Mersedeh TariVerdi
Washington ,D.C
Summary
Data scientist working on intersection of climate change, infrastructure resiliency, and human development. Putting climate upfront and people at the center, I enjoy breaking down information and applying interpretations to complex problems.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior (principal) Data Scientist
World Bank Group | HNP
04.2019 - Current
I lead a multidisciplinary team focused on data-informed decision-making processes and the implementation of AI solutions to provide climate-sensitive investment prioritizations. I have lead development of 8 analytical tools and 6 country pilots alongside publications in WB and peered reviewed journals. The work includes:
- Integrating climate risk assessments and disaster risk management strategies to inform human development investments and enhance infrastructure resiliency
- Targeting vulnerable populations and critical components of societal services for cross-sectoral investment prioritizations; ensuring that resources are allocated in areas with beneficiaries being most in need
- Developing Climate-Informed designs for project implementation and evaluation
- Actively engaging in policy dialogues and provide support for lending projects and ASAs across regions LAC, EAP, SAR, and AFR
Consultant
World Bank Group
04.2018 - 04.2019
- Analytical team of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR): focused on understanding and quantifying the risks and impacts of Climate Change and natural hazards. Methodological inputs for employing AI algorithms, network modeling, data analytics, and risk quantification of hazards and their impacts on population well-being and essential service delivery cross sectors
Principal Data Scientist
Cubic Transportation Systems
02.2017 - 04.2018
- Technical management of two data science teams for predictive analytics focusing on high volume mixed data and cloud computing solutions, collaborating with client cities, and bridging the higher management to analysts, developers, and engineers.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Maryland, College Park
09.2010 - 05.2016
- Collaborative research with Johns Hopkins Hospital and Center for Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR); and FEMA. Focus: stochastic optimization methods for optimal resource allocation under uncertainty. Stochastic networks, dynamic programming, simulation-based optimizations
Researcher
Leidos / Federal Highway Administration
12.2011 - 12.2015
- Developed standardized Benefit/Cost Analysis Tool for Transportation Incident Management; nationwide deployment.
Education
Ph.D. - Applied Mathematics and Statistics
University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD01.2017
M.Sc. - Applied Mathematics/Operations Research
University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD01.2012
B.S - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sharif University of Technology
01.2010
Skills
- Soft: Critical Thinking, Adoptability, Team Player, Country Focused Product Design, Policy to/from Analytics Translations and Negotiations
- Technical: Applied Mathematics and Statistics: stochastic networks, simulation-based optimization, real-time predictions with partial information
- Programming: Python (Data Science, AI, Simulation, Network), C, SAS, R, STATA, Extendsim, ARENA, GAMS, VISSIM
- Languages: English, Farsi, Arabic
Affiliations
Academic engagement:
Stanford University: Industry Mentor, Analytics Accelerator, Grad level, Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME), Stanford University (2020-ongoing)
Berkeley, computing, data science, and society: Applied Statistics Industry Mentor, SAAS
Selected Journal Reviewer:
Nature, Scientific Reports, Journal of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, Journal of Simulation Modeling Practice and Theory
Selected Publications
M Tariverdi, M Nunez-del-Prado, N Leonova, J Rentschler, 2023. Measuring accessibility to public services and infrastructure criticality for disasters risk management. Scientific Reports, Nature, Sci Rep 13, 1569
M Tariverdi, H Fotouhi, S Moryadee, E Miller-Hooks, 2019. Health care system disaster-resilience optimization given its reliance on interdependent critical lifelines. Journal of Infrastructure Systems 25 (1)
J Rentschler, ch Klaiber, M Tariverdi, Ch Desjonqueres, J Mercadante, Jared. 2021. Frontline : Preparing Healthcare Systems for Shocks from Disasters to Pandemics. World Bank Group
M TariVerdi ,E Miller-Hooks, T Kirch , 2018. Strategies for Improved Hospital Response to Mass Casualty Incidents. Disaster Medicines and Public Health Preparation, 19:1-13
EE Koks, J Rozenberg, C Zorn, M Tariverdi, M Vousdoukas, SA Fraser, JW Hall, S Hallegatte, 2019. A Global Multi-Hazard Risk Analysis Of Road And Railway Infrastructure Assets. Nature Communications, 10 (1), 1-11
Erman, A. E., Tariverdi, M., Obolensky, M. A. B., Chen, X., Vincent, R. C., Malgioglio, S., Maruyama Rentschler, J. E., Hallegatte, S., & Yoshida, N. (2019). Wading out the storm: The role of poverty in exposure, vulnerability and resilience to floods in Dar Es Salaam. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, 8976.
J Rozenberg, X Espinet Alegre, P Avner, Ch James Edward Fox, S Hallegatte, E Eduard Koks, J Rentschler, M Tariverdi. 2019. From a Rocky Road to Smooth Sailing: Building Transport Resilience to Natural Disasters. World Bank Group
H Ghayoomi, El Miller-Hooks,M Tariverdi, T D Kirsch, 2022. Maximizing Hospital Capacity to Serve Pandemic Patient Surge in Hot Spots via Queueing Theory and Microsimulation. IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering
E Miller-Hooks, M Tariverdi, D Prentiss, T D. Kirsch, 2022. A flatter curve affords hospitals greater time to prepare for a pandemic surge, Healthcare Analytics
M TariVerdi, E Miller-Hooks, T Kirsch, S Levin, 2019. A resource-constrained, multi-unit hospital model for operational strategies evaluation under routine and surge demand scenarios. IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 9 (2), 103-119
B Shahverdi, M Tariverdi, E Miller-Hooks, 2019. Assessing Hospital System Resilience To Disaster Events Involving Physical Damage And Demand Surge, Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, in press.
M TariVerdi, E Miller-Hooks,T Kirch, S Levin, A Resource-Constraint, Whole-Hospital Modeling Framework for Evaluating Operational Strategies Under Routine and Surge Demand Scenarios. IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 9 (2), 103-119
M TariVerdi, E Miller-Hooks, M Adan, 2014. Assignment Strategies for Real-Time Deployment of Disaster Responders. International Journal of Operations and Quantitative Management, Special Issue on Humanitarian Operations Management, 21(1):37-61
Timeline
Senior (principal) Data Scientist
World Bank Group | HNP
04.2019 - Current
Consultant
World Bank Group
04.2018 - 04.2019
Principal Data Scientist
Cubic Transportation Systems
02.2017 - 04.2018
Researcher
Leidos / Federal Highway Administration
12.2011 - 12.2015
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Maryland, College Park
09.2010 - 05.2016
Ph.D. - Applied Mathematics and Statistics
University of Maryland - College Park
M.Sc. - Applied Mathematics/Operations Research
University of Maryland - College Park
B.S - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sharif University of Technology