Name
Mohammad Reza Khodoomi
Program
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering
Research Supervisors
Drs. Babak Mohamadpour Tosarkani and Eric Li
Hometown
Canada
Awards
- UBC Public Scholars Award
- Okanagan Graduate Research Scholarship
Please describe your research. What inspires you about your research?
My research focuses on making energy and supply chain systems more sustainable, resilient, and efficient. I use operations research methods, including mathematical optimization, data-driven modelling, simulation, and decision-support tools, to help organizations and communities make better decisions when resources are limited and the future is uncertain.
A major part of my work is in sustainable supply chain management, where I study topics such as renewable energy, battery life-cycle management, electric-vehicle infrastructure, energy sharing, and resilient energy systems. I am particularly interested in understanding how emerging technologies can be integrated into existing systems in ways that balance environmental, economic, and social considerations.
What inspires me most is the opportunity to turn complex real-world challenges into practical decisions. Problems related to climate change, energy security, infrastructure disruptions, and sustainable development rarely have one simple solution. I find it exciting that operations research allows us to compare alternatives, understand trade-offs, and identify solutions that might not otherwise be obvious.
Please describe how your award has impacted your academic and research endeavours.
The UBC Public Scholars Award is helping me expand my doctoral research beyond traditional academic modelling and connect it more directly with real-world energy and sustainability challenges. My research focuses on sustainability, energy supply chain management, and operations research methods, particularly the use of mathematical optimization and data-driven approaches to support better energy planning and decision-making. Through the Public Scholars Initiative, I have the opportunity to translate these technical methods into practical tools that can support municipalities and other stakeholders in planning more sustainable and resilient energy systems.
Academically, the award is also helping me broaden my perspective as an operations research scholar. Rather than focusing only on developing advanced models and algorithms, I am learning how these methods can be designed around real planning needs and communicated to decision-makers outside academia.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
My academic background began in industrial engineering and gradually developed into a strong interest in supply chain management, operations research, and sustainable energy systems. During my master’s degree, I studied how quantitative methods can be used to address practical sustainability challenges.
I decided to pursue a graduate degree because I wanted to develop deeper expertise in using optimization and data-driven decision-making to solve complex real-world problems. Graduate studies have given me the opportunity to go beyond analyzing existing systems and instead design new models and decision-support approaches for challenges involving sustainability, resilience, uncertainty, and resource limitations. My PhD has allowed me to bring together my interests in operations research and sustainable development.
Why did you choose to come to UBC Okanagan and study?
I chose UBC Okanagan because Dr. Babak Tosarkani’s research lab offers the kind of interdisciplinary research environment I was looking for. My interests sit at the intersection of engineering, operations research, supply chain management, and sustainable energy, and UBC Okanagan and the Industrial Systems Optimization Laboratory (ISOL) gave me the opportunity to develop research that connects these areas rather than treating them separately.
Moreover, I have had the opportunity to work across both the School of Engineering and the Faculty of Management under the guidance of my supervisor, Dr. Tosarkani, and my co-supervisor, Dr. Li. This interdisciplinary experience has been particularly valuable for my doctoral research, as it has allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of both the engineering and management aspects of my research and to integrate perspectives from both fields.
Where do you hope your degree/research will take you next?
In the next stage of my career, I hope to continue developing research while collaborating with public-sector and industry partners. I am also passionate about teaching and mentoring students. I would like my work to help translate advanced analytical methods into practical tools and decisions that support more sustainable and resilient communities.
Please share a little bit about yourself.
Outside of my research, I enjoy hiking. I find that taking time away from academic work helps me recharge, stay curious, and return to my research with a fresh perspective.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
My advice to new graduate students is to be patient with the process and open to learning beyond your original research plan. Graduate research rarely follows a straight path, and some of the most valuable progress can come from unexpected challenges and conversations with people from different disciplines. I encourage students to build strong relationships with their peers and collaborators, and to take advantage of opportunities outside their safe zones.
Anything else we should know?
In addition to my research, I value opportunities to contribute through teaching, mentoring, and academic service. At UBC Okanagan, I have supported students across different courses, and I received a “Thank a Prof” recognition for my contributions to student learning.