Sheldon
H. Jacobson Ph.D.
University
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Founder Professor in Computer
Science
Director, Bed
Time Research Institute
Director, Institute
for Computational Redistricting
Director, Simulation and Optimization Laboratory
201 North Goodwin Avenue
(MC-258)
University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois 61801-2302
Telephone: (217) 244-7275
Fax: (217) 265-4035
Skype: sheldon.jacobson1
Email: shj@illinois.edu
Blue Sky: @shjanalytics.bsky.social
Professional Awards, Honors, and
Recognitions
Sheldon
Jacobson - Recognizing Faculty at Illinois (video)
Muck Rack Page (communication
activities)
For the Media:
Areas of Expertise
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9042-8750
Primary and Affiliate Appointments:
Professor of Computer
Science
Professor of Electrical &
Computer Engineering
Professor of Industrial &
Enterprise Systems Engineering
Professor of Mathematics
(College of Liberal Arts & Science)
Professor of Statistics
(College of Liberal Arts & Science)
Professor, Carle
Illinois College of Medicine
Founding Director: Institute for Computational
Redistricting (ICOR)
Founding Director: Bed Time
Research Institute (BTRI)
Web Sites of Interest within
the BTRI
1) March Madness 2023... What are your bracket odds? Visit Bracketodds
for help with your Men’s and Women’s brackets.
2) What drives obesity? Visit Driving Obesity for the
answer.
3) Interested in ending gerrymandering?
Visit the Institute for
Computational Redistricting (ICOR).
Information
of Interest
Broader Impacts: How research supported by
the National Science Foundation makes the world better for all. Read the Workshop Report: Setting
a Broader Impacts Innovation Roadmap.
In
the News
2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 and earlier
(4 November 2024, Newsweek, Jack Beresford) “Woman flying home from Bangkok finds
something ‘scary’ in luggage” quotes Jacobson
explaining how an item found in a checked bag after it cleared airport security
may have gotten there.
(16 October 2024, Conde Nast Traveler, Korin Miller) “How to avoid catching Covid while flying” quotes Jacobson what
you can do to minimize the risk of catching Covid on a flight.
(24 September 2024, Wall Street Journal, Jacob Passy) “What the Exploding Pagers Attack Means
for Air Travel” quotes Jacobson on the
risk that such attacks may have on the nation’s airport security systems.
(22 August 2024, CNBC, Kevin Williams) “The world’s first airport to require
biometric boarding is set to arrive in 2025” quotes Jacobson on the
benefits of biometrics like facial recognition at airports.
(20 May 2024, CNBC, Todd Wasserman) “With JP Morgan, Mastercard on board in
biometric ‘breakthrough’ year, you may soon start paying with your face” quotes
Jacobson on the evolution of facial recognition into retail and issues related
to privacy.
(19 March 2024, ESPN,
Ryan Hockensmith) “How one fan came close to a perfect March
Madness bracket” references strategies
from the bracketodds web site and quotes
Jacobson on upsets in the tournament.
(18 March 2024, Associated
Press, Mark Anderson) “Bettors counting on upsets as they put
money on long shots this March Madness” references the bracketodds web site and quotes
Jacobson on how the Selection Committee seeded teams.
(18 March 2024, Washington
Post, Neil Greenberg) “10 March Madness tips from a certified
bracket master” references strategies
from the bracketodds web site and quotes
Jacobson on how to sensibly fill out your bracket.
(13 March 2024, National
Geographic, Ronan O’Connell) “PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR: We explain U.S.
expedited travel programs” quotes Jacobson on the
benefits associated with TSA PreCheck.
Potential PhD Graduate
Students
Research Opportunities in
Operations Research
Secrets to Learn
Before you Graduate
Visit the Media and Outreach
Presentation
For a seminar on
bracketology:
March
Madness and Advanced Analytics: Improving Your Bracket Odds
Looking for a Ph.D. Advisor?
Zen and
the Art of Hiring and Advising Graduate Students
Interested in
Jacobson’s “TED-type” Talk slides?
Interested in supporting
Jacobson’s research on policy, public health, societal issues, or
bracketology?
Visit Benefunder.
Research Areas and Interests
Theory/AI Interface (Operations Research)
Advanced Analytics and Data Science (Big Data, Computational Public
Health & Social Sciences, Health Informatics)
Industrial Engineering
Current Research Thrusts
Data-driven Causal Inference (BIG Data Analytics Using
Discrete Optimization)
Security Screening (Data-driven Decision-making Under
Uncertainty, Game Theory)
Algorithmic Political Districting (Graph Theory, Artificial
Intelligence)
Branch and Bound Strategies for discrete optimization
problems (Theory/Artificial Intelligence)
Bracketology Data Analytics (Sports Analytics)
Infectious Disease Screening and quarantining strategies
(Decision-making Under Uncertainty)
Obesity, Energy, and Transportation (Public Health Data
Analytics)
Mass Murder and Violence Trends in Society (Public Health
Data Analytics)
Research (Peer Reviewed) Articles
Computer Simulation Methodology and
Modeling
Discrete
Optimization Algorithms (Exact and Approximation)
Stochastic Models, On-line
Optimization, and Sequential Decision-Making
Aviation Security System Design and
Analysis
Health Care
Systems Engineering, Modeling, and Analysis
Immunization and Vaccine Economics
Transportation,
Obesity, and Public Health
Causal Inference, Districting
Problems, and Election Forecasting
Sports Analytics: NCAA Bracketology
Applications
of Operations Research
Other Publications
Book Chapters
Professional Magazines, Public
Writings
Conference Proceedings Papers
Professional Activities
Presentations, Seminars, and Posters
Sponsored Research
Dissertation, Theses, and Projects
Directed
Teaching and Service Activities
Jacobson's
Web Site on the Computer Science Web Page
Sheldon H. Jacobson, Ph.D.
201 North
Goodwin Avenue (MC-258)
University of Illinois
Urbana,
Illinois 61801-2302
Telephone: (217) 244-7275
Fax: (217) 244-6869
Skype: sheldon.jacobson1
Email: shj@illinois.edu
Twitter: @shjanalytics
Last Updated: 8 February 2025
First Posted: 25 June 1999
