Christopher T. Franck

Christopher T. Franck is an Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics at Virginia Tech, within the College of Science. He earned his Ph.D. in Statistics from North Carolina State University (2010), focusing on mixture-based interaction effects in factorial experiments under advisor Jason Osborne. His research emphasizes probability forecasts, Bayesian model selection, spatial statistics, and applications in health sciences. Dr. Franck has held roles such as Assistant Director of the Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA) and transitioned to his current faculty position in 2016. Notable awards include induction into Sigma Xi (2012) and the Francis G. Giesbrecht Award (2010). His work spans diverse fields like bioinformatics, biomechanics, and environmental sustainability, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications. He teaches courses such as Introduction to Statistical Program Packages and advises on interdisciplinary projects through LISA.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Statistics, North Carolina State University, 2010
• M.Stat., North Carolina State University, 2007
• B.S. in Statistics, Virginia Tech, 2005

Research Interests: Bayesian methods, spatial statistics, medical applications, and behavioral economics. His recent work includes developing probabilistic forecasting tools, improving discounting models for decision-making analysis, and advancing statistical software packages like BRcal and slgf.

Awards:

• Sigma Xi Honor Society (2012)
• Outstanding Teaching Assistant (2008, 2009)
• VIGRE Fellowship (2007)

Grants & Collaborations: Active in interdisciplinary research via LISA, contributing to studies in biomechanics, addiction science, and environmental policy. His lab focuses on bridging statistical theory with practical applications in health and sustainability.