Mathematics & Data: New Perspectives For Logistics And Supply Chain Modelling

Abstract

This talk bridges foundational mathematical modelling with emerging data‑driven approaches to understand and forecast the behaviour of complex supply chains. We begin by revisiting classic applied mathematics concepts—market equilibrium, optimization, and dynamic network models—and examine how these frameworks behave away from equilibrium. By drawing on recent advances in hybrid systems modelling, we show how non‑equilibrium network dynamics can be characterized, offering insight on forecasting future equilibria. These ideas connect naturally to modern AI/ML forecasting tools, highlighting how mathematical structure can inform and stabilize data‑driven predictions of market evolution.

In the second part of the talk, we shift to the Canadian biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical supply‑chain landscape. Using a five‑year dashboard of national data, we illustrate current vulnerabilities, emerging trends, and modelling opportunities. We then demonstrate how the mathematical concepts introduced earlier—particularly non‑equilibrium network behaviour and hybrid system perspectives—can inform ongoing modelling efforts for forecasting and resilience planning in Canada’s biomanufacturing supply chains. Together, these perspectives point toward a unified mathematical–data framework for understanding and strengthening critical health‑sector logistics.

Short bio

Professor Monica Cojocaru, is a mathematician whose work sits at the intersection of dynamical systems, game theory, and modeling of health and population processes. She is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Guelph, with more than twenty years of contributions to applied mathematics and biomathematics. Her research spans projected dynamical systems, generalized Nash games, and agent‑based models, with applications to infectious disease transmission, behavioural responses to public‑health interventions, and population‑level decision making.

Professor Cojocaru’s career is also marked by sustained mentorship and international engagement. She has secured more than $3.2 million in PI research funding (Canada, US and EU sources), supervised over 40 HQP, held multiple international visiting positions including a Fulbright Visiting Chair at University of California Santa Barbara, a Senior Visiting Fellowship at Lehigh University, a NSERC University Faculty Award (national), an NSERC Accelerator Award (national), multiple visiting positions at XLIM (France, Italy), at Northwestern University, at the Fields Institute (Toronto) and Centre des Recherches Mathematiques (Montreal). She authored 85+ publications across journals, proceedings, and book chapters and is affiliated with a number of research centers/institutes and national networks.

In addition to her research, she held/holds major academic leadership roles, including Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies (current) and Interim Dean, (co-)Assist. Vice-President Research Services at UoG. She helped launch 2 new course-based master's programs (in cybersecurity leadership and toxicology). She launched several interdisciplinary research initiatives such as AI4Food, the Canada Cyber Foundry, the AI4Casting Hub. She supported the recruitment of 4 Canada Research Chairs and currently oversees the Canada Impact+ Research Chair process in AI4Quantum.