Karsten Schroer

PhD Researcher | ML, Optimization & Causal Inference | Future Energy & Mobility Systems

I am a PhD Researcher in Operations Management (OM) and Information Systems (IS) at the University of Cologne and a Visiting PhD Scholar at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. I am also affiliated with the Institute of Energy Economics at U. of Cologne.

I hold a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Cambridge University and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham. Prior to embarking on my academic career I gained extensive industry experience at leading management consultancies including Roland Berger and McKinsey & Company.

My research interests lie in the application of data-driven methods to (1) understanding and (2) resolving societal challenges. I especially focus on issues in sustainable energy and transport. I draw on causal inference, (spatial) machine learning, mathematical programming and reinforcement learning to achieve two general research objectives:

  1. Infer and quantify causal effects of new technologies and policies on human behavior, society and the environment to derive actionable policy and managerial insights.
  2. Develop mathematical decision algorithms for planning and operating digital energy and mobility systems against environmental, cost, service level, and other objectives.

My work has been presented at leading OM and IS conferences and is published in highly ranked journals. Examples include the development of an integrated machine learning and mathematical programming framework for the competitor-aware management of shared vehicle fleets, the identifcation of the causal effect of e-scooter introduction on mircomobility markets and society at large, or using simulation-optimization and reinforcement learning for planning and operating large-scale electric vehicle charging hubs, among other projects.

In my free time I am an avid rower 🚣 , runner 🏃 and have recently taken up cycling 🚲 . I am also passionate about (deep) tech ventures and am currently building a company in the fleet tech & smart charging domain that is based on my research.