Dr. Krystel Castillo 
GreenStar Endowed Associate Professor
Director of the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute
University of Texas at San Antonio
January 19, 2018 2:30-3:30pm
John Tickle Building 410
Abstract:
Big data analytics and novel optimization algorithms are essential to expand the frontiers of basic and applied research as well as to support critical decision making. In order to accelerate the rate of innovation and discovery of relevant application areas in clean energy and defense manufacturing, an integrated theoretical and computational scheme that links real-time experimental design, experimental and field data, data-driven models and optimization algorithms has been developed and is being integrated into a science-as-service platform. The alpha version of a cloud-based decision support system aims to facilitate the acquisition and creation of experimental and field data as well as computational models.
This presentation will discuss the approach followed to implement this scheme to (1) enable the conversion of large quantities of biomass into marketable products by better representing the random nature of the biomass quality and assessing the impact of these uncertainties on the system’s design; and (2) enable improved ability to process, visualize, and interact with 3D point clouds from as-built complex defense manufacturing components obtained by using non-contact scanning systems. A 3D Multivariate Generalized Likelihood Ratio (MGLR) control chart was developed to identify process shifts and locate defects on such components without needing to convert the data into 2D images.
Bio:
Dr. Krystel Castillo is currently the GreenStar Endowed Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute (texasenergy.utsa.edu) at The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Dr. Castillo’s research expertise is in two primary areas: (1) big data analytics, and (2) mathematical programming and optimization techniques for analyzing large-scale, complex systems under uncertainty. Her research is grounded in relevant applications such as modeling and optimization of renewable energy systems and defense manufacturing. Dr. Castillo has received more than $4 million in grant funding from multiple agencies including U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, Air Force Research Laboratory, among others.
Dr. Castillo was the recipient of the 2017 INFORMS MIF Early Career Award, 2017 Outstanding Young Faculty by the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) – Gulf South West Region; the 2017 UTSA President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Research Achievement (tenure-track faculty), and was one of the winners of the San Antonio Business Journal 2017 40 Under 40 Award.
She is a member of INFORMS, IISE and ASEE. She serves as co-chair of the Energy Systems Track at the 2018 IISE conference and Awards Director of the Logistics and Supply Chain Division of IISE. She received her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and her Sc.D. from Monterrey Tech.