Dr Natalia Hartono (she/her/hers)
Lecturer
Engineering
Natalia Hartono received her doctoral degree and was awarded the Ratcliffe Prize as the best postgraduate student in Science (one awardee per year for PhD students) from the University of Birmingham. She is a Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Optimisation and currently the Programme Director for the MSc Engineering Business Management.
During her studies, she led her team to win first place in the Reman Challenge 2021 by BORG Automotive, a Europe-wide competition focused on remanufacturing business case studies.
Dr Natalia is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work spans engineering, management, and intelligent systems. Her expertise lies in intelligent optimisation, remanufacturing, robotic disassembly, sustainability, supply chain systems, and the application of artificial intelligence to industrial and managerial challenges. She explores how digital technologies—such as digital twins, intelligent algorithms, and robotic automation—can support circular manufacturing and enable more efficient, environmentally responsible operations.
Her research interests encompass operations research, simulation, sustainability modelling, ergonomics, and multi‑criteria decision‑making, with a strong grounding in real‑world problem‑solving. Driven by a commitment to improving both operational performance and environmental impact, her work aims to help organisations adopt smarter, more resilient, and sustainable industrial practices.
Since 2021, Dr Natalia has served as co‑chair of the International Workshop Series on the Bees Algorithm and Its Applications, contributing to the development of a global community focused on nature‑inspired optimisation. She has co‑edited two Springer books in this field— Intelligent Production and Manufacturing Optimisation—The Bees Algorithm Approach (also available in German as Intelligente Produktions- und Fertigungsoptimierung - Der Bienenalgorithmus-Ansatz) and Intelligent Engineering Optimisation with the Bees Algorithm —bringing together leading advances in intelligent optimisation and engineering applications.
She has also supported the International Workshop on Advanced Remanufacturing (IWAR) in various capacities since 2020, helping to advance international dialogue on remanufacturing, circularity, and sustainable production.
Her commitment to teaching scholarship is reflected in her co‑authored chapter, Teaching decision-making models and techniques, published in the Handbook on Teaching and Learning in Operations Management (Edward Elgar Publishing). Across her work, Dr Natalia is dedicated to developing innovative technical and managerial approaches that address complex industrial challenges and support a more sustainable future.
Google Scholar: Natalia Hartono
ResearcherID: E-9270-2018
Scopus ID: 57217127994
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2314-1394
Currently, I am looking for a motivated PhD student. Applications are always possible. If you have an interest in one or more of the following areas—operations research (MILP, machine learning, deep learning, heuristics, metaheuristics, optimisation, reinforcement learning), digital twins, robotics, industry 4.0, discrete event simulation, or logistics and supply chain—this could be for you. You will be based in the Streatham Campus as part of ExDES Lab.
Funding:
Chinese students can apply for China Scholarship Council and University of Exeter PhD Scholarships; more details: CSC
International students, please check: PhD Funding
Feel free to contact me for more details.