Vladimir Mares is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, since 2008. Prior to joining the Kellogg School of Management, Mares received his PhD at Rutgers University, NJ and taught at the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. His research interests include game theory, auction theory and industrial organization. Professor Mares is currently working on how to balance price and quality interests in the design of procurement auctions with differentiated suppliers. He also studies the strategic importance of jump bidding in large auctions.