Jim Luedtke
@optimizer.bsky.social
Professor, Stochastic and Integer Optimizer, Dad
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
I've written an end of year substack post about tracking Trump, where we are ending the year and some implications for Europe and for me personally...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/personal-r...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/personal-r...
Personal reflections on a Trumpian 2025
The implications of a year in Trump's new America and why I started tracking Trump - and why I'm not stopping.
christinapagel.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I've written an end of year substack post about tracking Trump, where we are ending the year and some implications for Europe and for me personally...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/personal-r...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/personal-r...
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
"Nearly 80 years later, the simplex method is still among the most widely used tools when a logistical or supply-chain decision needs to be made under complex constraints."
only half followed the description of the simplex method in here but super interesting anyways
www.wired.com/story/resear...
only half followed the description of the simplex method in here but super interesting anyways
www.wired.com/story/resear...
Research Reveals the Optimal Way to Optimize
The leading approach to the simplex method, a widely used technique for balancing complex logistical constraints, can’t get any better.
www.wired.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM
"Nearly 80 years later, the simplex method is still among the most widely used tools when a logistical or supply-chain decision needs to be made under complex constraints."
only half followed the description of the simplex method in here but super interesting anyways
www.wired.com/story/resear...
only half followed the description of the simplex method in here but super interesting anyways
www.wired.com/story/resear...
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
New preprint! 📄 Data-driven convergence guarantees for first-order methods via PEP + Wasserstein DRO.
Less pessimistic probabilistic rates that reflect how your solver actually behaves 🎯
📎 arxiv.org/abs/2511.17834
💻 github.com/stellatogrp/dro_pep
w/ Jisun Park & Vinit Ranjan #optimization #fom
Less pessimistic probabilistic rates that reflect how your solver actually behaves 🎯
📎 arxiv.org/abs/2511.17834
💻 github.com/stellatogrp/dro_pep
w/ Jisun Park & Vinit Ranjan #optimization #fom
December 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM
New preprint! 📄 Data-driven convergence guarantees for first-order methods via PEP + Wasserstein DRO.
Less pessimistic probabilistic rates that reflect how your solver actually behaves 🎯
📎 arxiv.org/abs/2511.17834
💻 github.com/stellatogrp/dro_pep
w/ Jisun Park & Vinit Ranjan #optimization #fom
Less pessimistic probabilistic rates that reflect how your solver actually behaves 🎯
📎 arxiv.org/abs/2511.17834
💻 github.com/stellatogrp/dro_pep
w/ Jisun Park & Vinit Ranjan #optimization #fom
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
Care about gun control?
Climate change?
Gun control?
Abortion rights?
Gun control?
Universal health care?
Gun control?
Higher education funding?
Gun control?
Abolishing ICE?
Gun control?
Ending murder on the high seas?
Gun control?
Etc.
Your platform is <institutional reform>
Climate change?
Gun control?
Abortion rights?
Gun control?
Universal health care?
Gun control?
Higher education funding?
Gun control?
Abolishing ICE?
Gun control?
Ending murder on the high seas?
Gun control?
Etc.
Your platform is <institutional reform>
<Everything> else - whatever Kitchen Table or civil rights or other policy issue you care about - <follows> from fixing our broken institutions & having multiparty majoritarian democracy. <All> of it. We keep doing it backwards, thinking Just One Popular Policy will fix it. It’s a category error.
This is why Democrats need a platform focused on institutional reform. Having to adopt policy positions opposed by supermajorities of the national public to win the hyper-malapportioned Senate is anti-democratic, & promising policies you can never pass is political suicide.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
December 14, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Care about gun control?
Climate change?
Gun control?
Abortion rights?
Gun control?
Universal health care?
Gun control?
Higher education funding?
Gun control?
Abolishing ICE?
Gun control?
Ending murder on the high seas?
Gun control?
Etc.
Your platform is <institutional reform>
Climate change?
Gun control?
Abortion rights?
Gun control?
Universal health care?
Gun control?
Higher education funding?
Gun control?
Abolishing ICE?
Gun control?
Ending murder on the high seas?
Gun control?
Etc.
Your platform is <institutional reform>
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
After 18+ years working for Maplesoft, I was "downsized" on Black Friday and I am currently on the lookout for new opportunities. I will be looking in earnest in the new year, but any leads on math programming/teaching work (especially in Los Angeles) would be appreciated.
December 10, 2025 at 6:41 AM
After 18+ years working for Maplesoft, I was "downsized" on Black Friday and I am currently on the lookout for new opportunities. I will be looking in earnest in the new year, but any leads on math programming/teaching work (especially in Los Angeles) would be appreciated.
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
As newsrooms shutter and paywalls rise elsewhere, public media delivers critical, unbiased reporting without fear or favor. That's the promise of a free press in a democracy.
Click here to support the network of voices that keeps our public conversation honest and informed: n.pr/4pCcFIx
Click here to support the network of voices that keeps our public conversation honest and informed: n.pr/4pCcFIx
December 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
As newsrooms shutter and paywalls rise elsewhere, public media delivers critical, unbiased reporting without fear or favor. That's the promise of a free press in a democracy.
Click here to support the network of voices that keeps our public conversation honest and informed: n.pr/4pCcFIx
Click here to support the network of voices that keeps our public conversation honest and informed: n.pr/4pCcFIx
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
I’m excited to share the materials from my Stanford seminar course, “AI for Algorithmic Reasoning and Optimization”: vitercik.github.io/ai4algs_25/. It covered formal algorithmic frameworks for analyzing LLM reasoning, GNNs for combinatorial/mathematical optimization, and theoretical guarantees.
December 2, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I’m excited to share the materials from my Stanford seminar course, “AI for Algorithmic Reasoning and Optimization”: vitercik.github.io/ai4algs_25/. It covered formal algorithmic frameworks for analyzing LLM reasoning, GNNs for combinatorial/mathematical optimization, and theoretical guarantees.
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
⚠️ WANTED: PhD student ⚠️
The topic? GPU-friendly algorithms for discrete optimization and mathematical programming, to be used inside decision-focused learning pipelines.
The mentors? My colleague Axel Parmentier and myself.
[1/3]
The topic? GPU-friendly algorithms for discrete optimization and mathematical programming, to be used inside decision-focused learning pipelines.
The mentors? My colleague Axel Parmentier and myself.
[1/3]
November 21, 2025 at 4:52 PM
⚠️ WANTED: PhD student ⚠️
The topic? GPU-friendly algorithms for discrete optimization and mathematical programming, to be used inside decision-focused learning pipelines.
The mentors? My colleague Axel Parmentier and myself.
[1/3]
The topic? GPU-friendly algorithms for discrete optimization and mathematical programming, to be used inside decision-focused learning pipelines.
The mentors? My colleague Axel Parmentier and myself.
[1/3]
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
Along with advancing optimization and game-theory research for post-disaster aid, Prof. Michini’s NSF CAREER Award supports new courses and researcher visits to help students learn the field: “I want to break that barrier…between professors and students..."🔗go.wisc.edu/zeuiau
@uwmadison.bsky.social
@uwmadison.bsky.social
Michini will use CAREER Award to improve post-disaster aid operations and more - College of Engineering - University of Wisconsin-Madison
While Carla Michini and her family took their usual summer trip to her native Italy in 2025, this was no relaxing getaway. Michini, an assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering at the University of...
go.wisc.edu
November 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Along with advancing optimization and game-theory research for post-disaster aid, Prof. Michini’s NSF CAREER Award supports new courses and researcher visits to help students learn the field: “I want to break that barrier…between professors and students..."🔗go.wisc.edu/zeuiau
@uwmadison.bsky.social
@uwmadison.bsky.social
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
Lately, I have been obsessed with developing theoretically based optimization algorithms that actually attain the best practical performance.
Alas, the classic model of minimax optimal methods is overly conservative; it overfits to tune its worst-case.
We found a path forward 1/
Alas, the classic model of minimax optimal methods is overly conservative; it overfits to tune its worst-case.
We found a path forward 1/
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Lately, I have been obsessed with developing theoretically based optimization algorithms that actually attain the best practical performance.
Alas, the classic model of minimax optimal methods is overly conservative; it overfits to tune its worst-case.
We found a path forward 1/
Alas, the classic model of minimax optimal methods is overly conservative; it overfits to tune its worst-case.
We found a path forward 1/
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
Alberto Del Pia
Projection-width: a unifying structural parameter for separable discrete optimization
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.02990
Projection-width: a unifying structural parameter for separable discrete optimization
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.02990
November 6, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Alberto Del Pia
Projection-width: a unifying structural parameter for separable discrete optimization
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.02990
Projection-width: a unifying structural parameter for separable discrete optimization
https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.02990
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
October 29, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
The simplex algorithm is super efficient. 80 years of experience says it runs in linear time. Nobody can explain _why_ it is so fast.
We invented a new algorithm analysis framework to find out.
We invented a new algorithm analysis framework to find out.
Beyond Smoothed Analysis: Analyzing the Simplex Method by the Book
Narrowing the gap between theory and practice is a longstanding goal of the algorithm analysis community. To further progress our understanding of how algorithms work in practice, we propose a new alg...
arxiv.org
October 27, 2025 at 1:43 AM
The simplex algorithm is super efficient. 80 years of experience says it runs in linear time. Nobody can explain _why_ it is so fast.
We invented a new algorithm analysis framework to find out.
We invented a new algorithm analysis framework to find out.
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
Any serious future for democracy in America requires us to get rid of single-member districts. It is the only long-term solution to this nonsense.
October 22, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Any serious future for democracy in America requires us to get rid of single-member districts. It is the only long-term solution to this nonsense.
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
🎉 Our very own Professor Laura Albert has been named a 2025 INFORMS Fellow!
This prestigious honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to operations research, analytics, and data science. 💡📊
We’re so proud of you, Laura — keep changing the world!
@INFORMS
This prestigious honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to operations research, analytics, and data science. 💡📊
We’re so proud of you, Laura — keep changing the world!
@INFORMS
October 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
🎉 Our very own Professor Laura Albert has been named a 2025 INFORMS Fellow!
This prestigious honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to operations research, analytics, and data science. 💡📊
We’re so proud of you, Laura — keep changing the world!
@INFORMS
This prestigious honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to operations research, analytics, and data science. 💡📊
We’re so proud of you, Laura — keep changing the world!
@INFORMS
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
@sophie.huiberts.me is featured in a Quanta magazine article about the simplex method.
www.quantamagazine.org/researchers-...
www.quantamagazine.org/researchers-...
Researchers Discover the Optimal Way To Optimize | Quanta Magazine
The leading approach to the simplex method, a widely used technique for balancing complex logistical constraints, can’t get any better.
www.quantamagazine.org
October 15, 2025 at 7:28 AM
@sophie.huiberts.me is featured in a Quanta magazine article about the simplex method.
www.quantamagazine.org/researchers-...
www.quantamagazine.org/researchers-...
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
Periodic appreciation post for this gem of a review by Hannah Bast and coauthors. If you think you know how to compute shortest paths... trust me, you don't. I can give you one spoiler though: preprocessing the graph helps A LOT.
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
October 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Periodic appreciation post for this gem of a review by Hannah Bast and coauthors. If you think you know how to compute shortest paths... trust me, you don't. I can give you one spoiler though: preprocessing the graph helps A LOT.
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
@jannisku.bsky.social is giving a very interesting talk on explainable (integer) optimization at the @euroorml.bsky.social seminar, highlighting counterfactual explanations before diving on new work with Coherent Local Explanations for Mathematical Optimization (CLEMO): arxiv.org/abs/2502.04840
October 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
@jannisku.bsky.social is giving a very interesting talk on explainable (integer) optimization at the @euroorml.bsky.social seminar, highlighting counterfactual explanations before diving on new work with Coherent Local Explanations for Mathematical Optimization (CLEMO): arxiv.org/abs/2502.04840
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
We are hiring two faculty positions in ISyE at UW-Madison
Please come and join us!
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
Please come and join us!
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Industrial & Systems Engineering (RISE AI) - Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.Job Category:FacultyEmployment Type:Regula...
jobs.wisc.edu
October 7, 2025 at 12:35 PM
We are hiring two faculty positions in ISyE at UW-Madison
Please come and join us!
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
Please come and join us!
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/assista...
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
"Republicans run the entire government but can't keep it open"
That's it. That's the whole story.
That's it. That's the whole story.
Yes. (And still getting "standoff" BS and "who will blink first" and "who will voters blame" from news.)
Trump and MAGA control the *entire* government. It's a simple fact:
- White House
- Senate
- House
- Scotus
- OMB (to the hilt)
- Every regulatory agency
They're in command. It's on them.
Trump and MAGA control the *entire* government. It's a simple fact:
- White House
- Senate
- House
- Scotus
- OMB (to the hilt)
- Every regulatory agency
They're in command. It's on them.
I do not understand why they cannot get the headlines right.
Just follow the gop playbook!
“Repubs control it all! The shutdown is on them!”
As nauseum.
Don’t lead with the nuance.
Just follow the gop playbook!
“Repubs control it all! The shutdown is on them!”
As nauseum.
Don’t lead with the nuance.
September 30, 2025 at 10:32 PM
"Republicans run the entire government but can't keep it open"
That's it. That's the whole story.
That's it. That's the whole story.
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
Here is a list of Winter / Summer schools on AI, data science, optimization, and related topics in operations research happening between October of 2025 and February of 2026:
thiagoserra.com/2025/09/22/w...
thiagoserra.com/2025/09/22/w...
Winter 2025 / 2026 schools on artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, optimization, and other relevant topics in operations research
Following up on a recent post about Summer 2025 schools, here is a new list. The purpose of organizing this is to help graduate students find a summer school to gain skills related to operations re…
thiagoserra.com
September 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Here is a list of Winter / Summer schools on AI, data science, optimization, and related topics in operations research happening between October of 2025 and February of 2026:
thiagoserra.com/2025/09/22/w...
thiagoserra.com/2025/09/22/w...
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
settings > content & media > autoplay video & gifs = off
September 10, 2025 at 6:59 PM
settings > content & media > autoplay video & gifs = off
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
📢 New in JMLR (w @rajivsambharya.bsky.social)! 🎉 Data-driven guarantees for classical & learned optimizers via sample bounds + PAC-Bayes theory.
📄 jmlr.org/papers/v26/2...
💻 github.com/stellatogrp/...
📄 jmlr.org/papers/v26/2...
💻 github.com/stellatogrp/...
September 8, 2025 at 1:10 PM
📢 New in JMLR (w @rajivsambharya.bsky.social)! 🎉 Data-driven guarantees for classical & learned optimizers via sample bounds + PAC-Bayes theory.
📄 jmlr.org/papers/v26/2...
💻 github.com/stellatogrp/...
📄 jmlr.org/papers/v26/2...
💻 github.com/stellatogrp/...
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
I wrote a tutorial inspired by my experience conducting research with undergraduate students who knew how to code, but were yet to learn about optimization.
What is the Best Way to Do Something? A Discreet Tour of Discrete Optimization: github.com/thserra/disc...
What is the Best Way to Do Something? A Discreet Tour of Discrete Optimization: github.com/thserra/disc...
GitHub - thserra/discreet: What is the Best Way to Do Something? A Discreet Tour of Discrete Optimization
What is the Best Way to Do Something? A Discreet Tour of Discrete Optimization - thserra/discreet
github.com
September 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I wrote a tutorial inspired by my experience conducting research with undergraduate students who knew how to code, but were yet to learn about optimization.
What is the Best Way to Do Something? A Discreet Tour of Discrete Optimization: github.com/thserra/disc...
What is the Best Way to Do Something? A Discreet Tour of Discrete Optimization: github.com/thserra/disc...
Reposted by Jim Luedtke
I wrote about the tragic death of Adam Raine and the venal negligence of "AI Safety." www.argmin.net/p/the-banal-...
The Banal Evil of AI Safety
Chatbot companies are harmful and dishonest. How can we hold them accountable?
www.argmin.net
August 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I wrote about the tragic death of Adam Raine and the venal negligence of "AI Safety." www.argmin.net/p/the-banal-...