Sébastien Martin
Email: sebastien.martin @kellogg.northwestern.edu
Phone:+1 (510)229-2758
Office: KGH-4163
I am an associate professor of operations at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. This website showcases my research, teaching, and other activities.
My research focuses on the interface of algorithms and operations management, with applications to AI, public sector operations, and transportation. Applications include transportation systems and school operations. For example, I helped design Lyft’s matching algorithm with reinforcement learning, redesign Boston’s school transportation system, change the school schedules of San Francisco. These changes save tens of millions of dollars every year and benefit millions of people.
At Kellogg, I am also working on leveraging AI for higher education. I created Kellogg’s first AI TA and introduced the concept of AI case studies, which are ways to use AI to improve teaching and learning. I also work on the use of generative AI to improve operations in the private sector. For example, I am an AI advisor to ESAB corporation’s CEO.
news
| Jan 07, 2026 | Proud to launch the AIML901 Project Showcase—a collection of student projects from my AI Foundations for Managers course at Kellogg. These MBA students built real AI agents tackling everything from healthcare to personal productivity, with pitch videos and working prototypes. A testament to what’s possible when business minds meet cutting-edge AI tools. |
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| Dec 04, 2025 | ESAB appointed me to its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026. I’ll serve on the Audit Committee. |
| Nov 01, 2025 | The Wall Street Journal spotlighted Kellogg’s new AI-powered case method that Daniela Hurtado-Lange and I debuted—catch the feature here. What if the next business case could talk back? Students now debate strategies with AI personas—from the superintendent to the bus driver—as they tackle a $50 million budget deficit in real time. |
| Nov 01, 2025 | We launched NoYes AI, a platform that lets any instructor craft and distribute their own AI case studies—no long PDFs, just dialogue with the decision-makers. Curious about building one for your classroom? Reach out and let’s talk. |
| Oct 15, 2025 | My new MBA course, AI Foundations for Managers, Lab, is finally starting! Here is the syllabus. Given its focus on the most recent AI developments, I had to create it from scratch. To my colleagues - if you’re interested, I’d be more than happy to share the material. |