• A Monte Carlo Tree Search for the Optimisation of Flight Connections, Arnaud da Silva (MSc, Lancaster University). A paper arising from this project was accepted by DASA. Arnaud has received the Best Research Dissertation prize. The external examiner stated: "The student managed to obtain one best solution compared to ones reported in the literature so far, which is an excellent achievement for an MSc project"
• Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem, Jiawei Du and Xu Liu (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Optimisation of Water Distribution Network using Tabu Search, Balaji Gurumoorthi (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Rostering Problems, Zhongming Hu (MSc, Lancaster University)

• Route Plan Optimisation, Alireza Farshidi and Hassaan Sharif (MSc, Lancaster University). Client: SCS Logistics Ltd. The client expressed their appreciation for the final presentation with the following words: "Thank you for the presentation this morning, you captured the variables, problems we contend with on a daily basis. It was an eye opener to see the daily runs in the graphs and when you see the empty running miles written down it was a surprise"
• Projects Allocation Problem, Erwan Tang, Filiz Misirlioglu, Kushanav Das and Siteng Ma (MSc, Lancaster University)

During this academic year, I have undertaken some work as a Project Supervisor at the University of Leicester.

• Projects Allocation Problem, Yeyu Lan, Monisha Rodricks, Sonika Sonika and Raguib Raihan (MSc, Lancaster University). Yeyu has received the Best Research Dissertation prize, and received a positive comment from the external examiner: "The project is of very high quality, it deserves the highest mark this academic year"
• Electric Vehicle Routing Problem, Blaise Petit (MSc, Lancaster University)
• 3D Bin Packing Problem, Santiago Guerrero Gomez (MSc, Lancaster University). Client: Decision Lab
• Heuristic Methods for Water Distribution Network Optimisation, Yuming Cheng (MSc, University of Leicester)
• Online Video Platform, Mallesh Yadav Edulapally and Saleha Siraj Patel (MSc, University of Leicester)
• Solving The Electric Vehicle Routing Problem, Sai Shashank Seelam (MSc, University of Leicester)

• Application of Selection Hyper-Heuristics to the Simultaneous Optimisation of Turbines and Cabling within an Offshore Windfarm, Tom Butterwick and Martin Motti (MSc, Lancaster University). Client: ORTEC. This project has been nominated by our external examiners as one of the top client-based projects and suggested to be put forward for the OR Society's May Hicks Award. Thomas Butterwick has been awarded the Simpson Prize for performance in the project. An article arising from this project has been published in Renewable Energy [endorsement] [link] [news]
• Emergency Department Patient Pathway Modelling for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Jack Brooke (Summer, Lancaster University). This internship was funded by the Data Science Institute for ten weeks. We have analysed 3 years' worth of A&E data to identify congestion problems, their likely causes and hence their possible solutions. We have presented the work to NHS Improvement and doctors from RLI, and also presented our findings to the Urgent and Emergency Care Board. This study was accepted for poster presentation at EUSEM [newsletter] [report]
• Near Real-time Scheduling, Ke Fang (MSc, Lancaster University). Client: Electricity North West
• Solving Sudoku Puzzles using Optimisation Techniques, Joana Pereira (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Vehicle Routing Problem, Noha Adil and Sondos Ammar (BSc, University of Khartoum)
• Electric Vehicle Routing Problem, Qi Lan and Anlin Zhu (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Water Distribution Network Optimisation, Yi Luo (MSc, Lancaster University)

• Modelling and Solving the Optimal Camera Placement Problem, Cole Zhong (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Genetic Algorithm for Electric Vehicle Routing Problem, Alexandros Arvanitis (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Natural Disaster Response, Sujood Khalid and Mawadda Tarig (BSc, University of Khartoum)
• Transferring to Push Logistics Scheduling: Solving Inventory Slack Routing Problem Using Selection Hyper-heuristics, Lorna Zhang (MSc, Lancaster University). Client: Miralis Data Limited
• Heuristic Methods for Water Distribution Network Optimisation, Xiaoyu Chen (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Inventory Routing of Liquid Oxygen, Liang Heng (MSc, Lancaster University). Client: Miralis Data Limited
• Modelling and Solving the Unicost Set Covering Problem, Yi Lin (MSc, Lancaster University)

• Cheapest Flight Connection between Airports, Yaroslav Pylyavskyy (MSc, Lancaster University). A paper arising from this project was accepted by IEEE CEC. Yaroslav obtained the highest dissertation mark in the year. A paper arising from this project was also accepted by ICCCEEE. A brief report of this research was reported in the kiwi.com newsletter (published on May, 2020) [newsletter]
• Local Search Heuristic for the Optimisation of Flight Connections, Maab Alrasheed and Wafaa Mohammed (BSc, University of Khartoum). A paper arising from this project was accepted by ICCCEEE [ack]
• Tackling a VRP Challenge to Deliver and Install Machines, Ali Selim Dirikoc (MSc, Lancaster University). An article arising from this project has been published in Networks
• A Reinforcement Learning Hyper-heuristic for Water Distribution Network Optimisation, Shahd Osman, Azza Ahmed and Terteel Yousif (BSc, University of Khartoum). A paper arising from this project was accepted by ICCCEEE. This project received the Deanship for Scientific Research's award [pic]
• Modelling and Solving VRP, Ashraf Hatim and Mohamed Salih (BSc, University of Khartoum)
• Solving the Conference Scheduling Problem, Ali Salah and Ibrahim Siddig (BSc, University of Khartoum)
• Travelling Thief Problem, Fathelrahman Ahmed and Mohammed Elfatih (BSc, University of Khartoum)
• A Memetic Algorithm for the Large-scale Travelling Thief Problem, Qihang Zhou and Xin Wang (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Conference Scheduling Problem, Athanasia Vaitsi and Athanasios Karmpaliotis (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Heuristic Methods for Water Distribution Network Optimisation, Aigerim Davletzhanova (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Teaching Load Allocation for GTAs, Chia-Hsin Lai and Yuanhui Dong (MSc, Lancaster University)

• Evolutionary Computation for Static Traffic Light Cycle Optimisation, Eltayeb Ahmed and Amr Khalifa (BSc, University of Khartoum). A paper arising from this project was accepted by ICCCEEE. This project won the prize for the most outstanding project of the year
• Late Acceptance Selection Hyper-heuristic for Wind Farm Layout Optimisation Problem, Hiba Abdalbasit and Areeg Elnahas (BSc, University of Khartoum). A paper arising from this project was accepted by ICCCEEE
• Course Timetabling Problem, Tuqa Elsadig and Ahmed Musa (BSc, University of Khartoum)
• Solving the Thesis Defence Timetabling Problem, Xiaoyi Lu (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Profit Optimisation in Drop Shipping Online Retail Business, Aditep Nakvitoon (MSc, Lancaster University)
• Revenue Optimisation and Demand Forecasting, Firas Shaikh (MSc, Lancaster University). Client: Jaguar Landrover

• A Selection Hyper-heuristic for Wind Farm Layout Optimisation, Alaa Daffalla and Yossra Noureldien (BSc, University of Khartoum). This study was accepted for poster presentation at ARABWIC and won "Best Undergrad Poster". An extended abstract arising from this project was accepted by MISTA. A paper arising from this project was also accepted by ICCCEEE [pic] [ack]
• Solving the Thesis Defence Timetabling Problem Using Heuristic Methods, Maha Ali and Elham Yassir (BSc, University of Khartoum)

• Mathematical Programming Techniques for the Nurse Rostering Problem, Jacub Foster (Summer, Cardiff University). The project was funded by the School of Mathematics at Cardiff University for eight weeks. The goal of the Mathematics Undergraduate Research Bursary was to provide opportunities for students to sample live research, enhance their academic skills and make a more informed decision on furthering their research at postgraduate
• Performance of Selection Hyper-heuristics on the Extended HyFlex Domains, Alhanof Almutairi (MSc, University of Nottingham). A paper arising from this project was accepted by ISCIS