Euro PhD School Data Science Meets Combinatorial Optimisation

September 4-8 2023, Bielefeld

Euro PhD School: Data Science Meets Combinatorial Optimisation

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.

Lecturers and Topics

	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 Talk

Yaochu Jin Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Artificial Intelligence Bielefeld University Graph Neural Networks for Combinatorial Optimization

Scientific and Organization Committee

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

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