Felipe Aros-Vera, PhD
Affiliation: Ohio University
Dr. Aros-Vera is an Assistant Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at Ohio University. He holds a Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and a M.S. and B.S. on Engineering Sciences from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Dr. Aros-Vera’s research spans the fields of Human Trafficking, Humanitarian and Disaster Response Logistics, and Transportation Engineering. His research uses network modeling to design of interdiction strategies, and statistical analysis to identify and quantify key variables that influence the risk for human trafficking at the country, and state levels. Dr. Aros-Vera collaborates with multiple universities, private sector, and institutions including IBM, Traffik Analysis Hub, and the Cuyahoga Human Trafficking Task Force. As part of his work, Dr. Aros-Vera has done fieldwork research after multiple disasters, and participated in sting operations by police enforcement. Dr. Aros-Vera has received multiple awards including the 2020 Outstanding Mentor Award by the Cutler Scholars Program at Ohio University, finalist of the 2017 Franz Edelman Award by INFORMS, and the 2014 Thomas Archibald Bedford Prize by RPI.
Research Interests:
Mathematical optimization and operations research
Econometric models and AI forecasting and prediction
Labor and sex trafficking
Trafficking networks
Network interdiction models
Risk analysis of human trafficking