Speaker: Dr. Elisabeth Rodríguez-Heck – Gurobi Optimization (Spain)

Dr. Elisabeth Rodríguez-Heck is a Senior Optimisation Engineer at Gurobi, where she helps customers leverage mathematical optimization to solve complex real-world problems.

She holds a BSc in Mathematics from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (Spain), an MSc in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from Grenoble Institute of Technology (France), and a PhD in Economics and Management Science from the University of Liège (Belgium). Before joining Gurobi, she was a postdoctoral researcher at RWTH Aachen University, where she also taught courses on integer programming.

Elisabeth is passionate about mathematical optimisation, combining technical expertise with science communication through webinars, technical articles, and the Women in Optimisation blog series. She enjoys sharing the real-world impact of optimisation and the stories of the people behind it.

Abstract:

Optimisation is often associated with algorithms, mathematical models, and computational performance. Yet the conversations behind those advances are just as fascinating as the mathematics itself. They reveal unexpected career paths, inspiring personal stories, and remarkably diverse applications of optimisation.

In this seminar, I reflect on my experience writing Gurobi’s Women in Optimisation blog series, highlighting inspiring researchers and practitioners whose work spans fields as diverse as renewable energy, humanitarian logistics, search and rescue, algorithmic theory, statistics, and healthcare. Rather than summarising the interviews, I will share the ideas, applications, and stories that surprised me most throughout the project.

Together, these conversations reveal not only the extraordinary breadth of optimisation and Operations Research, but also the many ways people find their place in the field. More often than not, career paths are non-linear and are shaped by curiosity, influential conversations, interdisciplinary collaborations, and a willingness to embrace unexpected opportunities.

This event is Online Only:
JOIN VIA ZOOM – MEETING ID: 873 1557 5255; PASSWORD: 778635

SEMINAR: WED 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 4.00PM-5.00PM (AEST, Melbourne Time)