Research

Research Interests

• • Theories: Stochastic and Discrete Optimization, Robust and Data-Driven Optimization, Dynamic Programming, Game Theory

  • Applications: Energy Market, Smart City, Supply Chain, Shared Mobility, Marketing, Transportation

Journal Publications

1. "Optimized Dimensionality Reduction for Moment-based Distributionally Robust Optimization," with Shiyi Jiang, Jianqiang Cheng, and Zuo-Jun Max Shen. Operations Research, forthcoming, 2025. [Optimization-Online, arXiv, Data and Code]

   • This paper won the INFORMS Computing Society Best Student Paper Award in 2023.

2. "Unlock the Energy Flexibility Resources of Zero-Emission Vehicles to Simultaneously Alleviate the Negative Impact on Grid and Traffic between Remote Buildings with Predictive Controls," with Zhenyu Dou, Yang Xu, and Sunliang Cao. Applied Energy, forthcoming, 2025. (IF=11.0)

3. "Asymptotically Tight MILP Approximations for a Nonconvex QCP," with Shiyi Jiang, Jianqiang Cheng, and Boshi Yang. INFORMS Journal on Computing, forthcoming, 2025. [Data and code, DOI]

4. "Layout Optimization for a Large-Scale Grid-Connected Solar Power Plant," with Chong Wang, Qinghua Wu, and Zuo-Jun Max Shen. INFORMS Journal on Computing, forthcoming, 2025. [Data and code, DOI]

5. "Data-Driven Planning for Wireless Charging Lanes," with Canqi Yao and Jianqiang Cheng. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 16(4), 3179-3194, 2025. (IF=8.6) [DOI]

6. "Power Outage-Risk Integrated Social Vulnerability Analysis Highlights Disparities in Small Residential Communities," with Farzane Ezzati, Qingyang Xiao, Zhijie Sasha Dong, Junfeng Jiao, Alyson Vargas, Vincent Yeh, and Thomas Ptak. Communications Earth & Environment, 6, 294, 2025. (A journal under the Nature portfolio, IF=8.1)

7. "Integrated Vehicle Allocation and Relocation for Shared Micromobility under Competition and Demand Uncertainty," with Ziliang Jin, Zuo-Jun Max Shen, and Wenxin Xu. IISE Transactions, 57(8), 994-1013, 2025. [Preprint, DOI] (ISE Magazine feature article)

8. "State-of-the-Art Review of Smart Energy Management Systems for Supporting Zero-emission Electric Vehicles with X2V and V2X Interactions," with Yang Xu, Hongxing Yang, Sunliang Cao, etc. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 208, 115050, 2025. [DOI] (IF=16.3)

9. "Convex Hull for Self-Scheduling Energy-Intensive Enterprises with Demand Response Regulations," with Yang Xiao, Tao Ding, Chenggang Mu, Biyuan Zhang, and Mohammad Shahidehpour. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 40(3), 2003-2013, 2025.

10. "Linearization Method for Large-scale Hydro-thermal Security-Constrained Unit Commitment," with Ming Qu, Tao Ding, Chenggang Mu, Xiaosheng Zhang, and Mohammad Shahidehpour. IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, 21(2), 1754-1766, 2024. (IF: 5.6)

11. "Vehicle Rebalancing in A Shared Micromobility System with Rider Crowdsourcing," with Ziliang Jin, Yulan Wang, Yun Fong Lim, and Zuo-Jun Max Shen. Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, 25(4): 1394-1415, 2023. [Preprint, SSRN, DOI]

12. "Robust Sourcing under Multi-level Supply Risks: Analysis of Random Yield and Capacity," with Ming Zhao and Nickolas Freeman. INFORMS Journal on Computing, 35(1): 178-195, 2023. [Data instances download, Preprint, DOI]

13. "An Exact Algorithm for the Pickup and Delivery Problem with Crowdsourced Bids and Transshipment," with E Su, Jiliu Li, and Hu Qin. Transportation Research Part B, 177, 102831, 2023. [SSRN, DOI]

14. "Data-Driven Chance-Constrained Planning for Distributed Generation: A Partial Sampling Approach," with Shiyi Jiang, Jianqiang Cheng, Feng Qiu, and Boshi Yang. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 38(6): 5228-5244, 2023. (IF: 6.6)

15. "Convex Hull Model for a Single-Unit Commitment Problem with Pumped Hydro Storage Unit," with Ming Qu, Tao Ding, Chenggang Mu, Yuge Sun, and Mohammad Shahidehpour. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 38(5): 4867-4880, 2023.

16. "Identification of Key Components after Unintentional Failures for Cascading Failure Protection," with Xiang Li and Tianyi Pan. IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering, 10(2): 1003-1014, 2023. (IF: 6.6)

17. "Asymptotically Tight Conic Approximations for Chance-Constrained AC Optimal Power Flow," with Abolhassan Mohammadi Fathabad, Jianqiang Cheng, and Boshi Yang. European Journal of Operational Research, 305(2): 738-753, 2023. [Preprint, DOI]

18. "A Polyhedral Study on Fuel-Constrained Unit Commitment," with Ming Zhao, Chung-Lun Li, and Feng Qiu. INFORMS Journal on Computing, 34(6):3309-3324, 2022. [Data instances download, Preprint, DOI]

19. "The Techno-economic Flexibility Investigation and Enhancement for the Hybrid Ocean-energy Supported Zero-energy Building and Seawater-transportation System," with Xinman Guo, Haojie Luo, Sunliang Cao, and Yixing Lisa Gao. Energy Reports, vol. 8: 13438-13462, 2022. (IF: 5.2)

20. "Integrated Stochastic Optimal Self-Scheduling for Two-Settlement Electricity Markets," with Yongpei Guan. INFORMS Journal on Computing, 34(3): 1819–1840, 2022. [Data instances download, DOI]

21. "Computationally Efficient Approximations for Distributionally Robust Optimization under Moment and Wasserstein Ambiguity," with Meysam Cheramin, Jianqiang Cheng, and Ruiwei Jiang. INFORMS Journal on Computing, 34(3): 1768-1794, 2022. [Data and code, DOI, Preprint]

22. "Managing Stochastic Bucket Brigades on Discrete Work Stations," with Peng Wang, Zhenzhen Yan, and Yun Fong Lim. Production and Operations Management, 31(1): 358-373, 2022.

23. "Integrated Ad Delivery Planning for Targeted Display Advertising," with Huaxiao Shen, Yanzhi Li, and Youhua (Frank) Chen. Operations Research, 69(5): 1349-1650, 2021.

24. "Multistage Stochastic Power Generation Scheduling Co-Optimizing Energy and Ancillary Services," with Jianqiu Huang and Yongpei Guan. INFORMS Journal on Computing, 33(1): 352-369, 2021. [Data instances download]

25. "Cutting Planes for Security-Constrained Unit Commitment with Regulation Reserve," with Jianqiu Huang and Yongpei Guan. IISE Transactions, 53(4): 437-452, 2021.

26. "Data-driven Planning for Renewable Distributed Generation Integration," with Abolhassan Mohammadi Fathabad, Jianqiang Cheng, and Feng Qiu. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 35(6): 4357-4368, 2020.

27. "Single-path Service Network Design Problem with Resource Constraints,'' with Xiangyong Li, Yi Ding, Dapei Jiang, and Yash P. Aneja. Transportation Research Part E, 140: 101945, 2020. (IF: 10.6)

28. "Data-Driven Look-Ahead Unit Commitment Considering Forbidden Zones and Dynamic Ramping Rates," with Ziliang Jin, Lei Fan, and Tao Ding. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 15(6): 3267-3276, 2019. (IF: 12.3)

29. "A Strengthened Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Formulation for Combined-Cycle Units," with Lei Fan and Yongpei Guan. European Journal of Operational Research, 275(3): 865-881, 2019.

30. "Bulk Ship Scheduling in Industrial Shipping with Stochastic Backhaul Canvassing Demand," with Lingxiao Wu, Shuaian Wang, and Dong Yang. Transportation Research Part B, 117: 117-136, 2018.

31. "Polynomial Time Algorithms and Extended Formulations for Unit Commitment Problems," with Yongpei Guan and Kezhuo Zhou. IISE Transactions, 50(8): 735-751, 2018. (download) (ISE Magazine feature article)

32. "On Service Network Improvement for Shipping Lines under the One Belt One Road Initiative of China," with Dong Yang and Shuaian Wang. Transportation Research Part E, 117: 82-95, 2018.

33. "Capacity Investment in Supply Chain with Risk Averse Supplier under Risk Diversification Contract," with Juan He and Chao Ma. Transportation Research Part E, 106: 255-275, 2017.

34. "Data-­Driven Risk-Averse Stochastic Self-­Scheduling for the Combined-­Cycle Units," with Yongpei Guan. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 13(4): 3058-3069, 2017.

35. "Strong Formulations for Multistage Stochastic Self-Scheduling Unit Commitment," with Yongpei Guan. Operations Research, 64(6): 1482-1498, 2016.

36. "Strengthened MILP Formulation for Certain Gas Turbine Unit Commitment Problems," with Yongpei Guan, Jean-Paul Watson, and Jianhui Wang. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 31(2): 1440-1448, 2016.

37. "A Polyhedral Study of the Integrated Minimum-Up/-Down Time and Ramping Polytope," with Yongpei Guan.

38. "Convex Hulls for the Unit Commitment Polytope," with Yongpei Guan.

39. "A Polyhedral Study on Unit Commitment with a Single Type of Binary Variables," with Bin Tian and Chung-Lun Li. Submitted.

40. "Robust Grid-Vehicle Integration: A Machine Learning-Driven Optimization Approach," with Ziliang Jin, Jianqiang Cheng, Zuo-Jun Max Shen, and Yulan Wang. Submitted. [SSRN]

41. "Integrating EV Charging and Discharging into Power Grid Through Bilateral Negotiation," with Linqiu Li and Yun Fong Lim. Submitted. [SSRN]

42. "Managing Shared Mobility Systems with Electric Vehicles Under Correlated Demand Uncertainties," with Ziliang Jin, Bin Tian, and Yun Fong Lim. Submitted. [SSRN]

43. "Selling to Consumers with Discretionary Search," with Quan Zheng, Shuaishi Yuan, and Xuying Zhao. Submitted. [SSRN]

44. "Financial Hedging vs Storage: the Case of Firming Renewable Electricity," with Anil Kaya, Yashar Ghiassi-Farrokhfal, Steffen Rebennack, Mohammad Reza Hesamzadeh, and Derek W. Bunn. Submitted. [SSRN]

45. "Integrated Stowage and Retrieval Optimization for Autonomous Robotic Warehouses Under Uncertain Demand," with Yuyu Liu, Marcus Ang, Yun Fong Lim, and Yugang Yu. Submitted. [SSRN]

46. "Harmonizing SAA and DRO," with Ziliang Jin, Jianqiang Cheng, and Daniel Zhuoyu Long. Submitted. [arXiv]

(12 papers in the UTD top-24 business journals, 10 papers in the IEEE Transactions journals, 5 papers in the IISE Trans./EJOR, 5 papers in the Transportation Research journals, and 4 papers in other specialty journals)

Conference Proceedings

• 1. "Integrated Regenerator Planning and RWA in WDM Optical Networks under Link Failures," with Chong Wang, Bin Tian, Junyan Liu, and Fan Zhang.  In Proceedings of the 2024 Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Annual Conference, pp. 1-6.

  2. "Adaptive Crawling with Cautious Users," with Xiang Li, Tianyi Pan, and Guangmo Tong. In 2019 IEEE International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems (ICDCS 2019) (Acceptance rate: 19.6%)

  3. "Stochastic Optimization Formulations for Reliability Unit Commitment Runs," with Yang Lu, Yongpei Guan, and Jean-Paul Watson. In 2014 IEEE PES General Meeting Conference. (Acceptance rate: N.A.)

Invited Book Chapters

1. "Integrated Power Transmission and Distribution Systems," with Abolhassan Mohammadi Fathabad and Jianqiang Cheng. In Renewable-Energy-Driven Future, pp. 169-199, 2020. ISBN: 978-0-12-820539-6. Academic Press.

External Research Grants

• 1. Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund (GRF), Principle Investigator. Project title: Data-Driven Domain-Aware Planning for Hydrogen-Driven Grid and Mobility Integration. Project period: 2025 - 2027.

  2. Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund (GRF), Principle Investigator. Project title: Data-Driven Risk-Averse Operations for Autonomous Electrified Mobility Systems. Project period: 2024 - 2026.

  3. Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund (GRF), Principle Investigator. Project title: Data-Driven Resilience Design for Integrated Grid and Mobility Systems. Project period: 2022 - 2024.

  4. Industrial Grant, Principle Investigator. Project Title: Regenerator Planning for a Fiber Optic Network against Link Contingency. Project period: 2022 - 2023.

  5. Hong Kong RGC Research Matching Grant Scheme. Project Title: Regenerator Planning for a Fiber Optic Network against Link Contingency. Project period: 2022 - 2023.

  6. Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund (GRF), Principle Investigator. Project title: Data-Driven Planning for Smart Vehicle-Grid Integration Systems. Project period: 2021 - 2023.

  7. National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Principle Investigator. Project title: Optimizing Electrical Power System Operations Considering Limited Supply and Uncertain Net Demand. Project period: 2021 - 2023.

  8. Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund (GRF), Principle Investigator. Project title: Capacity Design for Electrified Shared-Mobility Systems. Project period: 2020 - 2022.

  9. Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund (GRF), Principle Investigator. Project title: Strategic Operations Management in Bicycle-sharing Industry. Project period: 2019 - 2021.

  10. Hong Kong RGC Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), Chief Supervisor, 2020 - 2023. (PhD student: Ziliang Jin)

  11. Smart Traffic Fund of Hong Kong Transport Department, Co-Investigator. Project title: The smart charging development of zero-emission autonomous electric vehicles by the X2V and V2X technologies with respect to the dynamic traffic, grid and energy. Grant No.: PSRI/22/2111/PR. Funding Amount: HKD 2,205,792. PI: Sunliang Cao.

Recruitment

I am always looking for Ph.D. students who are interested in doing research on decision-making under uncertainty with potential applications in smart city operations, energy market, supply chain management, and transportation. Prospective students with solid backgrounds are welcome to email me with your CV.

Research Assistant / Research Associate / Postdoctoral Fellow applications are also welcome.