Research Philosophy & Activities

"No research without action, no action without research" - Kurt Lewin

Over the past two decades, my research has been driven by a commitment to solving real-world challenges at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Combinatorial Optimization, and Decision Support Systems, with applications spanning logistics, transportation, healthcare, cloud computing, and industrial systems.

Vision, Mission, and Core Values

Vision

To advance the frontiers of AI and optimization through high-impact, interdisciplinary research that bridges theory and practice, developing smart, sustainable solutions that address global challenges while fostering innovation benefiting both academia and industry.

Mission

To conduct groundbreaking research in collaborative environments that promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and practical applications of AI, while mentoring the next generation of researchers and establishing strong industry partnerships.

Core Values

  • Excellence and rigor in scientific integrity
  • Collaboration and interdisciplinarity
  • Real-world impact and societal benefits
  • Mentorship for future research leaders

Research Objectives and Methodology

My research integrates machine learning techniques with optimization methods to solve complex decision-making problems, bridging the gap between prediction and prescription.

Education

Educating future researchers in AI and intelligent systems

Innovation

Developing cutting-edge AI-powered optimization frameworks

Impact

Contributing scientific knowledge with industrial and societal benefits

Collaboration

Enhancing industry-academic partnerships

Funding

Securing competitive research funding for impactful projects

Research Evolution and Contributions

2003 - 2008: Foundation Phase

Transportation and Logistics Optimization

  • Doctoral research on heuristics for vehicle routing problems
  • Development of selective vehicle routing problem solutions
  • Focus on tabu search and variable neighborhood search algorithms
  • Established foundation in combinatorial optimization
2008 - 2016: Framework Development

Unified Optimization Frameworks

  • Published 13 journal articles including 2 lead articles in top-tier Q1 journals (EJOR, OMEGA)
  • Developed rich vehicle routing problem taxonomy
  • Created unified frameworks for multi-constraint TSP with profits
  • Advanced knapsack problem variants and solution methods
  • Published 21 conference papers at premier venues
  • Supervised first cohort of PhD and Master's students
2016 - Present: AI-Driven Systems

AI-Driven Decision Support Systems

  • Integration of deep learning and big data analytics
  • Development of AI frameworks for cloud/fog computing optimization
  • Deep reinforcement learning for containerized microservices scheduling
  • Federated machine learning for COVID-19 prediction
  • UAV-based crowd monitoring and management systems
  • IoT smart systems and edge computing applications
  • Secured SAR 130K in research funding
  • 7 PhD supervisions (6 completed) and 11 Master's supervisions

Research Impact

1,200+ Total Citations
21 Journal Articles
27+ Conference Papers
13 h-index
7 PhD Students
View All Publications

Recognition

  • Saudi Arabia Premium Residency (2025)
  • 2 Lead Articles in Q1 journals (EJOR, OMEGA)
  • Best Student Paper Award (IEEE LOGISTIQUA 2011)
  • 70+ peer reviews for premier journals

Industry Collaborations

  • FedEx-SMSA Express Transportation (2013-2019)
  • Tunisian National Oil Office (2012-2014)
  • EcoMed Company Healthcare Waste (2011-2013)
  • Co-Founder, Filloop.com (2022-Present)

International Collaborations

  • France: École Centrale de Lille, UPHF
  • Canada: Université Laval, HEC Montréal
  • Turkey: Izmir University of Economics
  • UAE: Al Ain University
  • Qatar: Qatar University

Future Research Directions

Adaptive AI Systems

Autonomous Transportation

Combining reinforcement learning with optimization for self-driving vehicles and smart routing

Sustainable Supply Chains

Green logistics and carbon-neutral transportation optimization

Renewable Energy Systems

AI-powered scheduling for optimal renewable energy integration

Smart Manufacturing

Industry 4.0 optimization and intelligent production systems

Emerging Technologies

Edge/Fog Computing

Distributed AI for low-latency decision-making at the network edge

Digital Twins

Virtual system replicas for real-time optimization and simulation

Explainable AI

Transparent AI models for trustworthy decision support systems

Green Computing

Energy-efficient algorithms and sustainable computing solutions

Interdisciplinary Applications

Smart Cities

Urban infrastructure optimization, traffic management, and resource allocation

Healthcare

Telemedicine optimization, hospital resource allocation, and patient scheduling

Disaster Management

Emergency response optimization and crisis resource distribution

Agricultural Systems

Precision agriculture and food security optimization

Building Research Ecosystems

I believe in building strong, collaborative research ecosystems that maximize impact and innovation:

International Collaborations

Partnerships with leading researchers across France, Canada, Turkey, UAE, and Qatar, fostering knowledge exchange and joint publications

Industry Partnerships

Active engagement with industry ensures research applicability and provides real-world validation of theoretical contributions

Student-Centered Research

Mentoring develops next-generation scholars through hands-on involvement in cutting-edge research projects

Open Science

Commitment to publishing in high-impact venues and sharing knowledge through conferences and workshops

Institutional Contribution

My Commitment to Institutional Excellence

  • Building world-class research groups in AI and optimization
  • Securing external funding to support institutional research initiatives
  • Fostering strategic industry partnerships for mutual benefit
  • Mentoring junior faculty and graduate students
  • Publishing in high-impact venues to enhance institutional reputation
  • Contributing to strategic initiatives aligned with institutional missions
  • Serving on committees and contributing to academic governance
  • Establishing international collaborations and exchange programs

Interested in Collaboration?

I am always open to discussing potential research collaborations, student supervision opportunities, or industry partnerships. Let's work together to advance the frontiers of AI and optimization!

Get In Touch