Dr. Karim Chichakly

Dr. Karim Chichakly

Adjunct Professor

isee systems, inc.
(603) 543-3792
karimc17@gmail.com

Dr. Karim Chichakly is Co-President of isee systems, inc. Previously, he was the Director of Product Development of isee systems for over 20 years as well as the architect and designer of the major redesigns of iThink® and Stella®. He has completed modeling projects in business strategy, project management, health care, public policy, and the environment. His most recent modeling projects are in climate, COVID-19, suicide prevention, and HIV studies. He also developed the draft XMILE standard for interchanging and archiving System Dynamics models and has contributed to several research projects and journal publications. Dr. Chichakly has extensive experience in both teaching and training, and is Adjunct Professor of System Dynamics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Capitol Technology University. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Complex Systems and two master's degrees in System Dynamics and Electrical and Software Engineering. 

Areas of Expertise:

  • Program Languages
  • Algorithms
  • Simulation
  • Embedded Real-time Systems

Biography:

Education

  • Ph.D. Computer Science and Complex Systems 2013, University of Vermont
  • M.S. System Dynamics 2010, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • M.E. Electrical and Software Engineering 1986, Dartmouth College
  • B.E. Electrical and Software Engineering 1981, Dartmouth College
  • B.A. Mathematics 1980, Skidmore College

Professional Achievements

  • Co-Chair, XMILE System Dynamics Interchange Language Technical Committee, from 2013
  • Program Chair, International System Dynamics Conference, 2015
  • Program Chair, Latin American System Dynamics Conference, 2016
  • Chair, System Dynamics Society Program Oversight Committee, 2018-2019 (member from 2015)
  • Program Committee, Latin American and Brazilian System Dynamics Conference, 2019-2021
  • Public Policy Thread Chair, International System Dynamics Conference, from 2021
  • President, Brazilian Chapter of the System Dynamic Society, 2022-2023
  • Program Chair, International System Dynamics Conference, 2025

Research & Publications

Publications

  • M. Villa Nova, T.P. Lin, S. Shanehsazzadeh, K. Jain, S.C.Y. Ng, R. Wacker, K. Chichakly, M.G. Wacker, “Nanomedicine Ex Machina: Between Model-Informed Development and Artificial Intelligence”,  Front. Digit. Health, 18 February 2022, https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.799341.
  • J. Nevison and K. Chichakly, “Latent Errors and Visible Earned Value: How the Evolutionary Model Integrates Earned Value Metrics with Project System Dynamics”, Systems 9(4), 88 (2021), https://doi.org/10.3390/systems9040088.
  • K. Chichakly, “Behavioral implications in COVID-19 spread and vaccinations,” Systems 9(4), 72 (2021), https://doi.org/10.3390/systems9040072.
  • S. Nagpal, S. Braner, H. Modh, K. Chichakly, M. Mast, A.T.X. Xin, G. Pastorin, V. Albrecht, and M.G. Wacker, “A physiologically-based nanocarrier biopharmaceutics model to reverse-engineer the in vivo drug release,” European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics Vol. 153 (2020), pp. 257-272.
  • J.E. Umeda, K. Chichakly, G.F. Passos, R.S. Suga Terada, R.C. Pascotto, L.M. Andaló Tenuta, and M. Fujimaki, “System dynamics modeling for tooth decay treatment in Brazilian children,” Brazilian Oral Research Vol. 34, no. 0017 (Feb 2020), pp. a-b.
  • K.J. Chichakly and C. Fuentes, “Making Sense of the Unexpected,” The Actuary Vol. 14, no. 6 (Dec 2017/Jan 2018), pp. 56-62.
  • K. Chichakly and J. Nevison, “Effective Corrective Action: The initial/envelope model for managing projects,”Journal of Modern Project Management, Vol. 4, no. 3 (Jan-May 2017 – issue 12), pp. 8-13.
  • K. Chichakly, 2016, “Practical Systems Thinking: Guidance to Effect Change”, Solutions, Vol. 7, no. 1 (Mar 2016), pp. 62-64.
  • R. Costanza, K. Chichakly, V. Dale, S. Farber, D. Finnagan, K. Grigg, S.Heckbert et al., 2014, “Simulation games that integrate research, entertainment, and learning around ecosystem services”, Ecosystem Services, Vol. 10 (2014), pp. .195-201.
  • K.J. Chichakly, W.B. Bowden, and M.J. Eppstein, 2013, “Minimization of Cost, Sediment Load, and Sensitivity to Climate Change in a Watershed Management Application”, Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol. 50 (2013), pp. 158-168.
  • K.J. Chichakly and M.J. Eppstein, 2013, “Discovering Design Principles from Dominated Solutions”, IEEE Access, Vol. 1 (2013), pp. 275-289.
  • R.L. Eberlein and K.J. Chichakly, 2013, “XMILE: A New Standard for System Dynamics”, System Dynamics Review, Vol. 29, no. 3 (Jul-Sep 2013), pp. 188-195.
  • K. Chichakly, 1993, “The Bifocal Vantage Point:  Managing Software Projects from a Systems Thinking Perspective”, American Programmer, Vol. 6, no. 5 (May 1993), pp. 18-25.

Peer-reviewed conference proceedings

  • K.J. Chichakly, 2021, “Systems Thinking for Public Policy: A Case Study in Brazil”, 2021 Proceedings of the 39th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (July 2021, Chicago, Illinois, USA).
  • K.J. Chichakly, 2016, “Hierarchical Behavioral Decomposition of Complex Problems”, 2016 Proceedings of the 34th  International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (August  2016, Delft, Netherlands).
  • J. Nevison and K.J. Chichakly, 2016, “Effective Corrective Action: The initial/envelope model for managing projects”, 2016 Proceedings of the 34th  International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (August  2016, Delft, Netherlands).
  • K.J. Chichakly and M.J. Eppstein, 2013, “Improving Uniformity of Solution Spacing in Biobjective Differential Evolution”, Proceedings of the 15th Annual Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO), July 6-10, 2013, pp. 87-88.
  • K. Chichakly, “Modeling Agile Development:  When is it Effective?”, 2007 Proceedings of the 25th  International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (August  2007, Boston).
  • K. Chichakly, “SMILE and XMILE:  A Common Language and Interchange Format for System Dynamics”, 2007 Proceedings of the 25th  International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (August  2007, Boston).

Conference Presentations

  • K. Chichakly, “Behavioral implications in COVID-19 spread and vaccinations”, plenary, XIX Latin American System Dynamics Conference (November 2021, Bucaramanga, Columbia).
  • K. Chichakly, “COVID-19 Vaccinations in the USA”, 2021 International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (July 2021, Chicago, Illinois).
  • K. Chichakly, “Systems Thinking for Public Policy: A Case Study in Brazil”, keynote, II South African System Dynamics Conference (November 2020, Capetown, South Africa).
  • K. Chichakly, “Modeling COVID-19 Policies”, plenary, XVIII Latin American System Dynamics Conference (October 2020, Bucaramanga, Columbia).
  • K. Chichakly, “Systems Thinking for Public Policy: A Case Study in Brazil”, keynote, XVII Latin American System Dynamics Conference (November 2019, Bogotá, Columbia).
  • K. Chichakly, “Insights from System Dynamics”, keynote, XVI Latin American System Dynamics Conference (October 2018, Puebla, Mexico).
  • K. Chichakly, “Systems Thinking and Public Policy”, opening keynote, III Congresso Internacional de Controle e Políticas Públicas (October 2017, Curitiba, Brazil).
  • K. Chichakly, “Developing Interconnected Components with XMILE”, XIV Latin American System Dynamics Conference (October 2016, São Paulo, Brazil).
  • S. Adler and K. Chichakly, “Climate Change Hackathon: Modeling impact of climate change on vulnerable populations”, 2016 International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (July 2016, Delft, Netherlands).
  • K. Chichakly, “Why Projects Persistently Fall Behind”, 3rd Brazilian System Dynamics Symposium (2015, São Paulo, Brazil).  Repeated at XIII Latin American System Dynamics Conference (October 2015, Cartagena, Columbia).
  • K. Chichakly, “The Future of System Dynamics”, closing keynote, XII Latin American System Dynamics Conference (December 2014, Alajuela, Costa Rica).
  • K. Chichakly and S. Adler, “Big Data Governance Ecosystem Simulations”, 2013 IBM Information On Demand (November 2013, Las Vegas, NV).
  • K. Chichakly and S. Adler, “The XML Interchange Language for System Dynamics (XMILE)”, 2013 International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (July 2013, Cambridge, MA).
  • K. Chichakly, “Using Computer Modeling to Engage More Students”, 2006 NCTM National Conference (St. Louis, MO).  Repeated at the 2006 CLE Conference (Marlborough, MA).

Invited Synthesis Workshops

  • Humans and Climate, National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), Annapolis, MD, December 10-13, 2019.
  • Arctic System Synthesis Workshop: Currencies, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center and NSF Arctic Systems Science Program, Washington, DC, April 17-19, 2017.
  • Advancing Human Interactions with Games to Value Ecosystem Services, National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), Annapolis, MD, June 25-28, 2013.
  • Nuclear Fuel Cycle Simulator Workshop, US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, San Francisco, CA, April 6-7, 2011.

Minicourses Taught

  • Systems Thinking Approaches for Public Policy Coherence, Casa Civil (Executive Office of the President of Brazil), November 25-December 5, 2019, Brasilia, Brazil.
  • Systems Thinking Approaches for Public Policy Challenges, Tribunal de Contas da União, June 18-27, 2018, Brasilia, Brazil.
  • Systems Thinking Approaches for Public Policy Challenges, Tribunal de Contas da União, October 19-26, 2017, Brasilia, Brazil.
  • Systems Thinking II: Effecting Change and Dynamic Modeling, Escola Nacional de Administração Pública, June 12-14, 2017, Brasilia, Brazil.
  • <Systems Thinking: Lasting Solutions to Complex Problems, Tribunal de Contas da União, June 5-9, 2017, Brasilia, Brazil.
  • Systems Thinking: Lasting Solutions to Complex Problems, Escola Nacional de Administração Pública, March 6-10, 2017, Brasilia, Brazil.

Organizations & Affiliations

  • Member, System Dynamics Society
  • Adjunct professor of System Dynamics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Volunteer/Service Experience

  • Member of the Cornish Zoning Board from 1985, chair from 1987-2011
  • Mentor for System Dynamics Society mentor program
  • Volunteer for the Brazilian Chapter of the System Dynamics Society (from 2013)

Portfolio/Personal Website