Nicholas J. Horton

Nicholas J. Horton is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Statistics at Amherst College, where he teaches courses in statistics, data science, probability, mathematical statistics, regression, and design of experiments. With a passion for improving quantitative and data literacy for students of diverse backgrounds, he has made significant contributions to statistics education and applied biostatistical research.

His educational background includes:

• Sc.D. from Harvard School of Public Health (1999)
• A.B. from Harvard College (1987)

Horton's research bridges the mathematical, statistical, and computational sciences with interdisciplinary applications. As an applied biostatistician and data scientist, his methodological work focuses on multivariate response models, longitudinal studies, and missing data. He completed a fellowship through the ASA/NSF/Bureau of Labor Statistics program, leading a project to improve imputation methods for the Occupational Employment Survey. His work emphasizes bridging the gap between theory and practice in interdisciplinary statistics and data science settings, with a particular focus on developing novel solutions for real-world data problems that existing methodology sometimes cannot address.

An analysis of Horton's recent publications reveals a strong focus on data science education, statistical methodology, and interdisciplinary applications. His work spans from foundational statistics education to cutting-edge applications in public health, obesity research, and audiometry. A notable trend is his commitment to improving statistical and data literacy across educational levels, from K-12 to undergraduate programs. His publications also demonstrate expertise in handling complex data structures including longitudinal studies and missing data problems across diverse fields.

Horton has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to statistics and education:

• Waller Distinguished Career Teaching Award, American Statistical Association (2025)
• Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (2025)
• Peter Holmes Prize (2023)
• Mosteller Award (2023)
• Concord Consortium Tinker Fellow (2020)
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2018)
• Robert V. Hogg Award For Excellence in Teaching Introductory Statistics (2015)
• Fellow of the American Statistical Association (2012)

Through his teaching and research mentorship, Horton has actively involved undergraduate students in research projects, viewing this as a key component of his educational mission. He has participated in data science education initiatives through the National Academies and has contributed to developing guidelines for undergraduate programs in statistics. His work with the Project MOSAIC package demonstrates his commitment to integrating computing in the statistics curriculum.

Horton maintains active involvement with the R community, contributing to resources like the "mosaic" package that helps students "think with data" using R. He has also been instrumental in developing educational resources including "Modern Data Science with R" and "A Student's Guide to R," supporting both students and educators in the field.