Denis Sauré
Portrait of Denis Sauré

Denis Sauré

Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineering Department · University of Chile
Researcher, Institute for Complex Engineering Systems (ISCI)

I study data-driven decision-making under uncertainty — how to learn while optimizing — and put it to work in public health, revenue management, and service operations.

Franz Edelman Award, First Prize 2022 IFORS Prize for OR in Development, 2026

About

I hold an M.Sc. in Operations Management from the University of Chile and a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Columbia University. I was previously an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and I am now an associate professor at the University of Chile, where I am also a researcher at the Institute for Complex Engineering Systems (ISCI).

A large part of my recent work has supported public health decisions in Chile — from COVID-19 seroprevalence surveillance during the pandemic to the design, monitoring, and impact evaluation of the country’s universal immunization strategy against respiratory syncytial virus.

Publications

  1. In review

    Stochastic Shortest Path Interdiction with Path-Only Feedback

    I. Vidal-Romero, J. S. Borrero, D. Sauré

    Submitted for publication.

  2. In review

    Healthcare Impacts and Effectiveness of a National Universal Nirsevimab Strategy on Non-Immunized Children Aged 1 to 5 Years: A Counterfactual Analysis

    D. Sauré, A. Zgheib, JP. Torres, M. Goic, C. Thraves, J. Pacheco, J. Burgos, F. Del Solar, I. Neira, M. O’Ryan, L. Basso

    Submitted for publication.

  3. In review

    Design, Monitoring, and Impact Evaluation of Chile’s Universal Immunization Strategy Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus

    L. Basso, F. Del Solar, G. Díaz, M. Goic, I. Neira, M. O’Ryan, D. Sauré, C. Thraves, JP. Torres, N. Trigo, A. Zgheib

    Submitted for publication.

    2026 IFORS Prize for OR in Development — Winner

  4. 2026

    Health Care Utilization and Cost Implications of Chile’s 2024 Nirsevimab Strategy for RSV Prevention: A Counterfactual Analysis

    D. Sauré, JP. Torres, M. Goic, C. Thraves, J. Pacheco, J. Burgos, A. Zgheib, F. Del Solar, I. Neira, M. O’Ryan, L. Basso

    The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 59, 101475, 2026.

    SLIPE 2025 Best Paper Award — Second Prize

  5. 2026

    Nirsevimab in High-Risk Infants in a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention Strategy

    D. Sauré, JP. Torres, M. Goic, C. Thraves, J. Pacheco, J. Burgos, A. Zgheib, F. Del Solar, I. Neira, M. O’Ryan, L. Basso

    JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e266042, 2026.

  6. In review

    Saving Kermit: Dynamic Assortment Planning in a Boiling Market

    E. Clemente, O. Prokopyev, D. Sauré

    Submitted for publication.

    2025 Jeff McGill Student Paper Award — Second Prize

  7. In review

    Exploration Optimization for Dynamic Assortment Personalization under Linear Preferences

    F. Bernstein, S. Modaresi, D. Sauré

    Submitted for publication.

  8. 2025

    Maximum Likelihood Probability Measures over Sets and Applications to Data-Driven Optimization

    J. Borrero, D. Sauré

    European Journal of Operational Research, 327(3), 922–936, 2025.

  9. 2025

    Optimal Sequential Shortest Path Interdiction

    J. Borrero, D. Sauré, N. Trigo

    European Journal of Operational Research, 326(4), 641–655, 2025.

  10. 2025

    Effectiveness and Impact of Nirsevimab in Chile During the First Season of a National Immunisation Strategy (NIRSE-CL): A Retrospective Observational Study

    JP. Torres, D. Sauré, M. Goic, C. Thraves, J. Pacheco, J. Burgos, N. Trigo, I. Neira, F. Del Solar, G. Díaz, M. O’Ryan, L. Basso

    The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2025.

    Featured in the issue’s cover art

  11. 2025

    Cost-Savings and Health Impact of Strategies for Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus with Nirsevimab in Chile, Based on the Integrated Analysis of 2019–2023 National Databases: A Retrospective Study

    D. Sauré, M. O’Ryan, JP. Torres, N. Trigo, G. Díaz, M. Goic, C. Thraves, J. Pacheco, P. Aguilera, A. Caro, L. Basso

    Journal of Infection and Public Health, 18(4), 2025.

  12. 2025

    Data Science Approach to Simulating the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at a Website in Tribute to Maradona

    A. Alvarez, A. Cataldo, G. Durán, M. Durán, P. Galaz, I. Monardo, D. Sauré

    Computational Statistics, 40, 2025.

  13. 2024

    Transdisciplinary Research Before, During and After COVID-19 Vaccination in Chile: A Virtuoso Collaboration with Future Perspectives

    JP. Torres, L. Basso, D. Sauré, M. Zuñiga, M. Farfan, V. De la Maza, N. Campos, M. O’Ryan

    Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 2024.

  14. 2023

    Impact of Homologous and Heterologous Boosters in Neutralizing Antibody Titers Against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients

    A. Gaete-Argel, V. Saavedra-Alarcón, D. Sauré, L. Alonso-Palomares, M. Acevedo, M. Alarcón, S. Bueno, A. Kalergis, R. Soto-Rifo, F. Valiente-Echeverría, C. Cortes

    Frontiers in Immunology, 14, 2023.

  15. 2023

    Infection with SARS-CoV-2 Variant Gamma (P.1) in Chile Increased ICU Admission Risk Three- to Five-Fold

    D. Sauré, I. Neira, M. Goic, M. O’Ryan, JP. Torres, A. Bruhn, M. Ferres, J. Angulo-Troncoso, M. Vera, L. Basso

    PLoS ONE, 2023. Open access.

  16. 2023

    COVID-19 Lateral Flow IgG Seropositivity and Serum Neutralizing Antibody Responses After Primary and Booster Vaccinations in Chile: An Observational Study

    D. Sauré, M. O’Ryan, JP. Torres, I. Neira, M. Zuñiga, R. Soto-Rifo, F. Valiente-Echeverría, A. Gaete-Argel, V. Saavedra, M. Acevedo, C. Archila, F. Acuña, M. Rain, L. Basso

    The Lancet Microbe, 4(3), 149–158, 2023.

  17. 2023

    Analytics Saves Lives During the COVID Crisis in Chile

    L. Basso, M. Goic, M. Olivares, D. Sauré, C. Thraves, A. Carranza, G. Weintraub, J. Covarrubias, C. Escobedo, N. Jara, A. Moreno, D. Arancibia, M. Fuenzalida, J. Uribe, F. Zuñiga, M. Zuñiga, M. O’Ryan, E. Santelices, J. Torres, M. Badal, M. Bozanic, S. Cancino, E. Lara, I. Neira

    INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics, 53(1), 9–31, 2023.

    2022 Franz Edelman Award — First Prize

  18. 2022

    SARS-CoV-2 IgG Positivity in Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Chilean Children: A National Cross-Sectional Study in Schools

    JP. Torres, D. Sauré, L. Basso, M. Zuñiga, A. Cazor, M. O’Ryan

    International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 121, 89–91, 2022.

  19. 2022

    Dynamic IgG Seropositivity in Chile Following Rollout of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (CoronaVac) and an mRNA Vaccine (BNT162b2): A Sentinel Surveillance Study

    D. Sauré, M. O’Ryan, JP. Torres, M. Zuñiga, E. Santelices, L. Basso

    The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 22(1), 56–63, 2022.

  20. 2022

    The Effect of Correlation and False Negatives in Pool Testing Strategies for COVID-19

    L. Basso, V. Salinas, D. Sauré, C. Thraves, N. Yankovic

    Health Care Management Science, 25(1), 146–165, 2022.

  21. 2022

    Learning in Sequential Bilevel Programming

    J. Borrero, O. Prokopyev, D. Sauré

    INFORMS Journal on Optimization, 4(2), 125–247, 2022.

  22. 2022

    A Framework for Adaptive Open-Pit Mining Planning Under Geological Uncertainty

    T. Lagos, M. Armstrong, T. Homem-de-Mello, G. Lagos, D. Sauré

    Optimization and Engineering, 23, 111–146, 2022.

  23. 2021

    Adaptive Open-Pit Mining Planning Under Geological Uncertainty

    T. Lagos, M. Armstrong, T. Homem-de-Mello, G. Lagos, D. Sauré

    Resources Policy, 27, 2021.

  24. 2021

    Sequential Shortest Path Interdiction with Incomplete Information and Limited Feedback

    J. Yang, J. Borrero, O. Prokopyev, D. Sauré

    Decision Analysis, 18(3), 218–244, 2021.

  25. 2021

    Scheduling the Main Professional Football League of Argentina

    G. Durán, F. Gutiérrez, M. Guajardo, J. Marenco, D. Sauré, G. Zamorano

    INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics, 51(5), 361–372, 2021.

    2020 Daniel H. Wagner Prize — Finalist

  26. 2020

    On Bilevel Optimization with Inexact Follower

    H. Zare, O. Prokopyev, D. Sauré

    Decision Analysis, 17(1), 74–95, 2020.

  27. 2020

    Learning in Combinatorial Optimization: What and How to Explore

    S. Modaresi, D. Sauré, J. P. Vielma

    Operations Research, 68(5), 1585–1604, 2020.

    2013 INFORMS JFIG Paper Competition — Second Prize

  28. 2020

    An Analytics Approach to the FIFA Ranking Procedure and the World Cup Final Draw

    S. Cea, G. Durán, M. Guajardo, D. Sauré, J. Siebert, G. Zamorano

    Annals of Operations Research, 286, 119–146, 2020.

  29. Working

    Optimal Timing of a Multi-Stage Project Under Market Uncertainty

    R. Caldentey, F. Castro, R. Epstein, D. Sauré

    Working paper, 2019.

  30. 2019

    Sequential Interdiction with Incomplete Information and Learning

    J. Borrero, O. Prokopyev, D. Sauré

    Operations Research, 67(1), 72–89, 2019.

  31. 2019

    Ellipsoidal Methods for Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis

    D. Sauré, J. P. Vielma

    Operations Research, 67(2), 315–338, 2019.

  32. 2019

    A Dynamic Clustering Approach to Data-Driven Assortment Personalization

    F. Bernstein, S. Modaresi, D. Sauré

    Management Science, 65(5), 2095–2115, 2019.

    2018 INFORMS MSOM Student Paper Competition — First Prize

  33. 2017

    Scheduling the South American Qualifiers to the 2018 FIFA World Cup by Integer Programming

    G. Durán, M. Guajardo, D. Sauré

    European Journal of Operational Research, 262(3), 1109–1115, 2017.

    2018 EURO Excellence in Practice Award — Finalist

  34. 2017

    Operations Research Transforms Scheduling of Chilean Soccer Leagues and South American World Cup Qualifiers

    F. Alarcón, D. Sauré, A. Weintraub, R. Wolf-Yadlin, G. Zamorano, G. Durán, M. Guajardo, J. Miranda, M. Siebert, S. Souyris, H. Muñoz, L. Ramírez, M. Ramírez

    Interfaces, 47(1), 52–69, 2017.

    2016 Franz Edelman Award — Finalist

  35. 2017

    Optimal Exploitation of a Mineral Resource under Stochastic Market Prices

    R. Caldentey, R. Epstein, D. Sauré

    In Real Options in Energy and Commodity Markets, Chapter 4, 117–171. World Scientific Publishing, 2017.

  36. 2016

    Sequential Shortest Path Interdiction with Incomplete Information

    J. Borrero, O. Prokopyev, D. Sauré

    Decision Analysis, 13(1), 68–98, 2016.

  37. 2016

    Product Assortment and Price Competition Under Multinomial Logit Demand

    O. Besbes, D. Sauré

    Production and Operations Management, 25(1), 114–127, 2016.

  38. 2015

    The Price of Non-Abandonment: HIV in Resource-Limited Settings

    A. Khademi, D. Sauré, A. Schaefer, S. Braithwaite, M. Roberts

    Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 17(4), 554–570, 2015.

    2012 Pierskalla Best Paper Award — Finalist

  39. 2015

    Treatment in Resource-Limited Environments: Treatment Coverage and Insights

    A. Khademi, D. Sauré, S. Braithwaite, A. Schaefer, K. Nucifora, M. Roberts

    Value in Health, 18(8), 1113–1119, 2015.

  40. 2014

    Should Expectations About the Rate of New Antiretroviral Drug Development Impact the Timing of HIV Treatment Initiation and Expectations About Treatment Benefits?

    A. Khademi, S. Braithwaite, D. Sauré, A. Schaefer, K. Nucifora, M. Roberts

    PLoS ONE, 9(6), 1–8, 2014.

  41. 2014

    Dynamic Pricing Strategies in the Presence of Demand Shifts

    O. Besbes, D. Sauré

    Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 16(4), 513–528, 2014.

  42. Working

    Dynamic Learning and Customization in Display-Based Online Advertisement

    D. Sauré, A. Zeevi

    Working paper.

  43. 2013

    Optimal Dynamic Assortment Planning with Demand Learning

    D. Sauré, A. Zeevi

    Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 15(3), 387–404, 2013.

    2009 INFORMS MSOM Student Paper Competition — First Prize

  44. 2012

    An Approximate Dynamic Programming Approach to Solving Dynamic Oligopoly Models

    V. Farias, D. Sauré, G. Weintraub

    RAND Journal of Economics, 43, 253–282, 2012.

    2009 INFORMS JFIG Paper Competition — Second Prize

  45. Working

    A Linear Programming Algorithm for Computing the Stationary Distribution of Semimartingale Reflected Brownian Motion

    D. Sauré, A. Zeevi, P. Glynn

    Working paper.

  46. 2007

    Scheduling the Chilean Soccer League by Integer Programming

    G. Durán, M. Guajardo, J. Miranda, D. Sauré, S. Souyris, A. Weintraub

    Interfaces, 37, 539–552, 2007.

Selected honors

2026
IFORS Prize for OR in Development
Winner — Chile’s universal RSV immunization strategy
2025
SLIPE Best Paper Award
Second Prize — nirsevimab cost and utilization analysis
2022
Franz Edelman Award
First Prize — Analytics Saves Lives During the COVID Crisis in Chile
2020
Daniel H. Wagner Prize
Finalist — Scheduling the Argentine professional football league
2018 & 2009
INFORMS MSOM Student Paper Competition
First Prize (twice, as advisor and as author)
2016
Franz Edelman Award
Finalist — OR transforms scheduling of Chilean soccer leagues

Teaching

University of Chile

University of Pittsburgh

Students 19 advised

I advise doctoral and master’s students in operations research, with theses spanning assortment planning and learning, public health, and sports analytics.

Doctoral

Master’s

Contact

Office

Industrial Engineering Department
University of Chile
República 701, Santiago, Chile

Email

dsaure@uchile.cl

Phone

+56 2 2978 4038

Elsewhere

Google Scholar
DII faculty profile
Curriculum vitae (PDF)