We wish to congratulate Dr. Anita Agárdi for winning the Mathematics 2023 Best Ph.D. Thesis Award.

Name: Dr. Anita Agárdi
Affiliation: Institute of Information Science, University of Miskolc, 3515 Miskolc, Hungary
Research Interests: optimization; algorithms; logistics

The following is from an interview with Dr. Anita Agárdi:

1. Could you please briefly introduce the scientific research you conducted during your doctoral study?
During my doctoral studies, I focused on the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP). The VRP is a transportation problem, one of the most common tasks in logistics. The objective of the basic Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is to serve the needs of customers. Vehicles deliver products from one or more depots to customers and then return to the depot. Over the years, several variants (components) of the task have been developed, thus adapting to the demands of the industry. The aim of my dissertation was to develop a general model and prototype transportation system. Based on the literature, current proposals in this area were only focusing on a subsystem. The main goal of my research was an integrated general system. The proposed general system contains all the major components that are currently known in practice. Having this general model, almost all types of transportation tasks that appear in logistics systems can be analyzed and solved as a subtype of the general model. In the first part of my dissertation, I conducted a literature search, where I presented the Vehicle Routing Problem components published so far. In the next section, I analyzed and presented requirements for a general model. After the mathematical model, I presented the ontological knowledge used to design the control of the optimization of the VRP task. Ontology can be used in the field of the VRP to describe which types of products can be transported with which vehicles, which types of products can be transported together, what types of products may be needed by each customer, and what components should be used when designing the system. Next, I outlined the formalism related to the applied optimization algorithms and evaluation. I also analyzed the efficiency of different optimization algorithms, and I demonstrated that the proposed general model could manage a wide range of transportation tasks.

2. Did you encounter any difficulties in carrying out this research? How did you overcome them?
Yes, I ran into several problems. The biggest challenge was performing a comprehensive literature review. The VRP was first published by Dantzig and Ramser as “The Truck Dispatching Problem” in 1959. Since then, many versions of the problem have been developed, thus adapting to real industrial demands. A challenge was deciding which articles to review and how thoroughly, as this is a highly researched area. 

3. As an author, what aspects of a journal do you value most when choosing a journal to publish your academic work?
When I choose a journal, I take several factors into consideration. The prestige and reputation of the journal are important, such as the impact factor and citation metrics.
Open access can also be important, since it makes the publication available to everyone.
The publication process can also be crucial, with factors such as fast publication and an effective editorial process being important.
The journal scope is of course also very crucial, as the journal topic should be relevant to the research topic. 

4. Many doctoral students experience pressure to publish papers and worry about delaying graduation. What advice do you have for doctoral students who have not yet graduated?
It is important to plan in advance which journals you want to submit your publications to and determine which conferences you would like to attend in the coming months. It is important to know how much time is expected to elapse after submission until the first decision and publication.
There are other important factors that are related to your work life, such as time management and maintaining a work–life balance. It is important to be in a supportive environment, by which I mean family, friends and colleagues.

5. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express or someone you wish to thank most?
First of all, I would like to thank the award committee for their efforts. Secondly, I would like to thank my supervisors, Prof. László Kovács and Prof. Tamás Bányai, for their great support. Finally, I would like to thank my family, who have always stood by me, supported me and believed in me.

6. What is your opinion of the open access model of publishing?
My opinion of open access publishing is very positive. It provides the opportunity for everyone to have free access to research, not just the institutions that can afford to have a subscription.