Shi

Xinjie graduated with a Master of Economics in 2001 and Bachelor of Engineering in 1996 from Chinese universities. From his experience of being an electrical engineer, he found that the management experts are more indispensable than technical engineers in current China, so he chose the prestigious Management Science program at the University of Tennessee at a station in his career. In his spare time he enjoys playing Ping-Pong. Resume>>

Xinli Bao

Xinli was born and raised in the People's Republic of China. She earned her Bachelor of Engineering in Management and studies for one year for her master's degree in Industrial Economics. Here at the University of Tennessee, she earned a Master degree in Management Science in May 2001 and is now pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the same field. She enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities. Resume>>