First Euro PhD School Data Science Meets Combinatorial Optimisation

The first EURO PhD school on Data Science meets Optimization took place at Bielefeld University in Germany beginning of september 2023

Lecturers

• Kevin Tierney Bielefeld University Deep Reinforcement Learning for Vehicle Routing Problems
• Marius Lindauer, Alexander Tornede Leibniz University Hannover Efficient algorithm design via automated algorithm selection and configuration
• Yingqian Zhang, Sicco Verver Eindhoven University of Technology, Delft University of Technology Optimization in Machine Learning
• Kate Smith-Miles University of Melbourne Instance Space Analysis
• Dimitri Papadimitriou University of Antwerp A third dimension for characterising algorithms: spatial properties
• Invited Keynote: Yaochu Jin Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Artificial Intelligence Bielefeld University Graph Neural Networks for Combinatorial Optimization

Organizers

• Michael Römer Bielefeld University Organization
• Andrew Parkes, Ender Özcan University of Nottingham Coordinator EWG/DSO
• Patrick de Causmaecker KU Leuven Scientific chair / coordinator EWG/DSO

Algorithms for combinatorial optimization feature aspects of data science in various respects. Combinatorial optimization problems are mostly NP-hard, and this complexity reflects itself in complicated  and large solution spaces. Combinatorial optimization problems often originate from real-world problems and this real-world context has an impact on the set of instances likely to ask for a solution which influences  the applicability of specific algorithms. NP-hard problems often allow fast solutions for classes of instances while other classes are much harder to solve. Mapping these classes onto a space of instances provides insight and increases understanding in the problem as well as on the applicability of specific algorithms.

On each day of the PhD school, one lecturer, often assisted by a post-doc, will teach a state-of-the art topic, providing both theory and hands-on training and excercises. In addition to those teaching sessions, PhD students will get the opportunity to present and discuss their work, and there will be an invited talk by the Alexander von Humboldt Professor Yachou Jin. Last but not least, during joint meals and social activities, there will be plenty of room for socializing and networking.