Ishan Bansal

Ishan Bansal

Computer Scientist in an Engineering Environment

👋🏼 Hello there, I’m Ishan!

I’m an Applied Scientist in the Modeling and Optimization group at Amazon, where I design solutions for large-scale supply chain optimization problems—ranging from inventory placement and management to network topology planning.

Alongside my work in industry, I remain deeply connected to academia, actively contributing to the fields of theoretical computer science and operations research through peer-reviewed publications. I am always open to new research collaborations!

Research Interests

My work sits at the intersection of practical engineering and mathematical theory. I focus on developing approximation algorithms and mathematical modeling techniques for complex systems.

  • Operations Research: Discrete optimization and integer programming applied to production planning, electricity trading, inventory management, and topology optimization.
  • Theoretical Computer Science: Developing approximation algorithms for classical discrete optimization problems, with a particular focus on network design.
  • Core Toolkit: Polyhedral analysis, algorithm design, and mathematical modeling. I love finding ways to bridge these advanced theoretical techniques with real-world supply chain logistics.

Education & Experience

  • Ph.D. in Operations Research & Information Engineering | Cornell University
    Advised by Prof. Oktay Günlük
    • Industry Collaboration: Partnered with E & J Gallo Winery to optimize their North American transportation network.
  • M.Math in Combinatorics & Optimization | University of Waterloo
    Advised by Prof. Chaitanya Swamy and Prof. Jochen Könemann
  • B.Sc. (Hons) in Mathematics and Computer ScienceChennai Mathematical Institute

Beyond the Math

When I’m not thinking about algorithms, you can usually find me:

  • Teaching Meditation: I am a certified meditation trainer and spend a significant amount of my time volunteering to help people find their focus and peace.
  • Staying Active: Playing chess or hitting the soccer field.
  • On the Keys: I am currently teaching myself how to play the piano. If you have any self-learning tips, resources, or book recommendations, please send them my way!