July 3, 2025
Get to know the newest members of the department joining us during summer quarter.
1. What's your favorite "statistics" or data tidbit?
My favorite “statistic” is the likelihood function. (Fully aware that this answer may confuse our students and concern my new colleagues, please allow me to clarify a bit). I think in the broadest sense of a statistic (as a transform of the data that doesn’t depend on parameters), the likelihood function (as a whole, not its value given a specific parameter) could qualify as one. But I am afraid its inventor Fisher might not have appreciated this perspective. (I need to check with Professor Stigler on this!) We spend so much effort teaching our students NOT to think of the likelihood as a transform of the data, but as a function of the parameter given the data. I promise I won’t call it a statistic when teaching Stat 244. With that said, if one is still worried, I want to point out that my answer did keep the quotation marks around “statistic” in the question itself :).
2. What do you like to do outside of work?
Enjoying good food, swimming, traveling, time with family, and church.
3. What is your favorite candy/snack?
Coke (and yes, I know technically it’s neither a candy nor a snack.)
1. What's your favorite "statistic" or data tidbit?
Broadly speaking, I like Bayesian statistics, Gaussian processes, and trees. Recently, I started to explore ideas in the mixture of experts.
2. What do you like to do outside of work?
Play board games with friends. Recently, I like to play One night Werewolf, Splendor, and Ticket to Ride. I also enjoy swimming.
3. What is your favorite candy/snack?
My recent favorite is chocolate-covered frozen dark cherries.
1. What's your favorite "statistic" or data tidbit?
Aquatic microbes contribute approximately half of Earth's oxygen production.
2. What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to play games with my family like Among us and card games. Also spending time outside, near the lake or anywhere with trees.
3. What is your favorite candy/snack?
I am not a snacker, but I do love gum! I'm always looking for new flavors to try.