His research interests are in the areas of logistics, automated quality systems, manufacturing systems and applied operations research. Sponsors of Professors Villalobos research include the National Science Foundation, Texas Advanced Technology Program, the Arizona Department of Transportation, U.S. Army and private industry totaling an excess of $3 million dollars. He was the recipient of the 1993 IIE Doctoral Dissertation Award and a 1995 NSF Career Grant. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas.