Mary E. Kurz, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Industrial Engineering at Clemson University. She is a member of INFORMS and a Senior member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers. Dr. Kurz received her doctoral degree from the University of Arizona in Systems and Industrial Engineering in 2001, focusing on scheduling flexible flowlines.

Dr. Kurz is interested in improving the efficiency of large assembly systems through better integration of various functions, such as sequencing, line balancing, and material handling. She develops mathematical models, heuristics and metaheuristics to evaluate the potential for system improvements.

Mary Beth Kurz

Research

COVID-19 Data Files

January 30, 2026/by Mary Beth Kurz

Metaheuristics Topics

June 3, 2021/by Academic Web Pages

Assembly Topics

June 2, 2021/by Academic Web Pages

Flexible Flowlines Data Repository

June 1, 2021/by Academic Web Pages

Scheduling Topics

May 31, 2021/by Academic Web Pages

Announcements

Prof. Kurz Receives Clemson University Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Excellence in Service

For more than 17 seventeen years, Clemson has honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the Martin Luther King, Jr. Excellence in Service Award. Presented annually, the award recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community, which he defines as a “a community inclusive of all people, regardless of race, gender, class, ethnicity; a community that recognizes people as individuals first, each with a unique set of life experiences that shapes their particular perspective; a community where varied perspectives are brought together in a collective effort to achieve goals for the common good.”

Recent Publications

  1. Jahan Beikloo, M., Janan, F, Sharkey, T., Kurz, M. E. “Mitigating Harm from Disruption in Illicit Fentanyl Supply Networks: A Stochastic Bilevel Optimization Approach.” Oral Presentation at the INFORMS Healthcare Conference,Raleigh, NC, 2026.
  2. Jahan Beikloo, M., Kurz, M. E., Miller, B. L., Sharkey, T., Kang, H. “Agent-Based Modeling of Opioid Use and Harm Reduction Strategies in Community Settings.” Oral Presentation at the INFORMS Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, 2025.
  3. Jahan Beikloo, M., Kurz, M. E., Miller, B. L., Sharkey, T., Kang, H. “Assessing the Distribution of Naloxone Across Communities in South Carolina.” Oral Presentation at the IISE Annual Conference & Expo Atlanta, GA, 2025.

  4. Jahan Beikloo, M., Spence, C., Kurz, M. E., Miller, B. L., & Sharkey, T. (2024). Targeted Analysis of the Opioid Crisis Using GIS and ABM in a Specific Community. Poster presented at the Southern Criminal Justice Association (SCJA) Conference, 2024, Greenville, SC.