Contact:
3143 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843
Office: 459D Blocker
Email: sharmistha@tamu.edu
My research focuses on developing statistical methods to analyze and understand complex and high-dimensional biomedical data. My methodological interests lie primarily in scalable Bayesian methods for supervised network data analysis, developments in the area of big data, dimensionality reduction and object oriented data analysis, where I draw motivation broadly from multimodal neuro-imaging data (e.g, dMRI, fMRI). I also work on developing methods for causal inference, record linkage and data privacy, motivated by financial and social science problems.
I believe that the development of better statistical methods are directly motivated by challenging applied questions, and in turn lead to advancement of scientific knowledge for the greater good of humanity. Scientific collaboration is thus a key aspect of my research in realizing this goal and I enjoy working with domain scientists as well as methodological researchers.
My work has been recognized with the 2022 Blackwell-Rosenbluth award, which "aims at recognizing outstanding junior Bayesian researchers based on their overall contribution to the field and to the community," as well as an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Savage Award Competition (Applied Methodology). The Savage Award, conferred by the International Society for Bayesian Analysis (ISBA), "is bestowed each year to outstanding doctoral dissertations in Bayesian econometrics and statistics."
I am deeply passionate about teaching and training the next generation of statisticians and practitioners, and hence place special emphasis on computational skills and reproducible research in my courses. I believe in the amalgamation of research and education missions, and actively involve my students (both undergraduate and graduate) in my research group. In recognition of my ongoing efforts towards undergraduate research mentorship and sponsorship, I have been awarded the DeBakey Executive Research Leader certificate by the Texas A&M University.
News:
Jul 2023: I delivered a special invited talk in the session titled "Recent Advances in Bayesian Statistics by j-ISBA Blackwell-Rosenbluth Award Winners" at the International Statistical Institute (ISI) World Congress at Ottawa, CA. Here is the message from the ISBA president regarding this event.
Mar 2023: I received an IMS New Researcher Travel Award conferred by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics.
Jan 2023: I received a DeBakey Executive Research Leader certificate awarded by the Texas A&M University in recognition of my ongoing efforts towards undergraduate research mentorship and sponsorship.
Dec 2022: Our paper with Jerry Reiter and Andrea Mercatanti on "Bayesian Causal Inference with Bipartite Record Linkage" is now published in Bayesian Analysis.
Nov 2022: I received a 2022 Blackwell-Rosenbluth award, awarded by the International Society for Bayesian Analysis, which "aims at recognizing outstanding junior Bayesian researchers based on their overall contribution to the field and to the community." Duke Statistical Science press release.
Oct 2022: I participated in the 2022 National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS) Virtual Academic Career Fair.
Oct 2022: I served as a panelist in the Aggie Data Science Club Research Panel. This is an event organized by the Aggie Data Science Club, with undergraduate students from different majors as members, the goal being to make them aware of how data science is applied to different subjects and learn about various research opportunities.
June 2022: I received a Texas A&M University College of Arts & Sciences Merger Type-I Grant ($10,000) for grant titled "Novel Methods for Imaging Data from Multiple Modalities" with Co-Investigator Jessica Bernard, Associate Professor, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A&M University.
June 2022: Undergraduate team member Jacob Pagel received a Statistics Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship ($1,500) from the Texas A&M University College of Arts & Sciences. Congratulations Jacob!!
May 2022: Undergraduate team member Jacob Pagel received a Fellowship to attend the NIH-funded Colorado Summer Institute in Biostatistics (CoSIBS) program (Summer 2022) at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO. Congratulations Jacob!!
Sep 2021: I joined the Statistics Department at Texas A&M University an an assistant professor (tenure track).
Jul 2021: I received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Savage Award Competition (Applied Methodology) for my Ph.D. dissertation "On Bayesian Methods in Network Regression." The Savage Award, conferred by the International Society for Bayesian Analysis (ISBA), and is "bestowed each year to outstanding doctoral dissertations in Bayesian econometrics and statistics."