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George Mason University’s Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research (SEOR) has a new leader at the helm. With a background in using systems and industrial engineering to solve industry, agriculture, and healthcare problems, Guiping Hu brings wide-ranging expertise and a clear vision for the future of the department.
An industrial and systems engineer, Hu has focused on applying mathematical models, systems analysis, and data-driven methods to improve decision-making across industries. “My research projects have been broad throughout my career,” said Hu. “But they’ve all focused on improving efficiency, whether that’s been profit maximization, time savings, reducing environmental impact, and others. Industrial and systems engineering disciplines are adaptable to various settings to solve real-world impactful problems.”
Right now, one of her federally funded projects is looking at understanding the agriculture trade relationship between the United States and China and how different policies and practices have impacted it. Another project uses computer simulation to investigate how to improve the U.S. agricultural system and adapt it to the changing environment.
Additionally, she’s working on a project supported by the Alzheimer’s Association that designs data analytics models to study human biomedical and cognitive data to better understand the human aging process and guide better treatment and mitigation plans.
“I’m especially excited about healthcare data analytics,” she says. “This region is rich in biomedical collaborations, and George Mason is well-positioned to lead in this area. The SEOR department especially has the integral research knowledge to address this interdisciplinary societal challenge to improve human health.”
Looking ahead, Hu sees opportunities to expand the SEOR department’s interdisciplinary reach, particularly in areas that connect to national needs. She points to defense-related applications of artificial intelligence and human factors, as well as growing interest in model-based systems engineering. “These are areas where our faculty are already strong, and where I see enormous potential for future growth,” she says.
Her vision also extends to students. At the undergraduate level, she hopes to raise awareness of systems and industrial engineering’s value among potential students, noting that while it is a more nuanced field of engineering, it’s one with an amazing impact. “Our field is about systems thinking and modeling tools to make processes better,” she explains. “That applies to everything from supply chains to sustainability.”
For graduate students, she emphasizes strong research opportunities, professional readiness, and close ties with industry and federal agencies. “Our faculty are already very strong researchers, but there are many more opportunities for SEOR. I see tremendous potential in graduate education, professional training, and cutting-edge research,” says Hu.
Beyond research and academics, she underscores the importance of showcasing the department’s success. “I don’t think academic departments should be hidden gems,” she says. “We need to share our successes widely—through partnerships and outreach. That builds reputation, rankings, and, most importantly, opportunities for our students and faculty.”
With collaborative faculty, supportive leadership, and a growing network of partners, the SEOR department is positioned to thrive. “We already have a strong foundation,” she says. “Now it’s about building on that strength to prepare our students and expand our impact.”