Oroojeni’s commitment to learning extends past her classroom and applies just as much to her own research. Over the course of her career, she has focused her studies on sustainability in supply chains and the role of machine learning in business. Though the two topics are quite different, they often converge in exciting ways, which interested Oroojeni as she learned more about both.

“I was propelled towards the intersection of green supply chains and machine learning, where I now seek to leverage advanced analytics and optimization methodologies to foster sustainable practices within supply chain networks,” she explained. “My research interests underscore my commitment to addressing contemporary challenges in environmental sustainability and operational efficiency through innovative technological solutions.”

Oroojeni first became interested in green supply chains during her graduate studies, where she focused on operations research and systems engineering in socioeconomic contexts. There, she learned more about the sustainability challenges within supply chains and the potential for small changes to add up.

“I was amazed by the impact that minor operational changes can have on reducing environmental footprints,” she recalled. “Even minor alterations in packaging materials or transportation routes can often result in substantial improvements in efficiency and sustainability.”

From there, she developed a focus on innovative solutions to common supply chain problems and a goal of keeping environmental consciousness in mind while still improving the efficiency of logistical systems. While continuing her research at Hopkins and the Massachusetts General Hospital, her research interests expanded when she saw the growing power of machine learning to comb through massive datasets and uncover crucial insights. In particular, she was surprised that an algorithm could pick up on subtle patterns in a patient’s data, potentially pointing out correlations that might have been missed otherwise.

“The capability of these models to discern nuanced relationships among variables has significant implications for clinical decision-making and personalized medicine, underscoring the transformative nature of data-driven approaches in healthcare,” Oroojeni explained.

It’s a fascinating time to conduct research in both machine learning and green supply chains, and Oroojeni is looking forward to tackling some of the questions herself. At the moment, she hopes to combine her two interests by investigating how machine learning algorithms can be applied to sustainability challenges—not only in supply chains but also in energy systems and environmental management. She is also keeping an eye on the current discussions around machine learning, from its ability to handle a wide range of datasets to the ethics of artificial intelligence.

Transparency is also a major discussion in the supply chain world right now. Where the discussion around sustainability in supply chains used to focus on ensuring that companies were meeting regulations, Oroojeni has seen a major shift in the discussion in recent years. With consumers more interested than ever in ensuring that they are supporting brands that match their values, businesses have recognized that sustainability measures have come to impact a brand’s reputation. This has extended to manufacturing, where it has become vital to ensure that a supply chain can be traced so that consumers and stakeholders alike are able to see how their products are being made—and if they are, in fact, being made and delivered in an environmentally friendly way.

“Stakeholders are keen on comprehending the social and environmental repercussions linked to manufacturing and distribution, prompting the need for enhanced transparency and accountability across the supply chain,” Oroojeni explained.

Whether it’s creating a more sustainable supply chain system or examining how machine learning can best be utilized in data analysis, Oroojeni will ask and pursue big questions. As a researcher, a professional, and a teacher, she is just as committed to learning as she is to teaching, and her field is full of ways to do both.

“I’m always open to new professional growth and development opportunities,” she said. “Whether it involves participating in conferences, engaging in collaborative research endeavors, or delving into emerging academic trends, I am dedicated to lifelong learning and remaining at the vanguard of my discipline.”

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