University of Minnesota School of Public Health Professor J. Sunil Rao has been named a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS), one of the world’s leading professional organizations in the fields of statistics, mathematics, and probability. Rao received the award for his important and novel contributions in the field of statistical modeling.

For almost 90 years, the title of IMS Fellow has been a prestigious honor. To receive the award, IMS fellows must have exhibited exceptional mastery in statistical or probabilistic research and in many cases, have showcased remarkable leadership that has left a lasting impact on the field.

A professor in the Division of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Rao’s research focuses on developing new statistical methods for better modeling complex data that can cover a range of possibilities, from cancer genomics to contextual data and health disparity estimation. His research has included work on high dimensional modeling, mixed model prediction, model selection, small area estimation, bump/mode hunting, and active information.

Established in 1935, the Institute of Mathematical Statistics is a member organization that fosters the development and dissemination of the theory and applications of statistics and probability. The IMS has over 4,700 active members throughout the world. Approximately 10% of the current IMS membership has earned the fellowship status.

Rao will officially accept the award at the Joint World Congress of the Bernoulli Society and Institute of Mathematical Statistics in Bochum, Germany in August.

The announcement of the 2024 class of IMS Fellows can be viewed here.