The Department of Statistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is thrilled to welcome six new faculty members, each bringing a unique blend of research expertise and academic excellence to the department. Their arrival underscores the department's commitment to advancing the field of statistics across a wide range of disciplines. Here is a brief introduction to each of the new faculty members:
Joshua Agterberg
Joshua Agterberg joins the department as an Assistant Professor. His research focuses on the analysis of algorithms and statistical models for networks, as well as structured matrix and tensor data. He recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked with René Vidal and Yuxin Chen as part of the Innovation in Data Engineering and Science (IDEAS) Initiative. Joshua earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Johns Hopkins University in 2023, with a dissertation on "Asymptotics and Statistical Inference in High-Dimensional Low-Rank Matrix Models." He brings a diverse research background and a passion for teaching to the department.
Professor Agterberg will be teaching STAT 410: Statistics and Probability this fall.
Eren Kizildag
Eren Kizildag joins the department as an Assistant Professor. His research lies at the intersection of high-dimensional statistics, applied probability, and computer science, with a particular focus on understanding the computational tractability of large-scale random models. Eren completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, where he was advised by David Gamarnik. Before joining Illinois, he served as a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University. His work explores the mathematical foundations of machine learning and data science, making significant contributions to these rapidly evolving fields.
Professor Kizildag will begin teaching spring 2025.
Chan Park
Chan Park joins the department as an Assistant Professor, bringing his expertise in causal inference, econometrics, and network analysis. His research develops robust and efficient estimators of causal quantities, especially in non-i.i.d. settings and under unmeasured confounding. Prior to joining UIUC, Chan was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He completed his Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022 and previously worked as a statistician for the Central Bank of Korea.
Professor Park will be teaching STAT 426: Statistical Modeling II this fall.
Matthew Singh
Matthew Singh joins the department as an Assistant Professor with a focus on neuroinformatics and computational neuroscience. Matthew completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis, where he modeled cognitive states using neurodynamic frameworks. He also held a joint postdoctoral research position at Rutgers University and Washington University in St. Louis. His interdisciplinary work bridges statistics, neuroscience, and computational modeling, offering new insights into brain function and behavior.
Professor Singh will be teaching STAT 447: Data Science Programming Methods this fall.
Lili Zheng
Lili Zheng joins the department as an Assistant Professor after completing her postdoctoral research at Rice University, where she worked with Genevera Allen. Her research interests span graphical models, missing data, time series analysis, and high-dimensional statistics. Lili earned her Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021. Her work focuses on developing rigorous statistical methods for complex, large-scale data problems, making her a valuable addition to the department’s efforts in modern statistical theory and applications.
Professor Zheng will begin teaching spring 2025.
Yuchen Zhou
Yuchen Zhou joins the department as an Assistant Professor. His research centers on high-dimensional statistical inference, tensor data analysis, and nonconvex optimization. Yuchen recently completed postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and Princeton University. He earned his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021, where he worked with Professors Anru Zhang and Yazhen Wang. Yuchen’s expertise will contribute significantly to the department's growing focus on statistical learning and data science.
Professor Zhou will begin teaching spring 2025.
The Department of Statistics is excited to welcome these exceptional scholars, whose diverse backgrounds and innovative research will help shape the future of statistics at the University of Illinois and beyond.