Research

📊 Research Focus

My research interests lie in the intersection of statistical theory, probability, and computation, with a focus on structured models, multivariate methodology, and their application in real-world systems. I’m particularly drawn to elegant mathematical frameworks that also have a practical impact, especially in high-dimensional and complex environments.

🔬 Current Research Interests 

I’m currently working on or thinking about topics such as:

• Random matrix theory and its applications in statistics and communications

• Meaningful multivariate models and curiosities in mixtures thereof

• Robust statistical inference

• Topics in circular statistics

• Interpretative and insightful modelling in ecological and health sciences contexts

• Probabilistic thinking in data science contexts

📂 Ongoing Projects 

Two particular ongoing projects of interest include:

• The development and implementation of meaningful statistical models (often in a contamination context), both linear and directional

• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, with a focus on creative and unexplored ways of facilitating and encouraging independent and critical thought in the teaching of statistics

📄 Selected Publications (these are hyperlinked) 

For a (more) complete list, please visit my Google Scholar page here.​

1. 2024. "Alternative skew Laplace scale mixtures for modeling data exhibiting high-peaked and heavy-tailed traits".

2. 2024. "Mode mixture of unimodal distributions for insurance loss data".

3. 2024. "A new look at the Dirichlet distribution: robustness, clustering, and both together".

4. 2024. "Computational comparisons of two-component mixtures using Lindley-type models".

5. 2024. "Enriched lognormal models for income data."

6. 2024. "Some empirical findings on neural network-based forecasting when subjected to autoregressive resampling."

7. 2025. "A refreshing take on the inverted Dirichlet distribution via a mode-parameterization with some statistical illustrations."

8. 2025. "A contaminated regression model for count health data."

9. 2025. "Soft computing for the posterior of a matrix t graphical network."

10. 2025. "A Power-Cardioid candidate for wind direction modelling motivated by two South African case studies".

11. 2025. "Discrete mode-mixtures of unimodal positive distributions with an application to solar energy in South Africa".

12. 2025. "On Sacred Ground: A Trioethnography of Performing Chamber Music Barefoot" (accepted).

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Collaborators

I work with colleagues at several South African institutions, as well as international collaborators.

National collaborators include:

• Prof Robert Schall (University of the Free State)

• Prof Andriette Bekker (University of Pretoria)

• Dr Seite Makgai (University of Pretoria)

• Dr Priyanka Nagar (Stellenbosch University)

• Prof Danre Strydom (University of the Free State)

• Dr Arno Otto (University of Pretoria)

• Delene van Wyk-de Ridder (University of Cape Town)

• Gopika Ramkilawon (University of Pretoria)

International collaborators include:

• Prof Mohammad Arashi (Ferdowsi University of Mashad, Mashad, Iran) 

• Prof Antonio Punzo (University of Catania, Italy)

• Dr Salvatore Tomarchio (University of Catania, Italy)

• Prof Filipe Marques (New University of Lisbon, Portugal)

• Dr Tanita Botha (Deakin University, Australia)

• Prof Olcay Arslan (Ankara University, Turkey)

If our interests align, I’m always open to discussing possible research collaborations or joint supervision.

🎓 Supervision: Students Welcome

I supervise honours, MSc, and PhD students in mathematical statistics, probability, and computational statistics. Students whom I have worked with in the past include:

PhD: Tanita Botha, Ane van der Merwe, Arno Otto

Masters: Gopika Ramkilawon, Delene van Wyk, Michaela Laidlaw, Christine van Zyl, Jarod Smith, Tichawona Mutoro, Brett Rowland, Seite Makgai, Arno Otto, Paul Louw, Jason Pillay, Dominic Wrbka, Paul Reitz, Thembinkosi Manyeruke, Emanuel Kwarirandunda.

Honours: 50+ senior bachelor's (honours/fourth year) research projects in statistics, mathematical statistics, and data science

If you're interested in postgraduate study or research in any of my areas of interest, feel free to get in touch.

I’m particularly interested in students who:

• Are curious about the mathematical or theoretical underpinnings of statistics

• Want to explore statistical models with structure (matrices, symmetry, particular parameterisations)

• Enjoy thinking conceptually and are open to computational approaches

• Have some background in linear algebra, probability, and statistical theory

• Are self-motivated, reflective, and open to collaboration

🧾 Expectations for Postgraduate Students

Working with me means being engaged, open to both structure and uncertainty, and willing to iterate thoughtfully. Some expectations I typically set:

• Regular meetings and proactive communication

• Thorough reading of background literature

• Independent thinking balanced with collaborative dialogue

• A willingness to write, revise, and polish ideas

• Respect for deadlines and shared academic commitments

Whether you're more theoretical or application-focused, I aim to support your development in a way that fits your interests while encouraging academic rigour and curiosity.

🧪 Peer Review & Editorial Service

As part of my academic service, I review manuscripts for several leading journals in the fields of statistics and applied mathematics. These have included:

• Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation

• Statistical Methods in Medical Research

• Canadian Journal of Statistics

• IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence

• Communications in Statistics – Theory and Methods

• Research in Statistics

• Filomat

• Afrika Matematika

• PlosONE

• Japanese Journal of Statistics and Data Science

• Statistical Analysis and Data Mining

• British Journal of Music Education

I value this work as an important way of contributing to the academic community and staying informed about developments across the field.

To date, I have edited two contributed volumes with Springer as publisher (links below) and I am currently co-editing a contributed volume with a focus on Environmental Statistics with CRCPress as publisher.

A special collection in the journal Afrika Matematika that I recently co-edited: https://link.springer.com/journal/13370/updates/26962048

📤 Examination Committees 

I regularly serve as an examiner (or on the examination committee) for masters and doctoral candidates around the world. If I can be of service in this way, please get in touch via email.

Recent and Upcoming Conferences

I regularly present at national and international conferences, as well as invited seminars and workshops. Recent presentations include:

🔧CMStatistics, London, UK, 2024

🔧South African Statistical Association Annual Conference, SA, 2024

🔧MBC2, Catania, Italy, 2022, 2024

In October 2025, I will attend and present at the ISI Conference in The Hague, Netherlands.

I am planning on attending both the IFCS Conference in Milan in July 2025, as well as the MBC2 Conference in Catania, Sicily, in August 2025.

If you’re organising a seminar or conference and think my work is relevant, I’m always happy to consider invitations to speak or participate.