Hi, I'm Alex. My work helps companies improve product design and product management using machine learning.

I am a faculty member at the Yale School of Management in the Marketing Department.

My research develops machine learning algorithms to capture and quantify consumer needs, translate these needs into product features, and integrate them with strategic firm objectives (e.g., market targeting and positioning).

I aim for practical relevance, and have been a consultant or advisor for firms ranging from startups to General Motors to the U.S. Army.

Academic Positions

  • Present 2020

    Yale University

    Assistant Professor of Marketing

  • 2020 2017

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Postdoctoral Fellow

Education

Honors and Awards

  • 2019
    Marketing Science Institute Research Priorities Award
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    Awarded 2019 MSI Research Priorities Award for, "Design and Evaluation of Product Aesthetics: A Human-Machine Hybrid Approach."
  • 2016
    Finalist - Distinguished Ph.D Dissertation
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    Finalist for 2016 University of Michigan Distinguished Dissertation Award. This award is university-wide.
  • 2015
    Best Paper Award - ASME International Design Engineering Conference
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    Received 2015 ASME IDETC Best Paper Award in Design Theory and Methodology for our paper "Balancing Design Freedom and Brand Recognition in the Evolution of Automotive Brand Styling." This is the premier American engineering design conference.
  • 2015
    Rackham Research Grant
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    Wrote grant and received funding from the University of Michigan to fund crowdsourcing research for engineering design.
  • 2014
    ARC Best Presentation Award
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    Awarded Best Presentation Award at 2014 ARC Conference for ground-vehicle work with U.S. Army TARDEC.
  • 2014
    Outstanding Teaching Award
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    Received 2014 Towner Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant. Four of these awards are granted across entire UM College of Engineering, and are based on nominations from students.
  • 2015, 2014, 2013
    Rackham Conference Travel Grant
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    Recevied generous funding for international travel from Rackham Graduate School at University of Michigan for conference travel.
  • 2013
    Design Science Fellowship
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    Recevied funding to transfer to Design Science Ph.D. program at University of Michigan.
  • 2012
    International Council on Systems Engineering - Certificate of Recognition
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    Received recognition for invited talk for INCOSE titled "Crowdsourcing for Systems Engineering" as part of R&D work with ground-vehicle platforms.