Zhuoxuan Li , Xinyi Ke, Tianjiao Wang, and Yue Zhao received a departmental Travel Award to attend the JSM Conference in Portland this summer. Read about their conference experience below!

Zhuoxuan Li 

Attending the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) 2024 was an enriching and inspiring experience that significantly broadened my perspectives on the evolving role of statistics, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). One of the most impactful sessions I attended was the panel discussion on “Statistics in the Age of AI.” This session was particularly thought-provoking, as it aimed to stimulate an open discussion on the rapidly advancing field of AI and how it is reshaping the landscape of statistical research.

The panel featured a distinguished group of statisticians who shared their insights on how AI is empowering, challenging, and potentially transforming the field of statistics. They discussed the implications of AI for research impacts, funding, talent development, and ethical considerations. The open Q&A session that followed allowed for an engaging exchange of ideas, where participants, including myself, could share our views on some of the most pressing questions facing the statistical community. This session left me with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and inspired me to think critically about how I can contribute to the future of statistical research in the context of AI.

Beyond the formal sessions, JSM 2024 also provided ample opportunities for networking and social interaction. Every evening, JSM hosted social activities that allowed me to connect with professors, students, and professionals who share similar interests. These events were invaluable for building relationships with peers and mentors, many of whom I hope to collaborate with in the future.

One of the highlights of the conference was attending the University of Michigan alumni reception. It was a pleasure to reconnect with my undergraduate professors and follow up with them in person. Their encouragement and advice have always been instrumental in my academic journey, and it was gratifying to discuss my current work and future plans with them.

I also had the opportunity to meet and receive guidance from Columbia University professors and PhD students. Their kindness and willingness to share their experiences provided me with valuable advice on navigating the challenges of graduate studies and research. These interactions have deepened my appreciation for the collaborative nature of the academic community and have further motivated me to pursue my own research goals.

In summary, JSM 2024 was an inspiring and productive experience. The insights I gained from the panels, particularly on the intersection of statistics and AI, combined with the valuable connections I made, have significantly enriched my professional and academic journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious conference and look forward to applying what I have learned to my future endeavors.

Xinyi Ke

JSM conference was an extraordinary and unforgettable experience for me, filled with valuable insights. It was a great place to meet inspiring academic leaders and connect with others who share similar interests. The conference provided a rich array of knowledge across different schools and fields, all related to statistics.

At the paper sessions, I had the opportunity to explore the discoveries of statisticians in various fields such as biology, climate science, and healthcare, etc. These sessions not only gave me a deeper understanding of their work but also offered valuable inspiration for organizing and refining my own research ideas.

JSM also featured panels with numerous academic stars, offering the chance to hear professors and researchers from top universities discuss intriguing topics. These panels covered the ways statisticians collaborate with professionals from other fields, current thinking in statistics education, and much more. This broadened my understanding of the field and provided me with clearer strategies for thinking comprehensively and working collaboratively.

Additionally, JSM offered ample opportunities for networking. I had the chance to introduce myself to professors whose work interests me and gain a more detailed understanding of their research. I also connected with PhD and master’s students from various institutions, learning about their academic journeys, research, and experiences.

In summary, JSM was an incredibly enriching experience. I learned a great deal, met many new people, and I am grateful to the Statistics Department for providing this opportunity.

Tianjiao Wang

Attending the 2024 JSM conference in Portland was an incredibly enriching experience. I was able to dive into diverse sessions, particularly those on statistical modeling and machine learning, gaining valuable insights that will undoubtedly influence my future work.

The conference also provided excellent opportunities for career advancement. I made full use of the career services, securing an onsite interview on the second day of JSM. The EXPO was a highlight, where I engaged with recruiters from various companies, exploring potential career paths and building connections that could shape my professional future. Networking was another key aspect of JSM. The first-timer orientation and various social events allowed me to connect with peers, professors, and industry leaders, fostering relationships that I hope to maintain in the long term.

I am deeply grateful to the Statistics department for supporting my participation in JSM 2024. This experience broadened my knowledge, and expanded my network. I look forward to applying what I learned as I continue my journey in this field.

Yue Zhao

Attending the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) 2024 was an amazing experience, especially since it was my first time at such a big statistical conference. Each day was packed with interesting sessions. I mostly attended those focused on machine learning, time series analysis, Monte Carlo methods, and Bayesian statistics, which are areas I am really interested in. I found these sessions to be very engaging and full of new ideas. They helped me understand the latest knowledge in these areas, and I enjoyed learning from the experts who presented.

One of the best parts of the conference was meeting and connecting with different experts and other attendees. I made many new friends and learned a lot from their experiences and the topics they are researching. These conversations gave me fresh perspectives and helped me see areas where I can improve.

Being exposed to advanced methods and new ideas was inspiring, but it also made me realize there is always more to learn. The conference motivated me to keep improving and staying up-to-date with what is happening in the field of statistics.

I am very thankful to the statistics department for giving me the chance to attend this conference. It was a valuable experience that I believe will help me in my future studies and career.

For students who might attend this conference in the future, my advice is to prepare in advance. Have your resume ready, look up the experts and professors you want to meet, and come ready to take full advantage of all the opportunities. Doing this will make the conference much more valuable and meaningful.

In summary, JSM 2024 was a great experience that taught me a lot and helped me grow both academically and professionally. The knowledge I gained and the people I met will be important as I continue my journey in the field of statistics.

Leonard Mushunje, Shunri (David) Zheng, Tengyu Song, and Qinyuan Dong received a departmental Travel Award to attend the JSM Conference in Toronto this summer. Read about their conference experience!

Leonard:

“My experience at the 2023 JSM conference was undoubtedly life changing and rewarding.

The program was packed with captivating, diverse and rich sessions ranging from theoretical to applied Statistics topics. More than hundred sessions were delivered every day and I was fortunate to attend interesting sessions on high dimensional statistics, the future of data science and algebraic statistics. These sessions have definitely enriched me with more advanced knowledge in algebraic statistics, high dimensional statistics, and ultimately my approach to conquering the data science arena. A big thank you goes to the Statistics department for honoring me with a Travel award to attend the JSM 2023. I also had time to listen to talks from bright minds from top notch schools and organizations such as Harvard, MIT,

Stanford, Columbia, Oxford, University of Cambridge, Google, DeepMind, Fidelity Investments among others. I also had a chance to present my poster, “Generative adversarial networks for high dimensional financial time series data” and I received useful feedback and comments from the audience. My hope is to give a special or invited talk in the future JSM conferences. Last but not least, one of the most memorable benefits from the conference was networking. With over 6000 participants from both academia and industry, I managed to create lifelong networks and had time to share my past, current and future plans with others, molding me into a more determined scholar. We had a JSM app which enabled us to access the contact information for all speakers and attendees which made our future networking easier.”

David:

“Attending the Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) was an exhilarating experience for me. It was my first dive into the world of academic conferences, and every moment was filled with learning and connection. I was especially captivated by the talks and courses centered around reinforcement learning, a topic I’m deeply passionate about. Beyond the academic insights, JSM provided a wonderful platform to bond with like-minded individuals. I found joy in making new friends and discussing shared interests with students and professionals alike. The event was a wealth of knowledge, and I am grateful for every session I attended. A special thanks goes to our department for their support, making this enriching experience possible for me.”

Tengyu:

“I had the amazing opportunity to attend this year’s Joint Statistical Meeting (JSM) in Toronto, my first-ever JSM experience. Let me sum up my time there.
JSM is a fantastic place to learn about new statistical topics. Every day, there are lots of interesting presentation sessions, though sometimes I had to choose because they overlapped. They also offer professional development courses for an extra fee. Just before JSM began, Mr. Peterson emailed me to volunteer as a course monitor. This let me take a professional development course for free. So, I ended up taking two courses without any charge. These courses were really good, especially the one about fundamental reinforcement learning. The instructors covered the basics and also talked about their own research and where current theories might have gaps. 

JSM is also great for making connections. There are loads of people at the event, like professors, exhibitors, and PhD students from around the world. I met many people during the first-timer orientation, poster sessions, receptions, and even the dance party. I quickly made friends with a lot of them. 

JSM isn’t just about learning and networking – it’s fun too. At the EXPO, you can chat with exhibitors and get some cool stuff. The dance party is a chance to relax with colleagues and friends over a beer. I even joined the scavenger hunt, scanning QR codes at different places to win prizes. I didn’t quite make it to the top five, but the organizers still gave me a free JSM T-shirt. 

And of course, I can’t forget the COPSS Award. This year, Professor Tibshirani from Berkeley won it. Also, Professor Gelman got the Monroe G. Sirken Award and gave an interesting talk about his latest research on handling weight in sampling inference. 

All in all, my first JSM experience was a mix of learning, networking, and fun. It broadened my statistical knowledge and helped me connect with others in the field. I am deeply grateful to our statistics department for granting me this remarkable opportunity.”

Qinyuan:

“My first-time academic conference experience has been more than fantastic. Though I only

stayed for three days, the impressive academic atmosphere and abundant presentations are

something that I will never forget. To meet my previously learned knowledge and future research

interests, I joined several presentations regarding Bayesian statistics and machine learning,

which I might not be able to thoroughly understand but really got me exposed to the newest and

most advanced theories and methods. During the conference, I enjoyed wandering in the JSM

Expo and taking part in the scavenger hunt, exploring those companies and organizations that

successfully bring statistics into application. Also, I went to our department’s reception and

luckily had the chance to talk to Chair Zheng and fellow students, which really gave me the

feeling of being in this great family of statistics.”

Congratulations, Varchasvi!

The Statistics Club and the MA Team would like to congratulate Varchasvi Vedula,  winner of the 2022 DataFest! 

“It was amazing to finally participate in a DataFest! I loved being one of the first people analyzing this real data set to create new features and metrics, study for trends, and share my findings and suggestions with the data providers. It’s a cherry on top and a huge honor to be appreciated for my work. Thank you!”    ~ Varchasvi Vedula

Daiki Tagami, who will graduate in May 2022 from the MA Program in Statistics, has won the 2022 Columbia College Leadership & Excellence Award for Innovation & Enhancement.  Daiki’s selection as an honoree is a testament to the outstanding impact he’s had on his peers, the campus, and other communities he has served. On behalf of the Department of Statistics, join us, as we congratulate Daiki. 

The DataFest Fall 2019 findings were presented on the topic of religiosity by six teams. Each team developed robust models and analyzed the dataset. The DataFest was judged by professors from the Statistics Department: Professors Liu, Vatter and Lee.

First Place was awarded to 4 Students, one of which is an MA Stastistics student, Ali Turfah. Other students included: Chao Tang, Aastha Joshi, Mengni Zhu