Skip to main content

Nima Safaei

Assistant Professor, Operations and Business Analytics, Fisher College of Business
Nima Safaei

Nima Safaei is an assistant professor of operations and business analytics at Fisher. His research lies at the intersection of analytics and impact, applying machine learning, natural language processing and causal inference to examine how technology and information influence operational and strategic outcomes. His current projects explore environmental sustainability and greenwashing, spillovers across supply chain networks, the effects of media attention on firm performance and the role of AI and analytics workforce in enhancing supply chain productivity. 

Before joining Fisher, Nima earned his PhD in business administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and held industry positions at TikTok and Cargill, where he designed and evaluated machine learning systems for production forecasting and TikTok Shop seller growth. Nima also holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and a master’s in transportation engineering from Iowa State University. His work has been supported by prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Richard A. Erley Fellowship and National Science Foundation-funded initiatives such as LEAP HI, GOALI, and EAGER. 

In the classroom, Nima emphasizes welcoming, hands-on learning with real data, reproducibility and clear links between analytical methods and managerial decision-making. He was recognized on the University of Illinois’ “Teachers Ranked as Excellent” list in 2023. Outside of work, he enjoys road trips and creating simple data applications that make everyday choices a little smarter.