James Liu is a Master of Science student in Industrial Engineering & Analytics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with an undergraduate background in operations, supply chain, and marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Business. His research sits at the intersection of operations research and sustainability: portfolio optimization under geopolitical-risk and ESG uncertainty, large-language-model approaches to measuring that risk, and topology optimization in engineered materials.
Day to day he works across simulation, optimization, and stochastic modeling — with a longer-term aim of pursuing a PhD in operations and energy-system planning.
About
Education
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Graduate coursework in linear and stochastic optimization, dynamic programming, stochastic processes, matrix methods for machine learning, survival analysis, and game theory.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Triple major in Operations & Technology Management, Supply Chain Management, and Marketing.
PROFESSIONAL & ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Wisconsin School of Business Madison, WI
Working with Professors Xiaoyang Long and Greg DeCroix on topics in sustainability and operations management.
Xi’an Jiaotong University Xi'an, China
With Professor Kui Jing, studying portfolio optimization under geopolitical-risk and ESG uncertainty, using simulation, optimization, and LLM APIs across both empirical and analytical work.
Fluid Machinery Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Xi'an, China
Topology optimization of porous materials within the School of Power and Energy Engineering, using MATLAB and COMSOL for simulation and analysis.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, WI
Led operations, volunteer coordination, and cross-campus partnerships delivering food-support resources to students, with a focus on recovery efficiency and sustainability impact.
Heritage Tile LLC Verona, WI
Built automated shipment, inventory, and reconciliation workflows (Excel/VBA, Power Automate, Power Query, Odoo ERP), identifying invoice errors and over $10,000 in annual savings.
Key coursework
SKILLSETS
Linear & mixed-integer programming, two-stage stochastic programming and SAA, dynamic programming; GAMSPy/GAMS, Gurobi.
R and Python for modeling and automation; SQL, Snowflake; scikit-learn and ML libraries; Power BI, Tableau, SPSS.
Mathematical analysis, probability, stochastic processes (Markov chains, martingales, optional stopping), survival analysis, game theory.
LLM applications, prompt engineering, and API integration. Off the page: songwriting and music production in Logic Pro and Pro Tools, multi-instrumentalist.
Work
A design-optimization approach to acoustic metamaterials, improving sound absorption through optimally placed embedded scatterers.
Acoustic metamaterialsA review of how phase-change materials support thermal regulation and matching in wearable thermoelectric energy harvesting.
Energy harvesting · ReviewDeveloping LLM-based measures of geopolitical risk and integrating them, alongside ESG ratings, into portfolio-optimization frameworks — combining empirical estimation with analytical modeling.
In progressModeling operational decisions where sustainability objectives and supply-chain performance interact.
In progressSimulation-driven optimization of porous-material structures, with applications to fluid machinery and energy systems.
In progressContact
Whether it’s research collaboration, a question about my work, or an opportunity worth talking through — send a note and it’ll reach my inbox directly.