[Isl] Upcoming Brown Bag Lectures This Month

[Nehja Guillaume]

Good afternoon everyone,

I hope this email finds you well. We are hosting two Brown Bag Lectures this month online over Zoom. More information about the topics of the lectures is below. Thank you!

The first of the Brown Bag Lectures will be given by Dr. Qian (Jackie) Zhang on Wednesday November 5, 2025 at 12 PM.


  *   Title: Causal Mediation Analysis

     *   Abstract: The lecture will introduce Causal Mediation Analysis, a critical methodological approach employed across various social science domains, including psychology, health, and family studies, to elucidate the mechanisms by which interventions achieve their effects. This lecture is structured for researchers and practitioners with minimal to no prior exposure to the topic. The content will include a beginner-friendly overview of causal inference, a discussion of the key assumptions required for estimating causal effects, and an introduction to core methods of causal mediation analysis. Participants will acquire the essential knowledge base for methodologically examining treatment effect pathways and informing the refinement of intervention strategies.

The link to register is below:
https://fsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/nXcG95dgQDiLYtgKi62kTQ<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffsu.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FnXcG95dgQDiLYtgKi62kTQ&data=05%7C02%7Cisl%40lists.fsu.edu%7C7f89c24077734f52083308de1b1ccc70%7Ca36450ebdb0642a78d1b026719f701e3%7C0%7C0%7C638978007651929608%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=A3ysf6T79oLItiUDx48ltLVovURwmWkQtQ1iRZ%2BSHlE%3D&reserved=0>



The second Brown Bag Lecture this month will be given by Dr. Qianwen (Vivian) Guo Wednesday November 12, 2025 at 12 PM.


  *   Title: Enhancing Accessibility for Elder Users: A Quantum-Inspired Bilevel Optimization Framework for Transit Route Design

     *   Abstract: As quantum computing transitions from theory to application, its ability to address complex optimization challenges has attracted significant attention. In transportation planning, classical algorithms often struggle with the combinatorial complexity of large-scale problems, particularly in contexts like bilevel optimization, where strategic and operational decisions interact hierarchically. While the problem of designing bus routes to improve accessibility for seniors is well-established, existing methods rely entirely on classical solvers, which struggle to scale with problem size. This computational bottleneck limits the practical deployment of inclusive and efficient transit strategies in urban settings. To address this gap, we propose a hybrid quantum-classical optimization framework that incorporates the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) into an existing model for bus route design. The framework consists of an upper-level model (ULM), solved with a classical optimizer to minimize average walking distances for seniors, and a lower-level model (LLM), reformulated as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem and solved using QAOA via IBM Qiskit to generate efficient, feasible route configurations. Simulations on a grid-based scenario demonstrate that the quantum-inspired approach can identify new stop placements that bring all target communities within a 400-meter walking radius, while keeping total route length within acceptable limits. This confirms the potential of QAOA to effectively handle combinatorial subproblems that are otherwise computationally intensive for classical methods. It also showcases the feasibility of applying quantum techniques to real-world infrastructure challenges, offering a template for future integration of quantum computing into smart city planning.

The link to register is below:
https://fsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/BvFx12rUTcSjyBipaFQJvQ<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffsu.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FBvFx12rUTcSjyBipaFQJvQ&data=05%7C02%7Cisl%40lists.fsu.edu%7C7f89c24077734f52083308de1b1ccc70%7Ca36450ebdb0642a78d1b026719f701e3%7C0%7C0%7C638978007663692958%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MzpK1wVsZn6NhhdlL%2BLNycIO5BWRLiARdDzyofX0W08%3D&reserved=0>


All the best,
Nehja Guillaume
Administrative Assistant, Institute for Successful Longevity
Florida State University
142 Collegiate Loop

Louis Shores Building, Room 266C
Tallahassee, FL 32304

      [cid:6e4c4a3e-353b-42f4-ad4f-673e69ec177d]

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