Biosketch

Education:

  • (2010-2015) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, PhD Statistics,
    Advisor: Yuguo Chen
    Dissertation title: Statistical Models and Inference for Dynamic Networks
  • (2008-2010) University of Arkansas, MS Statistics
  • (2002-2006) Harding University, BA Education

Awards:

  • Finalist for the Norton Prize for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis in Statistics, 2014
  • University of Illinois Graduate College Travel Award, 2014
  • Outstanding Calculus Award, Harding University, 2007

Research Experience:

  • Research Assistant, University of Illinois (2012-present)
    -Developed statistical models and tools for analyzing dynamic networks, including methodology for prediction, detection of influence, estimation of missing data, extensions to weighted networks, and community detection.
    -Models were developed for the purpose of clustering longitudinal data while capturing temporal dependency, as well as incorporating covariates that help explain clustering results.  Efficient computational methods were developed for estimation.
  • Research Assistant, University of Illinois (2011-2012)
    Developed new methodology for analyzing single molecule fluorescence lifetime data, avoiding overfitting while achieving numeric stability.
  • Research Assistant, University of Arkansas (2010)
    Developed empirical Bayesian methodology to analyze microarray data.

Teaching Experience:

  • Instructor, University of Illinois
    (Spring 2014) Stat 200: Statistical Analysis
  • Instructor, University of Arkansas
    (Fall 2009) Stat 2303: Principles of Statistics
    (Summer 2009) Math 2043: Survey of Calculus
    (Fall 2008-Spring 2009) Math 1203: College Algebra
  • Tutor, Arkansas State University- Searcy
    (2008) Career Pathways Tutor in Mathematics
  • Tutor, Harding University
    (2007-2008) Academic Resource Center Tutor in Mathematics and Chemistry

Collaboration:

  • Department of Entomology, 2014-present
    Investigated structural changes in honeybee networks due to forager removal.  Compared post-perturbed network to simulated networks which emulate pre-perturbed network structures.
  • Department of Political Science, 2013-present
    Developed novel methodology for clustering longitudinal data. Covariate information explaining the clustering results can be estimated simultaneously with the clustering results themselves.
  • Department of Anthropology, 2012-2013
    Implemented a hierarchical generalized linear model to discover the best predictive model for crop damage caused by vervet monkeys in St. Kitts.

Professional Experience:

  • (2012-2013) Statistical Consultant, Illinois Statistics Office, University of Illinois
  • (2010-2011) Lon-capa Programmer, University of Illinois
  • Actuarial Examination, Successful passing score on SOA/CAS/CIA Exam P/1 (Probability)

Refereed Journals:

  • Journal of the American Statistical Association
  • Statistics and Its Interface
  • Journal of Econometrics