Four INFORMS Members Elected to the Prestigious National Academy of Engineering

MIT, Auburn, Columbia and Purdue Scholars Recognized Among the Nation’s Top Engineers

BALTIMORE, MD, March 3, 2025 – INFORMS proudly celebrates the election of four distinguished members to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest professional honors in the field. This year’s honorees – Moshe Ben-Akiva (MIT), Alice Smith (Auburn University), Venkat Venkatasubramanian (Columbia University) and Yuehwern Yih (Purdue University) – join an elite group of global innovators recognized for their pioneering research and transformative contributions to engineering and society. 

Election to the NAE is among the most prestigious distinctions for an engineer, honoring individuals who have made outstanding advancements in engineering research, education and practice. The recognition highlights those who have significantly contributed to technological innovation, policy development and the improvement of public welfare through engineering excellence. 

Recognizing Excellence in Engineering and Operations Research 

• Moshe Ben-Akiva (MIT) is recognized for his groundbreaking work in transportation systems modeling and demand analysis, shaping modern infrastructure planning and intelligent mobility solutions.
• Alice E. Smith (Auburn University), INFORMS Fellow, has advanced computational intelligence, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and optimization techniques to revolutionize engineering system design and decision-making processes.
• Venkat Venkatasubramanian (Columbia University) is a leader in process systems engineering, developing AI-driven methodologies that enhance safety, efficiency and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Yuehwern Yih (Purdue University) has driven innovation in healthcare logistics and humanitarian supply chain management, optimizing resource allocation and emergency response systems.

The newly elected class will be formally inducted at NAE’s Annual Meeting on October 5, 2025. 

About INFORMS 

INFORMS is the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research, AI, analytics, data science and related disciplines, serving as a global authority in advancing cutting-edge practices and fostering an interdisciplinary community of innovation. With a network of more than 12,000 members spanning academia, industry and government, INFORMS connects thought leaders, experts and emerging professionals who advance and apply AI, mathematics, analytics, and other sciences and technologies to solve complex challenges and drive impactful decision-making. Through its prestigious peer-reviewed journals, world-class conferences, industry-leading certification programs and a suite of professional resources, INFORMS empowers its community to enhance operational efficiency, elevate organizational performance and promote smarter decisions for a better world. Discover more at www.informs.org.

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Contact:

Ashley Smith

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