Ephraim Hanks

Ephraim Hanks is an Associate Professor and Chair of Graduate Admissions in the Department of Statistics at Pennsylvania State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Statistics from Colorado State University (2013), an M.S. and B.S. in Mathematics from Utah State University (2010 and 2002). His research focuses on spatio-temporal statistical methods applied to ecology and epidemiology, emphasizing computational and modeling advancements to address scientific questions in these fields. He serves on the executive board of the ASA's Section on Statistics and the Environment and leads Penn State's graduate admissions in statistics.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Statistics, Colorado State University, 2013
• M.S. in Statistics, Utah State University, 2010
• B.S. in Mathematics, Utah State University, 2002

Research interests include developing statistical models for spatial and spatio-temporal systems, with applications to wildlife movement, disease spread, and environmental monitoring. His work bridges theoretical statistics with practical challenges in ecology and public health. Recent projects address disease spillover dynamics, animal migration patterns, and vaccine allocation strategies during outbreaks.

Scientific contributions span epidemiological modeling (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 transmission analysis), ecological connectivity (e.g., landscape genetics of species), and methodological innovations in spatial statistics. His 2017 Early Investigator Award from the ASA highlights his early-career impact in environmental statistics.

Teaching includes advanced courses such as Regression Analysis (STAT 511), Design of Experiments (STAT 461), and Stochastic Processes (STAT 416). He is affiliated with the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Penn State, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on global health challenges.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, focusing on statistical approaches to disease ecology and public health interventions.