Expertise:
Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Applied Optimization, Smart Manufacturing, Statistical Analysis, Supply Chain Design, Process ImprovementShokoufeh Mirzaei specializes in applied research that integrates quantitative methods, including optimization techniques and artificial intelligence, to solve complex, real-world challenges across diverse domains such as smart manufacturing, aircraft technologies, and agriculture.
Shokoufeh Mirzaei is a professor and Chair of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department at Cal poly Pomona. In 2025, she received a $7.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish the Center for Research Advancement in Smart Manufacturing (CREST-RASM). As the Principal investigator and director of the project, she and her team will integrate artificial intelligence into four key research areas, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) for immersive and adaptive work environments, robotics and automation for next-generation production, digital twin technology for an intelligent factory and cybersecurity for secure and resilient connected systems. These key research areas drive transformative advances in smart manufacturing that directly support national security, sustainability, and economic resilience. The project will provide research opportunities for more than 120 students.
Mirzaei is the co-founder and chief scientist for Taba Technology, which provides a platform and tools to help university engineering faculty and administrators find external research funding.
Recent Grants and Fellowships:
- National Science Foundation, “Manufacturing USA: CREST Phase I Center for Research Advancement in Smart Manufacturing,” Principal Investigator, $7,500,000 (2025-2030)
- National Science Foundation, “Manufacturing USA: Providing Access to Smart Manufacturing Equipment for Enhancing the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Students’ Experience at Cal Poly Pomona,” Principal Investigator, $200,000 (2025-2027)
- U.S. Air Force, PACER Exploration and Space Technology Research to Support Air Force Systems, Senior Personnel, $4,500,000 (2024-2027)
- U.S. Air Force, Edwards Airforce Base, Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, Research on autonomous tracking systems & Natural Language Processing, Summers 2020-2025
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, Research on Protein folding and Smart Grid, Summers 2014-2016
Selected Publications:
- Introduction to Linear Programming Problem (Kendell Hunt Publishing, 2019)
- With J. Arzate, “Parameter Efficient Fine-Tuning of distil-Whisper for Transcription of Aviation Communication,” Journal of Aerospace Information Systems 2025 (under revision)
- With A.M. Garcia, “A Framework to Define Optimal Fallowing Programs: a Case Study of California Water System,” Journal of Water Resources Management, 2025 (under revision)
- With A. Najafi, “RMCDA: The comprehensive R library for applying Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis methods,” Software Impacts, vol. 24, 2025
- With R. Siaumau, “Computational study of rapid direct metal laser sintering for compression mold manufacturing,” The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 130: 6073-6082, 2024
- With E. Brownlow, J. Brownlow and R.T. Poulson, “Stochastic Differential Equation Modeling of Target Tracking Error,” The International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA) Journal, 42(2):112-120, 2021
- With L. Shen, “Water disposal minimization of a screw press in the tissue manufacturing process,” International Journal of Advances Manufacturing Technology iss. 7-8, 2021
- With K. Krishnan, C. A. Kobtawy, J. Roberts and E. Palmer, “Heat transfer simulation and improvement of autoclave loading in composites manufacturing,” The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology 112: 2989-3000, 2021
- With T. Sidi, C. Keasar and S. Crivelli, “Purely Structural Protein Scoring Functions Using Support Vector Machine and Ensemble Learning,” Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 16(5): 1515-1523, 2019
- “Defining a Business-Driven Optimization Problem,” in Encyclopedia of Business Analytics and Optimization (J. Wang, ed., IGI Global Scientific Publishing, 2014)
Interviews:
- “Logistics changed the world. Now corporate America is desperate for supply-chain wizards and willing to pay up,” Sherwood News, Oct. 18, 2024
- “Cal Poly Pomona Plans Major Installation of Intelitek’s SmartCIM 4.0 as New Digital Manufacturing and Automation Lab,” Higher Ed Dive, Nov. 23, 2024
Education:
B.S., Industrial and System Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology
M.S., Industrial and System Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology
Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, Wichita State University
Languages:
English, Full professional proficiency
Persian, Native or bilingual proficiency