Dr. Nilofar Varzgani
Assistant Professor
“Treat your online classes the same way you would a face-to-face class—or, better yet, a job. You must ‘show up’ if you’re going to get real value out of your class. You need to have the discipline to sit down and say, “I am going to work on this” as well as the dedication to actually follow through. Participating in online programs is a great way to learn the valuable skill of time management.”
Degrees Held:
- Ph.D. – Rutgers University, 2017
Career Highlights:
- Winner of Lindback Emerging Scholar Award, 2022
- Winner of Young Ph.D. Scholar Award, Hunan University of Technology, China, 2019
- Fulbright Scholar, 2010
- Publications:
- Hatami-Marbini, A., Varzgani, N., Sajadi, S. M., & Kamali, A. (2022). An emergency medical services system design using mathematical modeling and simulation-based optimization approaches. Decision Analytics Journal, 3, 100059.
- Tavana, M., Shaabani, A., Mansouri Mohammadabadi, S., & Varzgani, N. (2021). An integrated fuzzy AHP-fuzzy MULTIMOORA model for supply chain risk-benefit assessment and supplier selection. International Journal of Systems Science: Operations & Logistics, 8(3), 238-261.
- Roghaee, N., Mohammadi, E., & Varzgani, N. (2020). Performance evaluation and ranking of electricity companies using fuzzy network data envelopment analysis: a case study of Iranian regional electricity organisations. International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 19(4), 450-472.
- Varzgani, N. (2017). New Dynamic Optimization Models for Tax Loss Valuation and Sourcing Problems. Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Graduate School-Newark.
- Govindaraj, S., Katehakis, M. N., & Varzgani, N. (2015). Valuation of Tax Loss Carryforwards and Carrybacks, and its Implications for Dynamic Portfolio Selection. Available at SSRN 2576348.
Which online degree program(s) do you teach?
What do you want students to take away from your classes? What do you want them to learn?
I want my students to not be intimidated or overwhelmed by the complexity of a problem. I want them to learn the ability to take a complex problem, understand what the problem is, be able to decompose it into sub-problems and then develop possible solutions. We can then present these solutions in a way that a computer, a human or both can understand.
What qualities make someone particularly successful in the profession in which you teach?
Understanding how you learn is very critical to your success in the field of analytics because the discipline is constantly evolving. There will always be new technologies and new tools to learn so the lifelong commitment to keep learning and growing is a part of the profession.
Why did you start teaching?
I started teaching because I wanted to get my students excited about the topics that I love so that I can share my love of learning with them. In the process, I also get to delve into new topics and learn right along with the students.
What advice would you give to those considering your online program?
Treat your online classes the same way you would a face-to-face class—or, better yet, a job. You must “show up” if you’re going to get real value out of your class. You will need to have the discipline to sit down and say, “I am going to work on this” as well as the dedication to actually follow through. Participating in online programs is a great way to learn the valuable skill of time management.
What is the one book you think everyone should read?
“The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail—but Some Don't” by Nate Silver
Tell us something interesting about yourself that your students may not know.
For conversations with family, friends and at work, I continuously switch between three languages on a daily basis.