Dr. Alan Huang is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland. He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Chicago (McCormick Fellowship) and an Honours degree in Science (Advanced Mathematics) from the University of Sydney. His academic career includes lecturing roles at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Technology Sydney before joining UQ. Research Focus: Biostatistics, nonparametric methods, and statistical modeling for dispersed counts. Key Projects: Bayesian methods for agricultural data, trend analysis of pesticide concentrations in the Great Barrier Reef, spectral water quality analysis. Article Trends: His work spans generalized linear models, count data analysis, and environmental statistics, with recent emphasis on Conway-Maxwell-Poisson regression and time-series modeling. Collaborations include environmental science applications. Awards: McCormick Fellowship (University of Chicago). Supervision: Currently advising PhD research on count data methods. Past supervision includes topics in geotechnical uncertainty and rock mechanics. Collaborates with Queensland Department of Environment and Science on water quality projects.
Louis Du Plessis is a Lecturer at ETH Zürich's Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering in Basel, Switzerland. His research focuses on computational evolution with particular emphasis on infectious disease dynamics and genomic analysis. He maintains an active research profile with numerous high-impact publications in top-tier journals. Dr. Du Plessis completed his doctoral studies at ETH Zürich in 2016 with a thesis titled 'Understanding the spread and adaptation of infectious diseases using genomic sequencing data,' building upon his 2011 Master's work on evolutionary rate variation. His current research sits at the intersection of computational biology, epidemiology, and evolutionary genetics. His research interests span computational epidemiology, phylodynamics, viral evolution, and infectious disease modeling. He has made significant contributions to understanding pandemic dynamics, particularly regarding influenza and SARS-CoV-2, using genomic and epidemiological data integration. His methodological work includes developing computational approaches for estimating epidemic dynamics and viral transmission patterns. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on how pandemics disrupt normal viral circulation patterns, with particular attention to influenza evolution during the 2009 H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics. His work often combines phylogenetic analysis with epidemiological modeling to extract maximum information from genomic and case count data. Dr. Du Plessis has received research funding from European Commission projects including 'From Foundations of Phylodynamics to new applications in Cell Biology' (grant 101001077) and 'MOnitoring Outbreak events for Disease surveillance in a data science context' (grant 874850). He is actively involved in developing computational tools for analyzing pathogen genomic data and has contributed to several software packages used in the field. His work has significant implications for public health surveillance and pandemic preparedness.
Associate Professor LIN Zhenhua serves as a Presidential Young Professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Science at the National University of Singapore (NUS), with additional affiliation at the Institute of Data Science since 2021. His research develops cutting-edge statistical methodologies for complex data structures across multiple domains. Dr. LIN completed his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in 2017 under Fang Yao's supervision, following M.Sc. degrees from Simon Fraser University (2013, 2010) and a B.Sc. from Fudan University (2008). Ph.D., University of Toronto, 2017 (Advisor: Fang Yao) M.Sc., Simon Fraser University, 2013, 2010 B.Sc., Fudan University, 2008 His research program spans functional data analysis (developing techniques for curves and surfaces), non-Euclidean data analysis (statistical methods on manifolds), high-dimensional statistics (p > n problems), and constrained statistical modeling. LIN's work bridges theoretical statistics with practical applications through rigorous mathematical frameworks and computational implementations. Recent publications reveal strong emphasis on bootstrap methods for high-dimensional inference, Riemannian geometry approaches for manifold-valued data, and innovative functional data techniques. His research shows consistent output with multiple 2025 publications in top journals including Biometrika, Bernoulli, and Journal of the American Statistical Association. Professional Recognition Presidential Young Professor, NUS (2019-present) Associate Editor, Bernoulli (2022-2024) Associate Editor, Statistics (2023-present) Young Researchers Committee, Bernoulli Society (2020-2024) Professor LIN actively mentors graduate students as evidenced by numerous collaborative publications with trainees. He teaches advanced courses including ST5215 Advanced Statistical Theory, DSA4211 High-dimensional Statistical Analysis, and ST5223 Statistical Models across multiple academic years. His research group develops specialized software packages including hdanova, matrix-manifold, synfd, mcfda, and iRFDA, making advanced statistical methods accessible to practitioners.
Thomas C. M. Lee is a Distinguished Professor of Statistics and Associate Dean of the Faculty in Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of California, Davis, within the College of Letters and Science. He holds a prominent position in the Department of Statistics and serves as a key academic leader at UC Davis. Education: B.App.Sc. (Math) from University of Technology, Sydney, Australia (1992) B.Sc. (Hons) (Math) with University Medal from University of Technology, Sydney, Australia (1993) Ph.D. from Macquarie University and CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, Sydney, Australia (1997) Professor Lee's research spans multiple areas of statistics with a focus on developing innovative methodologies. His work particularly emphasizes nonparametric and semiparametric modeling , statistical learning , and statistical image and signal processing . He has made significant contributions to applying statistical methods across various scientific disciplines, demonstrating the versatility and power of statistical approaches in solving complex real-world problems. His research often bridges theoretical developments with practical applications, creating methodologies that are both mathematically sound and practically useful. Scientific Awards and Honors: Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, 2019) Elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA) Elected Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) Elected Senior Member of the IEEE Professor Lee has held significant editorial roles including serving as Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics (2013-2015) and currently as Review Editor for the Journal of the American Statistical Association. From 2015 to 2018, he chaired the Department of Statistics at UC Davis. He has taught numerous statistics courses including STA 13 (Elementary Statistics), STA 131C (Introduction to Mathematical Statistics), STA 243 (Computational Statistics), and STA 401 (Statistical Consulting). His leadership extends beyond research to academic administration, where he has shaped statistics education and departmental direction at UC Davis.
Carolina Osorio is a Professor at HEC Montréal, holding the Scale AI Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence for Urban Mobility and Logistics. She is affiliated with the Department of Decision Sciences and is a member of the Group for Research in Decision Analysis (GERAD) and the Interuniversity Research Centre on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation (CIRRELT). Her research focuses on transportation optimization, urban mobility, and data-driven simulation-based methods. She has been recognized among the world’s most influential researchers in 2023 and 2024. Education: Ph.D. in Mathematics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) M.Sc. in Statistics, University College London (UCL) Bachelor’s in Engineering, École nationale supérieure d'informatique et de mathématiques appliquées de Grenoble (ENSIMAG) Research Interests: Her work emphasizes scalable transportation modeling, simulation-based optimization, and AI applications for urban logistics. She develops methods for large-scale network analysis, traffic demand estimation, and sustainable urban mobility solutions. Key areas include traffic signal optimization, car-sharing service design, and high-dimensional stochastic systems. Publications: Recent articles highlight advancements in scalable traffic demand estimation, Bayesian optimization for transportation systems, and simulation-based toll optimization. Her work addresses challenges in global highway networks, urban congestion dynamics, and multi-city calibration. Awards: Scale AI Research Chair (Artificial Intelligence for Urban Mobility and Logistics) Recognition as a world-leading researcher in transportation science Advising & Grants: Osorio collaborates on projects funded by Scale AI and leads research initiatives through GERAD and CIRRELT. Her supervision activities include teaching courses such as Decision Analysis and Sample Efficient Optimization at HEC Montréal. Labs & Teams: She contributes to interdisciplinary teams at GERAD and CIRRELT, focusing on integrating advanced analytics into urban transportation systems.
Sebastijan Dumancic is an Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology, focusing on neuro-symbolic AI through program synthesis and probabilistic programming. He leads the RAIL lab and collaborates with institutions like Harvard, MIT, and CNRS. His research bridges symbolic AI and machine learning, applying program synthesis to scientific discovery, transportation, and robotics. He holds an FWO-funded PhD from KU Leuven and has participated in initiatives like ELLIS and the Symbolic Computation and Machine Learning Initiative. Program synthesis Probabilistic programming Neuro-symbolic AI Constraint-based learning His recent articles highlight advancements in program synthesis, neuro-symbolic integration, and constraint satisfaction. Projects like Find2Fix and Intelligent Greenhouse Horticulture (funded by NWO) demonstrate practical applications. ELLIS Membership University Teaching Qualification He supervises numerous MSc and PhD students in projects involving logic programming, program synthesis, and probabilistic modeling. Active in workshops and symposia, he contributes to neuro-symbolic AI and scientific discovery.
Sean O'Rourke is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research focuses on probability, random matrix theory, and random polynomials. He has organized multiple workshops and minisymposia, including events at the Canadian Discrete and Algorithmic Mathematics Conference (CanaDAM) and ICERM, demonstrating his active role in academic community engagement. His research spans spectral properties of random matrices (e.g., singular values, elliptic matrices, Laplacian matrices), probabilistic behavior of polynomial roots under operations like differentiation and summation, and applications of free probability theory. Recent work includes universal behavior in eigenvalue gaps, non-Hermitian matrix controllability, and asymptotic refinements of classical theorems for random polynomials. Publications highlight collaborations with researchers such as Andrew Campbell, Kyle Luh, David Renfrew, and Van Vu. His work appears in leading journals like Annals of Probability , Electronic Journal of Probability , and Transactions of the American Mathematical Society , covering topics from Gaussian fluctuations to low-rank perturbations and noncommutative harmonic analysis.
Dr. Haiyan Liu is an Associate Professor of Quantitative Methods, Measurement, and Statistics in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of California, Merced, within the School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts. She earned her Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology from the University of Notre Dame (2018). Her research focuses on advanced statistical modeling of psychological and educational data, including high-dimensional, longitudinal, and social network data. She develops Bayesian methodologies and machine learning techniques to enhance understanding of human behavior, with recent emphasis on structural equation modeling, network dynamics, and nonparametric growth curves. Her work addresses challenges in survey methodology and behavioral data analysis. Dr. Liu’s educational background includes a Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology from the University of Notre Dame (2018), complementing her current academic role. Her lab, accessible at https://sites.google.com/view/ucmhaiyanliu , supports her research activities. Her research interests span Bayesian SEM, social network analysis, and applications of machine learning to behavioral data, aiming to bridge methodological innovation with practical psychological inquiry. Her recent articles highlight advancements in Bayesian model selection, longitudinal sentiment analysis, and social network mediation. She emphasizes prior specification rigor in Bayesian frameworks and explores nonlinear relationships in social dynamics. Though no awards are explicitly listed, her contributions to statistical methodologies in psychological research reflect significant scholarly impact. Dr. Liu advises students in quantitative methods and has developed software tools like logistic4p for misclassification correction in logistic regression. Her work integrates computational methods with theoretical advancements, positioning her as a key contributor to modern quantitative psychology.
Dr. Zhibao Mian is a Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Hull, UK, and previously held an Associate Professor position at Northwest Normal University. He specializes in trustworthy AI, machine learning, and intelligent maintenance systems. His research integrates AI with IoT, blockchain, and digital twins in Industry 4.0/5.0 contexts. He leads projects on predictive maintenance for offshore wind turbines and AI-driven sustainable energy solutions. Dr. Mian holds a PhD from the University of Hull and an MSc from the University of Nottingham. Research interests include AI ethics, model-based safety analysis, and RCM. He has secured grants such as the CPHC-funded study on AI in software education and oversees multiple PhD scholarships. Notable roles include Editorial Board member of the American Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Reviewer for high-impact journals/conferences like JSS and IEEE. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and received the Royal Academy of Engineering's 2024 Exceptional Talent designation. Recent publications (2023-2025) focus on ordinal networks, outlier detection, Belt and Road trade analysis, and carbon emissions modeling. He actively advises PhD students on topics like UAV-based anomaly detection and predictive maintenance frameworks.
Loris D'Antoni is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) . He is also a Visiting Academic at Amazon Web Services (AWS) . His research focuses on helping people write trustworthy software through techniques in program synthesis, formal verification, and machine learning robustness. Bachelor and Master in Computer Science from University of Torino (2008, 2010) PhD in Computer Science from University of Pennsylvania (2015) His research integrates programming languages , automata theory , and formal methods to ensure software reliability. Recent work explores semantics-guided synthesis and specification-aligned LLMs , with applications in network security, machine learning fairness, and automated code repair. Key trends in his publications include program synthesis , formal verification , and trustworthy AI systems . He has contributed to tools like AutomataTutor and SemGuS , a framework for customizable synthesis problems using constrained Horn clauses. Phillip R. Certain-Gary D. Sandefur Distinguished Faculty Award NSF CAREER Award Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship Google and Facebook Faculty Awards Best Paper Award at ICDCN 2023 Distinguished Paper Award at SBES 2021 D'Antoni actively contributes to academic community service as a committee member in PLDI , OOPSLA , POPL , and CAV . He leads the Programming Systems Group at UCSD and collaborates with SemGuS research team on synthesis frameworks.
Chuanhai Liu is an Associate Head and Professor of Statistics at Purdue University’s Department of Statistics. He specializes in computational methods for statistical inference, Bayesian analysis, and big data computing systems. His research emphasizes robust algorithms, inferential models, and probabilistic methods. Education: M.S., Wuhan University, Probability and Statistics (1987) M.A., Harvard University, Statistics (1990) Ph.D., Harvard University, Statistics (1994) Research Interests: Computational methods (EM algorithms, MCMC), statistical software systems for big data, theoretical foundations of inference, and prior-free probabilistic modeling. His work bridges computational efficiency and statistical validity, with applications in network analysis, environmental data, and machine learning. Awards: Fellow of the American Statistical Association (2007) Elected Member of the International Statistical Institute (2006) Frank Wilcoxon Prize (2000) Advising & Grants: Supervised 9 Ph.D. students, including interdisciplinary collaborations. His grants focus on distributed statistical computing and inferential frameworks. Active in software development for large-scale data analysis. Labs/Teams: Leads statistical computing initiatives at Purdue, contributing to scalable algorithms and probabilistic inference systems.
Hirosi Ooguri is the Fred Kavli Professor of Theoretical Physics and Mathematics at Caltech and Director of the Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics. He holds dual roles as University Professor at the University of Tokyo and former Director of the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU). His research focuses on quantum field theory, quantum gravity, and string theory with emphasis on interplay between physics and mathematics. Ooguri has pioneered work on topological string theory, black hole microstates, and swampland conjectures. Education: B.A. & M.A. from Kyoto University (1984-1986), Ph.D. in Physics from University of Tokyo (1989) Affiliations: Caltech faculty since 2000, Kavli IPMU Director (2018-2023) His research explores mathematical structures in quantum gravity and string theory, particularly in areas like AdS/CFT correspondence, conformal field theory, and holography. Notable contributions include foundational work on topological string invariants, black hole entropy calculations, and constraints on quantum gravity via swampland conjectures. Awards: Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (Japan), Guggenheim Fellowship, Hamburg Prize, Eisenbud Prize for Mathematics and Physics, and Kodansha Prize for Science Books. Ooguri has supervised over 30 Ph.D. students and advised impactful science outreach projects. He led establishment of the Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics (2014) and served on global scientific leadership roles including Aspen Center for Physics President (2016-2019).
Romdhane Rekaya serves as a Professor in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science within the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia. He also holds courtesy faculty positions in the Department of Statistics and is an associate faculty member with the Institute of Bioinformatics at UGA. His research program focuses on developing statistical and computational tools for analyzing large genetic and genomic datasets with applications in livestock, poultry, and human health. Dr. Rekaya's educational background includes: Agriculture Engineer from the High Institute of Agriculture, Tunisia Master of Science from the International Center for Advanced Studies in Mediterranean Agriculture of Zaragoza, Spain Ph.D. from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain Dr. Rekaya's research interests span quantitative genetics, genomics, biostatistics, and bioinformatics. His work centers on developing statistical and computational methodologies for analyzing big genetic and genomic data sets with practical applications in livestock, poultry, and human health. His research has been particularly focused on addressing critical challenges in animal agriculture including horn fly resistance in beef cattle, water utilization efficiency in poultry, and greenhouse gas emissions in dairy production. His methodological approaches often integrate machine learning, Bayesian statistics, and genomic technologies to solve complex biological problems. Dr. Rekaya's publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on statistical methodology development for genetic analysis, with recent work increasingly emphasizing practical applications of genomic technologies in animal agriculture. His research spans both theoretical statistical development and practical implementation in livestock improvement programs, with particular emphasis on innovative approaches to traditional breeding challenges. Among his professional recognitions: Student Career Success Influencer Award 2024 Mini-Sabbatical Award Student Career Success Influencer Award 2022 Carnegie fellowship Carnegie African Diaspora Fellow Faculty with significant positive impact of at least one graduate student Gamma Sigma Delta outstanding Research Achievements Award Dr. Rekaya has successfully mentored numerous graduate students including PhD candidates Amanda Warner, Mahsa Zare, Koushik Das, and Evan Hartono, along with undergraduate researchers. His research has been consistently supported by major funding agencies including USDA NIFA, USDA ARS, Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Beef, National Academy of Sciences, and industry partners including Tyson Foods and Cobb-Vantress. Current projects include developing genetic solutions to the horn fly problem in beef cattle, improving water utilization efficiency in poultry, and examining associations between greenhouse gas emissions and feed efficiency in dairy cattle. Dr. Rekaya leads an active research laboratory that collaborates with multiple departments and institutions. His lab focuses on applying advanced statistical and computational methods to solve pressing problems in animal agriculture, with particular emphasis on integrating genomic information into practical breeding programs. The lab maintains strong industry connections and international collaborations, particularly with researchers in Africa through the African Animal Breeding Network.
Dr. Richard Y. Zhao is a tenured Professor in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology-Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His research combines molecular biology, fission yeast genetics, mammalian biology, and virology to study virus-host interactions, particularly for HIV and Zika virus. He previously held academic positions at Northwestern University and Columbia University and has contributed to over 120 peer-reviewed articles. B.S., China Oceanography University (1981) M.S., Oregon State University (1995) Ph.D., Oregon State University (1991) Postdoctoral Training, Columbia University (1991-1992) Dr. Zhao's research focuses on: Virus-host interactions and pathogenicity High-throughput drug screening for antivirals Role of viral proteins in neuroinflammation and cancer Translational genomics in precision medicine His recent publications highlight SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, Zika envelope proteins, and HIV protease inhibitors, emphasizing host-pathogen mechanisms across species. He has served on NIH panels and editorial boards for journals like Cell Research and Retrovirology . Scientific awards include: Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (2019) Bernard L Mirkin Endowed Chair (2001-2004) Honorary Director, Shandong Gallo Institute (2009) Distinguished Service from SCBA (2015) Outstanding Service from CBA-USA (2016) Dr. Zhao also contributes to clinical diagnostics and personalized medicine through molecular testing and pharmacogenetics programs.
James S. Duncan is the Ebenezer K. Hunt Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Yale University, with additional appointments in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Radiology & Biomedical Imaging. His research focuses on biomedical image processing, quantitative image analysis using geometrical models, and applications in cardiac function and neuro-structure analysis. He has pioneered image-guided interventions and developed computational frameworks for medical imaging challenges. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. His work integrates AI, deep learning, and statistical decision-making to advance medical imaging technologies. Notable contributions include advancements in 3D image segmentation, deformable models, and MRI-based tumor response assessment. Dr. Duncan has received prestigious awards, including IEEE Fellow (2001) and induction into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2000). His recent research spans AI-driven hemodynamics modeling, trustworthy healthcare AI guidelines, and molecular MRI innovations in immunotherapy monitoring. He collaborates across disciplines to address challenges in cardiovascular, neuroimaging, and oncological applications.
