The Data Science Centre is led by Director Saman Muthukumarana, Associate Head (Graduate), Associate Professor, in the Department of Statistics.
Saman Muthukumarana’s research program is primarily focused on Bayesian methods and computation for complex data, which integrates both modelling and computational aspects with applications arising from wide variety of areas. His research interests span in the areas of computational statistics, Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations, simulation based inference, Statistics in sports and biostatistics. He has developed data analytic methods and tools for complex data types arising from social networks, health studies, sports, customer surveys, environmental and ecological studies.
His research has also contributed to develop new methods for assessing non-inferiority and equivalence testing in drug development, which is important in pharmaceutical industry. He has collaborations with Food and Drug Administration, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bank of Canada, Department of Computer Science, Department of Community Health Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia – Okanagan and Indian Institute of Management. His recent and current applied collaborative projects include user behavior analytics and software development for assessing App user behaviour, modeling and simulation methods for assessing casino player behaviour, assessing method-of-payment habits in Banking surveys, developing models for understanding fish movement patterns in Lake Winnipeg and model developments for infectious disease propagation.
He has teaching experience at various universities including Simon Fraser University, Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology, Department of Statistics and Computer Science at University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at University of Ruhuna.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee provides advice and direction on Nexus activities, programs and strategic goals and the co-chairs report directly to the Dean of the Faculty of Science.