Erniel Bayhon Barrios is a Professor at the Malaysia School of Business, Monash University. Formerly a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman and a visiting scholar at Karlstad University (Sweden) and the Asian Development Bank Institute (Japan). He holds a PhD in Statistics (1990) from the University of the Philippines Diliman. His research focuses on computational statistics, nonparametric methods, data science, and computational econometrics, with applications in spatiotemporal modeling, time series, and financial markets. He has contributed to high-dimensional data analysis, volatility modeling, and robust statistical techniques. Key projects include the National Mental Health Survey and Well-Being (2019–2021) and building a data-driven organization for the Habib Group (2025–2026). He is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute (2012), associate editor of Communications in Statistical Applications and Methods , and served on the board of the International Association of Statistical Computing (2022–2025). He advises PhD students on topics like stochastic frontier models, data assignment in big data, and high-frequency time series analysis. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and economic growth.
Professor Yiming Ying is a faculty member in the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney, where he joined in December 2023. Previously, he held tenured positions at SUNY Albany (Departments of Mathematics & Statistics and Computer Science) and was a Lecturer at the University of Exeter. He completed his PhD in Mathematics at Zhejiang University (2002) and postdoctoral training at CityU Hong Kong, UCL, and University of Bristol. Research Focus His research spans statistical learning theory, optimization algorithms, trustworthy AI, and data science mathematics. Key applications include cancer informatics for early detection. His work aligns with Faculty research strengths in Data and Decisions and Decision-Making for a Sustainable Future. Recent Research Trends Analysis of recent publications shows strong focus on theoretical foundations of machine learning: differential privacy, fairness algorithms, optimization methods for AUC maximization, generalization guarantees, and robust learning techniques for adversarial settings and biological data. Awards and Honors SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence (2023) University at Albany Presidential Research Award (2022) University of Exeter Merit Award (2012) Grants and Advising Significant funding includes current ARC DP250101359 (2025-2028) and multiple past NSF grants. He founded the UALBANY Machine Learning Group and currently advises PhD student Peilin LIU on operator learning.
Stephen Roberts is a Professor at the Australian National University (ANU) in the College of Science, Department of Mathematics. He is the lead developer of the ANUGA open-source hydrodynamic modeling software, which simulates dam breaks, floods, and tsunamis for governments and engineers. Roberts has made significant contributions to computational mathematics, particularly in numerical methods for partial differential equations, sparse grid data fitting, and finite element approximations scaling to millions of data points. MSc, Flinders University (1980) PhD, University of California, Berkeley (1985) His research interests include: Computational methods for shallow water wave equations Development of Python-based scientific computing frameworks Global sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification Adaptive mesh algorithms for fluid dynamics Recent publications focus on energy-stable numerical schemes, multiscale flood simulation, and convergence analysis in sensitivity methods. Roberts actively collaborates with environmental agencies and has led major computational science education programs at ANU. Stephen serves as Treasurer of the Computational Mathematics Group (ANZIAM) and leads projects in: Parallelization of hydrodynamic models CO2 leak detection via atmospheric measurements Optimization of sparse grid combinations His work combines theoretical advancements with real-world applications in disaster risk reduction and climate policy.
Francisco Barillas Bedoya is an Associate Professor at the School of Banking and Finance within the UNSW Business School, University of New South Wales. His research focuses on theoretical and empirical asset pricing, particularly portfolio choice, asset pricing tests, macrofinance, and term structure of interest rates. He has published extensively in top-tier journals like the Journal of Finance and Management Science. PhD from New York University MA from University of British Columbia BSc from Trent University His recent publications analyze Sharpe ratios for model comparison, speculative behavior in bond markets, and risk premia in fixed income markets. While no formal awards are listed, his work intersects financial economics, econometrics, and computational methods. Office: Level 3, Room 333C, Ref E12 Email: f.barillas@unsw.edu.au
Xuan Liang is a Lecturer in Statistics at the Research School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Statistics (RSFAS), Australian National University. With a PhD from Peking University and postdoctoral experience at Monash University, his research focuses on spatial statistics, nonparametric modeling, and environmental data analysis. Education: PhD in Statistics (Peking University, 2017), BSc in Statistics (Zhejiang University, 2012) His work addresses methodological challenges in spatial panel data analysis, network modeling, and air pollution quantification. He has developed novel techniques for meteorological confounder adjustment in air quality assessments and contributed to distributed data analysis methods. Recent research trends include: Advancing quasi-score matching for spatial econometric models Improving subbagging algorithms for big data Creating robust distributed data aggregation frameworks Refining spatial autoregressive panel data methodologies Scientific contributions include: ANU Vice-Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (Early Career), 2022 CBE Teaching Commendation for Outstanding Teaching, 2020 Co-development of the ggmatplot R package for matrix visualization Co-inventor of Chinese patent 201811183512.0 for air quality assessment He teaches advanced courses in time series analysis, regression modeling, and mathematical statistics at ANU, while maintaining active research collaborations in econometrics and environmental statistics.
Professor Luke Prendergast is the Deputy Dean of the School of Computing, Engineering & Mathematical Sciences (SCEMS) at La Trobe University (LTU) and holds a Professorship in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. He previously served as Head of Department (2014–2020) and led LTU's Statistics Consulting Platform. His research focuses on robust statistics, meta-analysis, dimension reduction, and applied statistics, leading the DRAMA research group. Collaborations span fields like endocrinology, disability studies, and respiratory health. He actively contributes to research grants, including projects on Prader-Willi syndrome and exercise for disability populations. Professor Prendergast's recent work emphasizes statistical software development (e.g., the rquest package) and applications in biostatistics, such as metabolomics analysis and health intervention fidelity. His articles address topics like quantile-based hypothesis testing, geospatial accessibility for disability care, and motivational interviewing efficacy. Professional roles include NHMRC grant review panels, editorial boards for Nutrients and Respirology , and leadership in the Statistical Society of Australia (SSA Vic). His teaching includes courses in meta-analysis, linear models, and data-based critical thinking. Grants funded projects on exercise programs for cerebral palsy populations and community-university partnerships for disability inclusion. Luke's work bridges statistical theory with real-world health challenges, emphasizing robust methodologies and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Professor Josef Dick serves as a Professor and Deputy Head in the School of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). With a distinguished career in computational mathematics, he has established himself as a leading researcher in numerical integration methods and quasi-Monte Carlo theory. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical computational applications across various scientific domains. Dr. Dick earned his PhD in Mathematics from UNSW in 2004 and his MSc in Mathematics from the University of Salzburg in 2001. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied mathematics, which has informed his subsequent research contributions. Professor Dick's research primarily focuses on numerical integration and quasi-Monte Carlo rules , employing techniques from number theory , abstract algebra (particularly finite fields), discrepancy theory , wavelet theory , and statistics . His work provides rigorous analysis of practical algorithms for computational problems, with implementations often provided in Matlab to bridge theory and application. His research has successfully addressed point distributions on the unit cube for numerical integration, completely uniformly distributed sequences for Markov chain quasi-Monte Carlo algorithms, and explicit constructions of uniformly distributed points on the sphere. Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a consistent focus on advancing quasi-Monte Carlo methods, with increasing integration of machine learning techniques and applications to complex computational problems. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between pure mathematics, computational science, and practical engineering applications, particularly in uncertainty quantification and high-dimensional numerical integration. Discovery project from Australian Research Council (2012-2014): "Mathematics in the round - the challenge of computational analysis on spheres" Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship from Australian Research Council (2010-2014): "Algebraic methods for Markov Chain Monte Carlo and quasi-Monte Carlo" UNSW Vice Chancellor Fellowship (2006-2009) Professor Dick has supervised numerous PhD and Honours students working on topics including Quasi-Monte Carlo methods, Discrepancy Theory, Markov chain Monte Carlo, and Uncertainty Quantification. His research has been supported by significant grants from the Australian Research Council, including serving as Chief Investigator on multiple projects. Beyond his research, he serves as an Editor for the Journal of Complexity and Journal of Approximation Theory, demonstrating his leadership in the mathematical community. He teaches courses in Algebra and Mathematical Computing for Finance at UNSW.
George Athanasopoulos is Professor and Head of the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash University, a position he has held since 2022. He was appointed Professor in 2019 and has established himself as an internationally recognized expert in forecasting, time series analysis, and applied econometrics. He serves as Past President (since 2024) and former Director (2014-2024) of the International Institute of Forecasters, and is Associate Editor of the International Journal of Forecasting since 2014. His research focuses on hierarchical and grouped time series forecasting, where he has pioneered methods for forecast reconciliation and cross-temporal coherence. His work has significantly influenced forecasting practices across diverse fields including national statistics offices, energy markets, and public health. He is particularly renowned for his contributions to tourism forecasting and macroeconomic modeling in big data environments. Awarded the Australian Awards for University Teaching in 2022 for outstanding contributions to student learning, Professor Athanasopoulos has also received multiple Dean's Awards from Monash Business School for research excellence, teaching innovation, and publication quality. His research output includes over 49 publications and leadership of six major research projects, including the ARC-funded 'Macroeconomic forecasting in a Big Data world' and the RACE for 2030 CRC project on clean energy forecasting. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through applications in economic forecasting, energy modeling, and sustainable tourism development. He has supervised numerous research students and collaborated extensively with institutions including Australian National University, Griffith University, and international partners across multiple continents.
Associate Professor Tongliang Liu is affiliated with the School of Computer Science at the University of Sydney, serving as Director of the Sydney Artificial Intelligence Centre and Trustworthy Machine Learning Lab. He holds a BEng and PhD, and is an ARC Future Fellow. His research focuses on trustworthy machine learning, including adversarial defense, causal representation learning, and robust AI systems. He has authored over 200 papers in top venues like NeurIPS and ICML, and serves as co-Editor-in-Chief of Neural Networks. Research Interests: Developing reliable algorithms for machine learning, emphasizing generalizability and safety. Specific areas include learning with noisy labels, causal inference, and foundational model ethics. He aims to bridge theoretical guarantees and practical applications in computer vision and data mining. Awards: 2024 CORE Award, 2023 IEEE AI's 10 to Watch, 2022 ARC Future Fellowship. Notable recognitions include Eureka Prize shortlist and DECRA. Advising & Grants: Supervises 12 PhD/Master’s students on topics like trustworthy AI, causal discovery, and quantum machine learning. Leads grants on robust learning and AI safety. Labs: Sydney AI Centre and Trustworthy Machine Learning Lab.
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.
Associate Professor Sonny Pham leads research in artificial intelligence at Curtin University's School of EECMS. His work balances theoretical foundations with practical applications in computer vision, data mining, and deep learning. As head of the IAMAI research group, he collaborates with industry partners on security systems, healthcare AI, and sustainable technologies. His research explores: Computationally efficient deep learning architectures Compressed sensing for high-dimensional data Robust statistical methods for real-world problems Applications in computer vision and industrial automation Recent publications demonstrate a focus on medical imaging interpretation and efficient neural networks, with applications spanning radiology report generation, semantic segmentation for autonomous systems, and cybersecurity. His team's work consistently bridges theoretical AI advancements with industrial applications. Honors include: Multiple WANMA Awards (2021-2024) for industry-impactful research INCITE Award for social impact technology (2024) IEEE Young Author Best Paper Award (2010) Over $5M in competitive research funding including MRFF and DFAT grants He leads the IAMAI research group with 12+ graduate students and coordinates Curtin's Master of Artificial Intelligence program. Industry collaborations include Alcoa Australia, iCetana, and HyprFire.
Xiaoping Lu is an Associate Professor at the School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, University of Wollongong, Australia. She has served as Academic Program Director for the Bachelor of Mathematics (Advanced) program since 2008 and holds an ORCID identifier (0000-0003-1090-8437). Her research focuses on applied mathematics and financial mathematics, particularly in option pricing, stochastic volatility models, and computational finance. Research Themes: Transaction cost modeling, regime-switching financial markets, numerical methods for PDEs, utility-indifference valuation, and stochastic optimization algorithms. Awards: 2024 AustMS-WIMSIG Anne Penfold Street Award 2024 Cheryl E. Praeger Travel Award Leadership: President of the Asia Pacific Consortium of Mathematics for Industry (APCMfI) since 2024; leadership roles in ANZIAM and WIMSIG committees. Teaching: Coordinated courses like MATH142, MATH141, and MATH283; currently available for PhD supervision in topics including financial derivatives and stochastic liquidity risk. Funding: Contributed to grants like 'The AI Tutor' (2024) and industry partnerships for advanced mathematics education.
Professor Yue Rong is a Full Professor at Curtin University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, within the School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences. He holds editorial roles at IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing and IEEE Wireless Communications Letters. His research focuses on signal processing for communications, underwater acoustic systems, wireless networks, and healthcare IoT. Rong has authored over 140 journal and conference papers and received multiple awards, including the 2010 Young Researcher of the Year Award. Education: B.E. (Electrical Engineering), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (1999) M.Sc. (Electrical Engineering), University of Duisburg-Essen (2002) Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering), Darmstadt University of Technology (2005) Research Interests: Rong's work spans cooperative MIMO communications, underwater acoustic systems, OFDM modulation, radar-based healthcare monitoring, and secure wireless protocols. His innovations include adaptive modulation schemes for underwater environments and radar-based vital signs detection. Recent trends in his publications emphasize AI-driven signal processing for healthcare IoT and underwater optical communication systems. Awards: Best Paper Awards (WCSP 2011, APCOMM 2010) Chinese Government Award (2004) DAAD/ABB Fellowship (2001-2002) Grants & Labs: His research is supported by grants focusing on UAV-enabled data collection and underwater network optimization. He leads projects in the Distributed Data Fusion and Emerging Technologies (DDFE) lab, advancing radar-cardiography and wearable health monitoring systems.
Tao Zou is an Associate Professor at the Research School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Statistics, Australian National University. His research spans covariance regression modeling, network data analysis, and applications in financial and environmental statistics. He earned a Ph.D. in Statistics in 2016. Ph.D. in Statistics, 2016 Dr. Zou’s work pioneers covariance regression, where covariances are modeled as functions of covariiates. Key contributions include robust estimation techniques, spatio-temporal modeling, missing data imputation via semi-supervised learning, and distributed data aggregation. His methods address challenges in high-dimensional and non-Euclidean data analysis. Recent publications (2025–2023) explore quasi-score matching for spatial autoregressive models, regularization in network regression, functional principal component analysis for complex data, and environmental applications like PM2.5 pollution studies. These works emphasize robustness, scalability, and interdisciplinary relevance in economics, finance, and environmental science. Dr. Zou collaborates on projects like the 2023 Data Analysis App to Empower Assessment of Immunogenicity of Biologics (Co-Investigator). While his student supervision list isn’t explicitly provided, his methodological advancements influence big data and spatial statistics. He contributes to open-access software and continues expanding covariance regression for non-normal and functional data.
Shunichi Ishihara is a Professor at the School of Culture, History & Language, The Australian National University, where he leads research in forensic linguistics and computational linguistics. His work focuses on forensic text and voice comparison, authorship attribution, and Japanese linguistic studies. He holds qualifications including a PhD (ANU), MSc (Macquarie), MA (ANU), and BEd (Shizuoka). Research Interests: Forensic Voice/Text Comparison Computational Linguistics Intonational Modelling Japanese Language Processing Stylometric Analysis Research Trends: Recent work emphasizes likelihood ratio-based systems for authorship verification, fusion of acoustic and text features for forensic analysis, and applications of deep learning in text evidence evaluation. His studies often explore cross-lingual comparisons (e.g., Japanese, English, Vietnamese) and system validation methodologies. Grants & Projects: "Likelihood project on author recognition" (2024-2026) "Big Australian Speech Corpus" (2010-2015) Multiple forensic voice/text comparison initiatives Labs & Teams: Director of the Speech and Language Lab, collaborating on speech corpus development and forensic linguistic systems.
