August 30, 2022

Dr. Michael Kosorok

Dr. Michael Kosorok

Michael R. Kosorok, PhD, W.R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of biostatistics at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and professor of statistics and operations research at the UNC College of Arts and Sciences, has been named president-elect of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS).

The IMS is an international nonprofit organization for scholars and professionals with the mission to foster the development and dissemination of theory and applications of statistics and probability. It publishes and co-sponsors several journals, including Annals of Statistics, Annals of Applied Statistics, Annals of Probability, Annals of Applied Probability and Statistical Science.

The governing body of the IMS is comprised of an executive committee, editors and elected members that determine the policies and supervise the affairs of the IMS in accordance with the organization’s constitution and with any by-laws the IMS adopts.

Kosorok, who is the former chair of the Department of Biostatistics at the Gillings School, has research expertise in biostatistics, data science, machine learning and precision medicine. He has written a major text on the theoretical foundations of these and related areas in biostatistics and has co-edited a research monograph on dynamic treatment regimens and precision medicine. He also has expertise in the application of biostatistics and data science to human health research, including cancer, cystic fibrosis and diabetes, and has pioneered machine learning and data mining tools for these and related areas.

“We are very excited for Dr. Kosorok’s election as president of IMS — an honor most certainly well-deserved given his stature around the world in the field of probability and statistics,” said Lisa LaVange, PhD, professor and chair of biostatistics. “His research has impacted the lives of many through collaboration on the most pressing public health issues of our time. Dr. Kosorok is also one of a long line of scientific and professional society presidents elected from within our department and among our alumni, including several presidents of the International Biometric Society’s Eastern North American Region (ENAR) and the American Statistical Association (ASA). Our department is known for developing and encouraging statistical leadership, and Dr. Kosorok’s election is one more example of our success in this area.”

“I feel honored to become president-elect of the IMS, the premier professional society for statistics and probability,” Kosorok said in a statement. “The IMS has a central role in the ongoing fundamental and interdisciplinary developments in science. I view this role broadly and to involve many facets, including data science, rigorous and reproducible research, interdisciplinarity, communication about science, and other aspects. My goals are to maintain the tremendous current strengths and initiatives of the IMS, as well as to grow relevant partnerships with greater inclusivity across the world and increased attention to professional development at all career stages, especially for young scientists.”

Kosorok’s term began in July 2022.


Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.

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