Long Hei
Why did you choose Northwestern?
Northwestern has a worldwide reputation for academic excellence, as well as industrial connections. Professor Jorge Nocedal, my PhD adviser, is one of the well-known experts in the world of numerical optimization algorithms. Choosing Northwestern was not at all a hard decision.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what is it now?
My research during the PhD period was about the development of numerical optimization algorithms—how to solve a constrained maximization or minimization problem efficiently and accurately. Currently, my work is generalized to the formulation and solution of real-world (industrial or business) problems using numerical methods.
Tell us who or what inspired your research and/or work.
Who doesn't want to achieve more with less resources? Pushing this closer to the extreme, you end up optimizing everything you do—study, work, and even your life. Undoubtedly, a better-optimized world is a nicer place to live in.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
I am working on establishing the data roadmap for a business, and streamlining the company's data efforts in order to better support the overall business focus. This includes the entire data suite—data engineering, data analytics, and data science. Making the data tell the story is always great!
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
Never stop learning and exploring!