Summer Research Conference

2026

June 7 - 10, 2026

Pensacola, Florida

Hosted by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of West Florida

Key Dates

April 29, 2026

Travel Award Applications Close

May 6, 2026

Hotel reservation deadline

June 7, 2026 - June 10, 2026

2026 SRCOS Summer Research Conference

View the Preliminary Program Book here

Conference Information

Registration

Graduate Student Presenters: Apply for travel awards through the abstract submission form below.

Professor Robert Lund | Professor and Chair, Department of Statistics, The University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Professor Robert Lund received his applied mathematics undergraduate degree from Auburn University and PhD in statistics from the University of North Carolina. Lund is currently a Professor of Statistics at the Baskin School of Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz. He is a 2007 elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association and was the 2005-2007 Chief Editor of the Journal of the American Statistical Association. He has published over 120 refereed papers and has graduated 26 PhD students. His research expertise lies in probability and statistical climatology.

Professor Malay Ghosh | Distinguished Professor, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

Professor Malay Ghosh is a distinguished statistician whose work has had major impact on Bayesian theory and applications, small area estimation, machine learning, and statistical inference. He earned his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of North Carolina in 1969 after completing both his B.A. and M.A. in Statistics at the University of Calcutta with first-class first distinction and gold medals. Over his career, he has held faculty appointments at the Indian Statistical Institute, Iowa State University, and the University of Florida, where he became Distinguished Professor. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the American Statistical Association, and the International Society for Bayesian Analysis, and an elected member of the International Statistical Institute. His many honors include the Jerzy Neyman Medal, the Wilks Award, and the 2023 Deming Lecturer Award, and he has authored more than 300 published papers as well as co-authored two books.

Professor Gauri Datta | Professor, Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

Professor Gauri Datta is a Professor in the Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, and a Mathematical Statistician (part-time) at the U.S. Census Bureau at the Center for Statistical Research and Methodology (CSRM). He received his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Florida in 1990. His research interests include Small Area Estimation, Survey Sampling, Bayesian Analysis, Bayes-Frequentist Interface, Likelihood Inference, Multivariate Analysis, Asymptotic, Linear Models, and Development of Non-subjective Priors. Dr. Gauri Datta is named an ASA Fellow, elected to the Fellowship in the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Florida.

Professor Abhyuday Mandal | Professor of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

Professor Abhyuday Mandal is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Georgia. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, as well as a second master's degree from the University of Michigan, and completed his Ph.D. in 2005 at the Georgia Institute of Technology under the supervision of C. F. Jeff Wu. His research centers on the design of experiments, computer experiments, and optimization techniques, with applications in areas such as drug discovery, small area estimation, agriculture, and engineering. His work has been supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency, and he has authored numerous influential papers across statistics and applied disciplines. He has mentored many graduate students throughout his career and has been recognized for his contributions to both research and teaching. He also serves as an Associate Editor for several leading journals, including the Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, Technometrics, Statistics & Probability Letters, and Sankhya--B. In addition, he has been actively involved in the broader statistical community through service on numerous committees and his role in organizing conferences and workshops that bring together researchers from across statistics and related fields.

Professor Montserrat “Montse” Fuentes | President and Professor of Mathematics, St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas, USA

Montserrat “Montse” Fuentes, Ph.D., is President of St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, and Professor of Mathematics. Since beginning her tenure as the university’s 24th president in 2021, and as its first Hispanic president, she has led a period of strategic growth focused on academic innovation, student success, and research development. Under her leadership, St. Edward’s achieved Carnegie Research designation, expanded academic programs including the School of Health Sciences and its first nursing program, strengthened enrollment and retention, and earned the national Seal of Excelencia for advancing Latino student success.

An internationally recognized scholar in statistics and data science, Dr. Fuentes has authored more than 100 scientific publications and secured over $28 million in research funding, including a $3 million NSF ADVANCE award. She is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and a recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Scientific and Technological Achievement Award. Before joining St. Edward’s, she served as Executive Vice President and Provost at the University of Iowa, and previously held leadership roles as Dean at Virginia Commonwealth University and Department Head at North Carolina State University. A first-generation college student, Dr. Fuentes earned dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and music from the University of Valladolid and a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Chicago. Deeply engaged in her community and profession, she serves on numerous civic, healthcare, and higher education boards. Her leadership is grounded in expanding access to transformative education, advancing research excellence, and strengthening the role of universities as engines of opportunity and community impact.

Regional Activities in Statistics