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Meet the Cohort
Harbert College of Business PhD students work closely with our faculty to conduct innovative and impactful research. Their work and studies are the foundation for careers that make meaningful contributions to the field of Supply Chain Management. We'd like to introduce you to our current cohort of students.
Madison Edwards
Madison Edwards is a doctoral student in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University. She holds a Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Georgia Southern University. Madison’s research interests are varied, encompassing technology in supply chain management, agricultural logistics, humanitarian supply chain management, and other emerging areas within the field.
Charles Herron
Charles “Brock” Herron is a doctoral student in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University. Before joining the doctoral program, he received a Master of Science in Food Science and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Auburn University. During his master’s research, he worked in a microbiology lab and completed his thesis on the connection of last mile logistics and less-than-truckload shipping on and food safety and food spoilage. His research interests include the cold chain, last mile logistics, and the connection between food safety and the food supply chain.
Elnaz Hesami
Elnaz is a doctoral student in the Department of Supply Chain Management at the Harbert College of Business, Auburn University. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering in Iran, her home country. Before joining the program, she spent one year as a research assistant at Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario, Canada. Elnaz is passionate about finding practical solutions to real-world challenges in Supply Chain Management using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Her background in industrial engineering and hands-on experience working in a factory have provided her with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this field.
Drew Hildebrandt
Drew Hildebrandt is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Auburn University. Prior to joining the Ph.D. program in 2022, Drew received a master’s degree in business administration at Auburn University. Drew Hildebrandt holds a dual degree in bachelor’s of science with a major in Supply Chain Management and Computer Information Systems.
Medha Kanakamedala
Medha Kanakamedala is a first-year PhD student in the Supply Chain Management department
at Auburn University, prior to which she holds a master’s degree in Computer Science
and Software Engineering at Auburn.
Medha is passionate about leveraging technology to address contemporary challenges
in supply chain management. Her research interests focus on bridging the gap between
technological advancements and SCM practices to develop innovative solutions. She
aims to integrate technology into SCM to tackle modern industry challenges.
Matthew Reid
Matthew Reid is a first-year doctoral student in Supply Chain Management at Auburn
University. His preliminary research focuses on the role of Industry 4.0 in supply
chain management, particularly its impact on reverse logistics. His other research
interests include, but are not limited to, e-commerce, omnichannel strategies, and
ethics.
Matthew has over a decade of industry experience across various sectors, including
cruise lines, construction, consulting, cannabis, and disaster management, and has
held diverse roles such as project manager, supply chain lead, and regional director.
Before joining the Ph.D. program at Auburn, Matthew earned his bachelor’s degree in
Business Administration from Auburn University and his master’s degree in Supply Chain
Management from Michigan State University.
Bipin Yadu
Bipin Yadu is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Supply Chain Management
at Auburn University. His research interests lie at the intersection of healthcare
policy and supply chain systems, with a broader focus on the implications of policy
decisions on operational performance and international trade.
Bipin brings a blend of industry and research experience, having worked on several
consulting and academic projects in operations management, logistics and supply chain
domains. His work has focused on performance improvement through the application of
queueing models, simulation, optimization and LEAN methodologies.
Before joining Auburn University, Bipin served as a Research Associate at the Indian
Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering
and Management from the National Institute of Technology, Raipur, India.