stats postdoc in Barcelona

Here is a call for exciting postdoc positions in high-dimensional statistics for network & graphical models analysis, Barcelona:

We have two post-doctoral positions to work on a range of topics related to high-dimensional statistics for networks, ultra high-dimensional graphical models, frameworks linking networks and graphical models, multivariate structural learning and time series analysis. The positions are for 1 year, with a potential for extension to 18 months, with a gross yearly salary of 40,000€. The scope is ample and allows for sub-projects related to mathematical statistics and statistical learning theory, data analysis methodology in penalized likelihood and Bayesian statistics, and computational methods. The positions are related to a Huawei grant, which also offers opportunities to explore applications of the developed theory & methods.

The project is primarily hosted by the Statistics group at UPF and the BSE Data Science Center in Barcelona (Spain), and is in collaboration with Luc Devroye at McGill University in Montreal (Canada) and Piotr Zwiernik at the University of Toronto (Canada). The primary supervisors are Christian Brownlees, Luc Devroye, Gábor Lugosi, David Rossell and Piotr Zwiernik, although collaborations with other professors of these research groups are also possible.

Interested candidates should send an updated CV and a short research statement to David Rossell (david.rossell AT upf.edu). They should ask 3 referees to send a letter of reference on their behalf.

The deadline for applying for the first position is April 30 2022, the deadline for the second position is June 15 2022.

SMC 22 coming soon!

The 5th Workshop on Sequential Monte Carlo Methods (SMC 2022) will take place in Madrid on 4-6 May 2022. More precisely on the Leganés campus of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Registrations are now open, with very modest registration fees and the list of invited speakers is available on the webpage of the workshop. (The SMC 2020 workshop was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An earlier workshop took place at CREST in 2015.)

BIRS in Granada

Just heard that a new “branch” of BIRS was going to open in Granada, Spain! This is most exciting, given the (relative) proximity of Granada when compared with Banff and Oaxaca. And given the most enjoyable city, which I visited several times, esp. when George Casella was there for a year. And given the nearby mountain of Mulhacén.

The full IMAG opportunities will be made available through the BIRS call for proposals that will be issued in June 2022 for the 2024 program. However, we are currently planning a BIRS-IMAG pilot program to be hosted in Granada as early as 2023, and the BIRS Scientific Board will consider a limited number of workshops proposals for the 2023 cycle. Please write to the BIRS Scientific Director (birs-director@birs.ca) for further information, if you are interested in developing such a workshop.

Roe vs. Wade vs. NYT?

While the NYT still offers a liberal view on abortion issues, with a recent and most interesting opinion tribune on the gradual politicization of anti-abortion in the past thirty years, and calls against the Texas vigilante State law against every single case of abortion, I noticed several entries going quite the opposite direction, one on the limitations of “my body my choice” drawing an appalling parallel between pro-choice and anti-vaccine arguments (!), written by an Anglican priest, calling for “a good that inspires fear and hope” (!!) and “positive liberty [as an] alternative to personal choice and individual autonomy” (!!!). And another essay by another religious extremist, professor at Southeastern Baptist theo(il)logical seminary, that rejoices at the Texas law as a first step, not “extreme” in the least..! Leading to a flow of letters to the journal. And yet another, with a paper reporting on abortion in Spain, which while legal since 2010 allows for “conscientious objectors” in such numbers as to prevent abortions in 5 of the 17 Spanish states. And gives most of its space to these objectors, ending up with an awfully patronizing and religious laden call to the “conscience” of their patients.

57’32″…