International Day Of Women in Statistics and Data Science: Full Schedule

Registration opens August 15th at www.idwsds.org.

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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14:00 UTC

S309 - Modern Frontiers in Complex Data Analysis: Scalable Bayesian Methods and Dynamic Online Estimation

Tuesday October 6, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 UTC

This session brings together pioneering research that tackles the dual challenges of complexity and scalability in modern statistics and data science. The presentations feature cutting-edge developments in Bayesian hypothesis testing, discrete choice modeling, and streaming spatial data analysis over complex domains. The session begins with two complementary talks introducing highly efficient, closed-form Bayesian alternatives to classical multivariate and random effects testing frameworks. It then transitions to an innovative Bayesian best-worst choice model that utilizes Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) for complex preference data analysis. Concluding the discussion is a state-of-the-art online nonparametric estimation of spatially varying coefficient models for streaming spatial data using dynamic bivariate penalized splines over triangulations. Together, these talks highlight the vital role of advanced computational methodologies, spanning objective Bayes, deterministic approximations, and sequential updating algorithms, in achieving rigorous inference and extracting robust insights from complex data structures across diverse scientific domains.

Speakers

Mai Dao

Assistant Professor, Wichita State University

Dr. Mai Dao is an Assistant Professor of Statistics in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics at Wichita State University. She obtained her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University under the supervision of Professors Min Wang (The University of Texas at San Antonio) and Souparno... Read More →

Zhuanzhuan Ma

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Dr. Zhuanzhuan Ma is an Assistant Professor of Statistics in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She earned her Ph.D. in Statistics from Texas Tech University in 2022. Her research interests include Bayesian statistics... Read More →

Nadeesha Jayaweera

Assistant Professor, University of Akron

Dr. Nadeesha Jayaweera is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Akron. She received her Ph.D. in Statistics from Texas Tech University in 2022 and previously held a postdoctoral research position at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Her research... Read More →

Jingru Mu

Kansas State University

Dr. Jingru Mu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics at Kansas State University. Her research focuses on developing flexible and computationally efficient statistical methods for complex, large-scale, and spatio-temporal data. Her interests include nonparametric... Read More →

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